British cruiserweight contender Jack Massey will return to the ring in a title fight in May.
The 27-year-old from Chapel-en-le-Frith, who turns 28 next month, told Boxing Social that it will be on a Queensberry Promotions show and, like all fighters, he is hopeful that some fans will be in attendance.
“This show in May, whatever date it’s going to be, I think there’s going to be 50% crowd back which will be great. It was a weird feeling fighting in front of no crowd back in November. Something I’ve never done before, it’s strange,” he said.
The fight Massey is referring to came on the Daniel Dubois-Joe Joyce undercard. An eight-round points victory over Mohammad Ali Bayat Farid and his first fight in 11 months. Referee Victor Loughlin scored the bout 79-74 to Massey, which had given the former British title challenger a respectable run out. The victory took Massey to (17-1, 8 KOs) with his sole loss coming to Richard Riakporhe in December 2019. It’s a loss that Massey doesn’t like to dwell on and he has moved on from the British title defeat, a belt which he is still eager to get a hold of having withdrawn from a fight against then champion Lawrence Okolie in July 2019 due to an arm injury.
Boxing Social did ask him about that night against Riakporhe at York Hall where Massey thought he had done enough to get his hand raised after 12 rounds.
“It was a bit of an awkward fight,” he said. “[Riakporhe] was holding a lot. The ref didn’t stop him from holding. We were coming together in the early rounds but in the later rounds he was holding on for dear life and I thought I’ve definitely got him here. [I thought to myself] finish the 12th round strong and I thought I was going to get my hand lifted but it didn’t happen. Obviously gutted. British title, I’ve dreamt about that title since I started boxing but it’s built me into who I am today and just made me more hungry.”
Riakporhe emerged victorious over 12 rounds with scorecards of 115-113 (twice) and 117-111 all in his favour. The latter from Bob Williams was a puzzler for Massey and others.
“I was thinking what was he watching, what fight was he watching? It’s one of these things. You can’t dwell on it. I’m just happy I got a solid 12 round fight and experience for the future. It happens. I’m not the only one. You just have to get on with it.”
With unusual scorecards continuing to frustrate fight fans, Massey told Boxing Social that something needs to be done.
“A hundred per cent it needs looking into, reassessing and seeing what other options they have because we’re seeing it more and more often.”
Another shot at the British title and fighting back in Derbyshire (Buxton to be precise) are on the agenda for Massey. The Devonshire Dome in Buxton brings back happy memories for the eight-year professional, having fought there twice in 2017 picking up victories against Rolandas Cesna and Russell Henshaw respectively.
“That’ll be good when the crowds are back,” he said. “It was when I used to be managed by Steve Wood [Massey is now managed by Kevin Maree]. We used to put on a local show, headlined it and got some other fighters on there. It’s a great night and a good show. Sort of like a meal do. It was good.”
“It’s been a tough road,” he said looking back on his 18 fights to date. “We’ve had setbacks with injuries, setbacks with controversial decisions and stuff like that but I’m glad it’s been hard because I’m ready for it now. It’s made me who I am today. Twenty-eight next month. I’m at that age now, got that man strength. I’m ready for these big fights now. I’ve matured into the fighter I am today.”
A big fight would be one against Chris Billam-Smith. The Shane McGuigan trained cruiser was due to fight Deion Jumah in what looked like a cracker this weekend on the Lawrence Okolie vs Krzysztof Glowacki undercard, but Jumah pulled out with an injury. Billam-Smith now faces Czech Vasil Ducar (9-3-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant WBA Continental cruiserweight strap. Massey would have been a better replacement for Jumah.
“Didn’t get the phone call. Didn’t have a sniff,” he told Boxing Social.
“We were waiting by the phone. I was definitely interested. I think there was a few other names that got a phone call, not naming any names, but we didn’t get the call.”
Massey moves on to May then. He sees himself in the top two at domestic level and is eager to prove that when he returns. He insists that we will see a new and improved version of Jack Massey.
“And I’m not letting this title slip through my fingers this time,” he added.