Sparring partner Grant Dennis lifts lid on Billy Joe Saunders training camp in Fuerteventura

Sparring partner Grant Dennis talks to GBN direct from the Billy Joe Saunders training camp

Former Southern Area middleweight titlist, Grant ‘Go-Getter’ Dennis (15-3, 3KOs) has spent his last few weeks in the Canary Islands assisting two-weight world ruler Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14KOs) prepare for the biggest contest of his 12-year pro career against Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (55-1-2, 37KOs) on May 8.

The world champs clash on the annual Mexican celebration weekend of Cinco de Mayo for super-middleweight supremacy, with four belts on the line – Canelo’s WBC, WBA, and Ring Magazine titles, plus Saunders’ WBO belt.

In preparation for the biggest fight of his entire boxing career, Hatfield’s Saunders recruited Chatham’s Dennis to fly out to Las Palmas to be a part of the team assisting his training.

The 37-year-old middleweight from Medway talked to GBN about his amazing experience abroad:

 

How does it feel to be part of such a prestigious training camp?

GD: “This was a great opportunity, to be trading blows and helping the world champ fighting in his biggest and most important fight against arguably the pound-for-pound king right now, and for that I feel truly honoured to be here.”

 

Tell us what a routine day in camp looks like?

GD: “Morning sessions consists of either boxing drills, sharpening sessions, or sparring. In the afternoons it’s either sprint work or, depending on what the morning session was, we could be doing strength work or going on a long run; every single day is different.

 

Is a world class training camp different to what you are used to back in Kent?

“The training is similar in many ways, there are definitely a few new things I’ve seen and will incorporate into my camps in future, but on a whole, it’s all very similar to what I am used to doing. It’s all hard work, getting the game plan right and bringing the best you into the ring, knowing when to rest and knowing when to push it.”

 

How has this experience benefitted you, in terms of your own career?

GD: “My drive is always the same, I’m driven by my own desire to be the best I can be, but being here has definitely added to my already burning desire."

 

And how is the champion looking now, with just a few weeks to go?

GD: “I’ve done over 40 rounds with this man in just a couple of weeks and let me tell you Billy is looking the best I’ve ever seen him; he’s focused, sharp and very strong. I believe he has every skill in the book to beat Canelo and frustrate him badly. If he stays focused for 12 rounds, he beats Canelo Alvarez. Skills pay the bills and he’s a great champion and a true gent.”

 

What’s next for you, in your own career?

GD: “I need to get amongst it, I want to push on towards the British title and whoever in the meantime I got to fight or got to deal with, I’ll deal with it. I’m ready for another big fight, wherever and against whoever, I’m ready!”

 

About Grant Dennis

A former ABA semi-finalist, Dennis turned pro in 2014, then won two Challenge belts followed by the Southern Area middleweight title, all within the same year between November 2015 to November 2016.

Then a controversial points defeat to unbeaten Elliot Matthews (21-0-1, 9KOs) from the away corner at York Hall in 2017 meant that he missed out on English middleweight title, but his biggest platform came on BT Sport when he reached the Ultimate Boxxer finals in 2019 by beating two unbeaten middleweights – Sean Phillips (5-0-1) and Joe Hurn (10-0-1) – and narrowly losing on points to overall winner Derrick Osaze (10-0, 2KOs) in the tournament climax.

37-year-old Dennis has managed to compete during the global pandemic, where many fighters have been completely inactive, but it wasn’t the result he was aiming for, falling to No.1 Russian middleweight Andrey Sirotkin (18-1, 6KOs) in the eighth round in Belarus in October 2020.

Signed to Boxing Connected, his manager Joe Elfidh plans to stage events from May onwards, so news of his next fight will be announced shortly.

Follow Grant Dennis on Twitter @GoGetterDennis

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