Journeyman Boxer Johnny Greaves fought drugs, drinks, depression and abuse during his 100-Fight pro career.
The 46-year-old East Londoner admits that he was “no better than useless” when he lost 96 times.
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At the last minute he would fight some fighting, enter the ring on a belly of lager, while also fighting a debilitating cocaine living and praying that he would do TO LOSE To guarantee further payment day.
Fans would do that SPIT On him when he walked into the ring and Greaves admitted that he was sometimes treated “no better than a dog.”
But it doesn’t matter how big he took a beating, he never missed a day as an independent painter-decorator to put food on the table for his Missus Vicky, daughter Ruby and son Teddy.
When Greaves became Pro in 2007, 30 years old, he had already fought 50 without a permit and 30 amateur attacks.
But after he was told that he would only earn £ 800 if a new professional, built his name and had to sell tickets, he exchanged to the off -corner.
Knowing that he could make almost £ 2,000 a doll as an opponent for emerging stars, he forfeited his desire to become a champion.
Greaves has rejected his amazing career for a new book called Bright Lights and Dark Corners
And in an exclusive Sunsport interview, Greaves revealed: “The moment I was a skint. I didn’t have much work on.
“Vicky and I had just moved to a place, Teddy had just been born with a serious club foot, so he was in and out of hospitals every other day.
“I was struggling hard.”
However, his decision started one of the most celebrated travel man box Careers in Great -Britain, with Greaves that up to 20 times A year.
The next Tyson Fury van Groot -Britain requested herself for the world title and Taylor urged to fight split decision
Reminding his loss of 2008 to Ryan Walsh, revealed Greaves: “I had just opened my third can of Fosters when my phone rang on Saturday at 4.30 p.m.
“I took the fight, voted in the money and was in the ringboxing in the Excel Arena at about ten after six.”
On another occasion in 2012, Greaves, who also has a coaching permit, would be set up to act as a corner man for Jody Meikle in York Hall – only to fight the opponent Arif himself.
Greaves added: “I remember the promoter sustained and asked,” What do you weigh? ” I answered, “10th 6?”
“He went on:” Do you want a fight? “I said,” F ***, what do you pay? “
“So we discussed the money, then I called the lady to meet me at the station with a bag, my shorts, boots and a gum shield.
“She passed the bag over the counter, I ran back to York Hall and I fought about half an hour after that.”
Greaves is very honest about the fighting game, it said that money came first and winning had his chances of earning to influence.
It is not what many people think, how the boxing game works. But let’s get right – it’s a company, it’s not a sport.
Johnny Greaves
He said: “I don’t want to make it look like it’s bent, but look, I have nine world champions in boxing, I have chosen more than 20 British champions.
“I have made the best hunters in the world – Anthony CrollaJamie Cox, Johan Perez.
“Whether you go against young boys who look like, let’s be fine, if you win these fights, you will lose the work for yourself, you will be a risk, so you play the game.
“You don’t let your hands go against these children, you play through, get through well and safely, hopefully get loss on points.
“And then you fight the following week.”
But while he was boxing, Greaves cherished a secret that even his family knew.
He fought against a cocaine addiction so bright that he would even take it on fighting evenings.
He confessed: ‘I am disgusted by the way my career went through things with the drugs.
‘Things were pretty crazy’
“Recreational medicines, nothing performance -enhancing. If there is something, it is the performance debilitations to be honest.
“By continuing cocaine, just to control my nerves, to control my state of mind. I had a habit and I really disgust it.”
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In 2009, Greaves fought against Oisin Fagan in Dublin on the back of a huge beverage.
Greaves remembered: “I was only in a hotel room and all the hours of the night to and then did what I did.
“I stepped in and boxed the best Irish boy the next day. It was pretty crazy then.”
Greaves has now overcome his cocaine habit and has worked on painting the Shard on the London Bridge Station.
He added: “My family was always well foreseen. My whole life was about to provide for my children.
“But my release, getting away and forgot my life as a loser would be to be broken and forgetting it.”
The most difficult part of my boxing career was dealing with the abuse I received.
Johnny Greaves
He has also defeated his drink demons.
But still suffers from depression, still bears the mental scars of fighting against vulgar, hostile crowds.
And he said: “I have always been mentally weak, suffered a lot from depression and suicidal thoughts, a very low self -image.
“And look, if you are for the crowd of 900 people who all shout and shout and drop and laugh at your record, it was emotionally difficult.
“The most difficult part of my boxing career was dealing with the abuse I received.
‘Why would I want my son to see how I am defeated and the abuse of dogs suffers from the crowd?
“I had people spit on me when I walked into the ring, it’s a filthy game. I was sometimes not treated better than a dog.
“I had 100 professional fights, I only won four. For everyone who doesn’t understand the game, you are no better than useless.
You are not the only one
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“People just don’t understand the game and the business model of how boxing really works.
“So dealing with things mentally and emotionally was difficult.”
Greaves had only one rule when he fought – his friends and family were banned to be present.
He explained: “Look, I am there to lose. I don’t want my wife and children to see that.”
However, he made an exception for his last fight in 2013 when he then defeated Carr at York Hall to bend a victory for 500 from his fans.
Greaves shone: “I fought my heart out and trained like a beast. I would have taken someone in my last fight and have been confident enough to win it.
“I would have King Kong in boxes the last time and I am pretty sure that I would have done a good fight.”
Greaves opens his amazing career in his biography, bright lights and dark corners, which is now for sale.
Detailing his boxing life in black -white helped him the demons who have plagued his years in the ring.
He said, “This book has been a therapy session for me, it’s about getting a lot off my chest.”
- Bright Lights & Dark Corners from Johnny Greaves is available to buy now at Greavesbook.com
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