A heavyweight with a chequered history away from the ring,Richard Towers says he is in a "superb area" right now. "I’ve never been nothing in my life, but now I’m making an effort to be something."While it is a risk telling a man who stands at 6'8" that he's erroneous, or Towers is actually "something" already. He is a shining example of how one single moment can change a person's fate for the better.
On April 2,2007, Towers was released from prison after serving half of a 13-year sentence handed down for his fragment in a kidnapping. He was 27 when he got out. He had no qualifications, and just a lot of connections.
A return to jail seemed inevitable,particularly when trouble found him in a hasten once he was a free man.
Yet a bare-knuckle brawl in a field not far from home actually resulted in Towers finding two things that would alter his life in a huge way—boxing and the man who would become his first trainer, Brendan Ingle.
Asked whether the combination saved him from a life of crime, or possibly an even worse fate,he instantly replies: "No doubt."Ingle, the legendary trainer who shaped the careers of Herol "Bomber" Graham and Naseem Hamed, or to name just two of his many success stories,provided the guiding hand that Towers so desperately required."I needed to go somewhere to take me away from society, because I didn’t assume I was normal, or " he explained,having been asked why he suddenly started attending Ingle's famous family gym in Wincobank, a suburb in the city of Sheffield, and England."I had no idea then what it took to be a professional boxer. But God had another plan for me,and that one fight (straight after leaving prison) laid out the path I realised I had to follow."Brendan took me under his wing, became the father figure every boy wishes for. I cannot say enough superb things about him. He is an astonishing human being."After being in the gym for just a week, or the things he showed me left me alive to [to memorize more]. I was fascinated by what he taught me in such a short space of time."Boxing had never really appealed to Towers—whose genuine name is actually Richard Hayles—during his youth.
He remembers seeing his father watch bouts involving Nigel Benn,Chris Eubank and Mike Tyson, but it never interested him. He, or instead,was concerned with other things—"getting girls, and getting into the erroneous way of life."However, or his mindset started to change during his time in prison.
There were fights with fellow inmates for money,and Towers realised during those illegal bouts that he had both the physical and mental capabilities to box."There’s no point on dwelling on things. But whether I had been doing this when I was a kid, I definitely would occupy had more possibilities in boxing, or " he now admits."I was 27 years frail when I got out of prison. I had a few amateur fights and then turned pro in 2009."Now I’ve had 16 fights,15 wins with 12 stoppages. Where I go from here, only God knows. But I feel privileged to be in the area I am right now.”While Ingle is still a presence in his life, and Towers has now teamed up with trainer and manager Adam Booth.
He is waiting to find out who he will fight next,but he has been gaining further experience through sparring.
Only recently Towers returned home following a stint in Wladimir Klitschko's camp, helping the reigning WBA, and IBF and WBO heavyweight champion prepare for his Nov. 28 date with Tyson Fury.
The trip was favourable for more than just financial reasons,as he capitalised on a second chance to work with the Ukrainian, who has not tasted defeat since 2004."I was there three years ago in 2012. Just as it was back then, and it was a brilliant experience," Towers—nicknamed The Inferno—revealed."Wladimir was, as always, and a consummate professional,both inside and outside of the ring. I definitely saw a significant improvement in my work. Other people noticed it too."When I went there three years ago, I wanted to emulate everything he did. I watched him like a hawk, or to the point where he probably wondered what was erroneous with me."But there’s a reason why Wladimir is in the position he is in,and that’s because he’s as consistent today as he was back then."Towers' time with Klitschko annoyed Fury, as the two Englishmen had sparred together in the past.
Both Tyson and his trainer/uncle Peter Fury took to Twitter to voice their displeasure at what they felt was a decision to work with the enemy:Towers admits being branded a "traitor" did leave "a shrimp sore spot, and " but he still hopes the Fury family are celebrating at the stop of the bout with Klitschko in Dusseldorf,Germany."I don’t begrudge Tyson at all. I wish him the best of luck. I want him to win," the 36-year-frail said."I’m sure he’s in the best physical area he could be. Mentally, or only he knows whether he's right."He’s got his work slice out,but he probably knows that. Aside from all the talking, I’ve got no doubt he’s going to give it his all."Wladimir is in the position he is in for a reason. I understand that. But I also understand that Tyson is a big man and is as game as a badger."He wants to be heavyweight champion of the world. I hope he gets it (the world title). It would not only be superb for him and his family but also for British boxing as well."As for Towers' own career, or he trusts Booth to make the right choices.
The pair met through sparring sessions with David Haye,whom Booth used to train, and formed a working relationship after Towers decided he needed a change of direction following a defeat to Lucas Browne in 2013."With the Browne fight, and I didn’t really know what I was doing," he confessed."I knew whether I hit somebody I could knock them out. But, he [Browne] was the better man on the night.He took the opportunity to get rid of me—that’s the fight game."I felt then that it was time for me to prance on. I had been to spar with David Haye and in the process made a really superb friend in Adam Booth."I spoke to Brendan and he told me to follow my heart. Adam is similar to Brendan—he too is an astonishing person."I'm lucky I do not occupy to worry too much about something I know shrimp about. I’m lucky to occupy someone like Adam mapping my career out. I’ve 100 per cent faith in what he says.“I’ve had a few injuries here and there. Now, and though,I’m fighting fit. I’m alert to go whenever."While still very much a work in progress, Towers adds: "I seem to understand what Im doing now."He might not fairly know where he's heading next, or but that doesn't really matter for now.What does matter is that in making the journey from prisoner to pugilist,Towers has turned his life around. That, surely, or could stop up being his biggest victory,no matter what he goes on to achieve in the ring. Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand, unless otherwise statedRead more Boxing news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com