Colin McMillan epitomised the sweet science

By Matt Bozeat

SITTING unnoticed at the York Corridor this month was an ex-fighter who as soon as made as many headlines as Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn.

Writers made comparisons between Colin ‘Sweet C’ McMillan and Sugar Ray Leonard.

“Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard were my inspirations growing up,” mentioned McMillan, the former WBO featherweight champion, now 58 years previous.

“Ali and Leonard were intelligent fighters, fighters who hit and didn’t get hit.”

At his peak, McMillan was nearly untouchable, as Dennis Adams is aware of higher than anybody.

Adams and McMillan sparred numerous rounds when each have been skilled by the late Howard Rainey.

They stayed in contact after their combating careers ended and McMillan now works as an advisor to Adams’ son, Billy, who he noticed win all six rounds this month in opposition to Marvin Solano at the York Corridor to enhance to 4-0.

“His jab was like lightning,” remembered Dennis Adams of his sparring periods with McMillan.

“The saying in the gym was: ‘When you feel it, throw it.’ As soon as he hit you, you had to throw. If you waited a split second he would be gone.”

These he didn’t punch had their doubts about McMillan.

The Boxing Information headline earlier than he challenged Maurizio Stecca for the WBO featherweight championship in Might, 1992 learn: “Fighter Or Phoney?”

There have been those that thought McMillan an imposter on this hardest of companies. He was too intelligent, too fairly and too good for boxing.

“My parents wanted me to go to university and become a lawyer or accountant,” he mentioned, however as a substitute he fought for cash and had the confidence in himself to tackle the institution.

“I had a struggle with the boxing establishment,” he mentioned, “as a result of I needed to take extra management of my profession.

“I’d go to promoters and ask: ‘What can you do for me?’ and so they didn’t prefer it as a result of they have been used to calling the photographs.

“However in case you are a fighter who has some potential, you possibly can take care of your self and nonetheless achieve success.

“I spoke to lots of former champions and realized from their errors. 

“I wanted to have control of my career, so that when it was all over, I couldn’t blame anyone else. I wanted to make all the decisions.”

‘Sweet C’ was adequate to do it and introduced celebrities to ringside who cherished his lisping politeness and breathtaking abilities.

Placing an early cuts defeat to succesful North London southpaw Alan McKay behind him, McMillan went on to take the British featherweight title from Gary DeRoux in Might, 1991.

“I remember being told before the fight: ‘He doesn’t like it when you put pressure on him,’” remembered DeRoux, “but it’s hard to carry out a game plan when you’re getting hit by fast shots that come from all angles.”

Higher was to observe when 26 -year-old McMillan challenged Stecca at Alexandra Pavilion.

The Italian had received gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and in 45 earlier skilled fights, solely high quality operator Louie Espinoza had overwhelmed him.

Stecca was in his second reign as WBO champion, a winner in six of seven-world title fights, and referred to as a boxer who made few errors.

Promoter Frank Warren had sufficient religion in McMillan to pay Stecca handsomely to come back to North London to make a voluntary defence of his championship.

So comprehensively did ‘Sweet C’ outbox Stecca he turned probably British boxing’s main mild of the time.

“I was around at a great time,” mentioned McMillan. “There was Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn and my name was up there with them. I was in good company.”

The efficiency in opposition to Stecca drew comparisons with British greats from previous eras.

“McMillan’s master show a throwback to the days of Winstone, Buchanan,” learn the Boxing Information entrance web page after McMillan’s masterclass.

For all his expertise, Stecca had no reply to what Jim Watt described throughout commentary for ITV as “perfect boxing” from the challenger.

As early as the bell to finish the second the Italian was exhibiting his frustration and McMillan by no means let him into the battle.

Again and again, Stecca missed and ate jabs. McMillan barely threw a proper hand till the closing rounds. He didn’t must.

“That night was an accumulation of all those years of hard work as an amateur and professional,” mentioned McMillan, “and I used to be so equipped for it.

“I didn’t wish to miss my probability.

“I needed to point out everybody I used to be the greatest in the world. I used to be all the time very aggressive and needed to be the greatest.

“I went in there, took control and put on a show. I controlled the pace. I fought my fight.”

McMillan received by eight rounds on two playing cards, two on the different, and what’s extra, he left the ring and not using a mark on him. 

That evening seemed like a doable platform for McMillan. As a substitute, it proved to be the spotlight.

In his first defence, McMillan was dominated out with a shoulder harm in the eighth spherical in opposition to underrated Colombian Ruben Dario Palacio.

After seven arduous rounds, McMillan was forward on all three scorecards.

“I was on a roll and so much was expected of me,” mentioned McMillan. “There was talk of a unification fight with [WBC champion] Paul Hodkinson.”

McMillan did ultimately get the probability to win again his world title. Palacio examined optimistic for HIV solely 48 hours earlier than his scheduled defence in opposition to John Davison and in stepped Welshman Steve Robinson to battle the North East crowd favorite for the vacant belt.

Boxing with out nerves, Robinson, whose document was an unflattering 13-9-1, received a deserved break up determination. In his first defence, he was matched with McMillan and beat him on factors.

“After the shoulder popped out I was never the same,” mentioned McMillan. “I became a British champion, but I wasn’t the same fighter anymore. The shoulder injury cut my career short.”

The top got here after Paul Ingle took away the British title in January, 1997.

“I’m philosophical about it,” mentioned McMillan, who completed with a document of 31-4 (14).

“The way in which I take a look at it, I’m glad my shoulder harm occurred after I received the world title and never earlier than it.

“My goal was all the time to go to the Olympics and win a world title. I didn’t go to the Olympics, however I beat an Olympic champion for the world title.

“I know in myself I could have gone on to achieve bigger and better things. But it wasn’t to be.”

McMillan sees similarities between himself and Billy Adams, a classy southpaw from Upminster who’s received all 18 rounds he’s boxed as a professional.

“Billy’s dream was to go to the Olympics,” he mentioned, “and that was mine as effectively.

“Billy couldn’t make the weight. It wasn’t meant to be for either of us.”

Although he didn’t attain the Olympics, Adams did have worldwide expertise with the Nice Britain squad throughout his 53-7 newbie profession and he confirmed his high quality when education the harmful Solano.

“I watched a lot of Billy’s amateur bouts,” mentioned McMillan. “I could see he had potential.”

McMillan thought he was completed with boxing administration after dealing with Audley Harrison early in his professional profession, together with Terry Dunstan, ‘Mighty’ Joe Younger and Nigel Benn’s cousins, Paul and Michael Bowen.

From 2012, he has centered on the Colin McMillan Boxing Coaching Academy that’s primarily based at Redbridge Sport and Leisure Centre and in addition visits native colleges to advertise boxing’s values.

McMillan was given the British Empire Medal in the 2019 New 12 months’s honours’ record in recognition of his charity work earlier than returning to professional boxing with Hamzah Sheeraz and his cousin, Umar Khan.

“I still go to shows and run a dinner show once a year for Barking Amateur Boxing Club,” he mentioned. 

“Hamzah’s dad Kam is energetic in the amateurs [with Five Star ABC] and he needed me to see Hamzah and Umar.

“I noticed them working, had a chat with them and mentioned: ‘Yes.’ I got here in as a technical advisor and mentor. 

“I cross on some technical ideas and provides them recommendation about life outdoors boxing as effectively.

“I have been with them four or five years now. It’s exciting to be involved with some talented fighters again.”

Sheeraz mentioned: “I’ve watched Colin’s fights and he was fidgety and quick. Boxing is like chess and the key is thinking a move or two ahead. You don’t want them to know what you’re going to do next.”