The Long Wait – Biding his time, Jack McKinlay is staying ready for his chance

Liverpool's Jack McKinlay is playing the waiting game

Unbeaten welterweight talent Jack 'The Ripper' McKinlay (2-0) is keeping himself in shape and biding his time, he said in his own words.

(Lock) Down but not out, 31-year-old talent Jack McKinlay from Anfield is stuck at home like everyone else, but is determined to make the time count so that when restrictions are lifted, he is ready to grab any opportunities with both hands.

Usually, Jack would be training daily at his Everton Red Triangle gym with trainer Paul Stevenson, instead he’s forced to keep up his fitness regimes alone at home.

He said, “I’ve not been up to much really, just the same old… keeping fit, waiting for the lockdown to finish, like everyone else.

“I haven’t been able to go to the gym, so I’ve just been keeping up my running, training with resistant bands at home and toning exercises; and press ups and sit ups. I’ve got a punchbag in the garden so I’m using that daily and just keeping myself in shape.

“I’m just biding my time, don’t really know what to expect at the minute, but I’m staying in shape so I can be ready for any opportunities when the time comes.”

McKinlay was fortunate to fight – and win – on February 28 last year at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool against Michael Likalu, which was just a few weeks before the first lockdown was enforced.

Initially, it gave the wounded Liverpudlian a chance to rest and heal a hand injury that was caused during that second pro victory, but he was straight back to the gym again when restrictions were first lifted.

Jack went back into the Everton Red Triangle gym with his six teammates, which consists of unbeaten sensations Nick Ball, Brad Strand and Andrew Cain, all signed to Hall of Fame promoter, Frank Warren.

The former national amateur champion reflected, “It was a bit strange at first, but we stayed in the gym last year, and obviously Harry [Woods] had his fight and me and ‘Jof’ [teammate Jonathan Walsh] helped him prepare, so we had a camp with him.”

McKinlay’s teammate, super-middleweight Harry Woods, was a last-minute participant of the Ultimate Boxxer 7 tournament in November, which saw Londoner Zak Chelli claim the Golden Robe.

Woods was involved in a cracking battle with unbeaten Mike McGoldrick, which see-sawed back and forth for three action-packed rounds, but ultimately ended with McGoldrick’s hand raised to advance to the final with Chelli.

Having only fought once during 2020, McKinlay is open to the same opportunities, “Million per cent! If Ultimate Boxxer asked me, I’d be there! I’m not doing anything else anyway, so I’d jump at it.”

He continued to assert his willingness to compete, “I’d fight anyone! There’s obviously a lot of welterweights that I could get in there with. There are load of fighters out there at my weight, if the opportunity presents itself, then I’d be there.

“You don’t want to see someone fighting journeymen constantly and not being tested, you want to see fighters putting it all on the line, like in UFC; they get in there with anyone and don’t worry about their records, so why can’t boxing be the same? Just get me in there with people who can have a fight, not shut up shop, and can get the best out of me.”

The consummate professional is satisfied that he is keeping himself in good shape, physically, but admits to this latest lockdown being quite testing, mentally.

“It’s grim,” he immediately described. “I wanted to go fishing on my own, but weren’t even allowed to do that! I was told to move on by two police officers, even though I’m sat on my own, not harming anyone. They said they would let me stay for one hour, but I said I might as well just go home now. Everyone is being fined left, right and centre at the moment.”

He shared his secret to staying sane, “I try to do something at least once a day to keep myself occupied. The past couple of days I’ve been running a lot and I’m going to keep that up, but you can’t beat a proper camp in the gym surrounded by your teammates.”

He concluded, “I’ve said it a few times, but basically everyone is in the same boat. It’s hard to grasp what’s going to happen, so all you can do is just stay in decent shape and ready for any opportunity.”

To follow Everton Red Triangle on Facebook, click here Everton Red Triangle FB Page

HÖRFA are proud sponsors of Global Boxing News