Glenn Catley told Ringside about the night he won world super-middleweight gold in Germany.
Gloucester man remembers his big night in Germany
Glenn Catley told
Ringside about the night he won the WBC super-middleweight title.
The Gloucestershire boxer travelled to Germany to face hometown hero Markus Beyer in May 2000 as the underdog, but he recorded a 12th-round knockout to win the strap he had failed to grasp in a match with fellow Brit Richie Woodhall two years earlier.
"I was written off in most of my fights, especially the (Markus) Beyer fight," said the Catman. "I wasn't expected to do well but make no mistake, you've got to go above and beyond the call of duty to guarantee the win in Germany.
"I can remember at the end of the 11th round my manager, Chris Sanigar, saying to me: 'Glenn, we're in the final round of this world title fight, it's very tough on the judges' scorecard. This is your last chance. You have to go out there and fight like you're on the street'.
"I remember going and touching gloves, as you're obliged to do, and saying to myself: 'Catley, when this round's finished they're going to have to carry you out the ring, either because you've been knocked out trying or because you used every last bit of energy in your body'.
"Perhaps I should have had those thoughts in the first or second round because within 10 or 15 seconds I caught Beyer with one of the best right hands I've ever thrown, knocked him out and was declared WBC world champion.
"You can't put into words how you feel. From the first time you lace up a pair of gloves you dream about becoming a champion, ultimately a WBC world champion and on May 5th 2000, I managed to achieve just that."
