Everything for a Reason: Rendall Munroe has come to terms with not winning a world title

LOOKING back, Rendall Munroe finds reasons to be glad he didnโ€™t become a world champion.

โ€œI turned pro [in 2003] because [late uncle Dave] โ€˜Stickyโ€™ [Pratt] said: โ€˜Youโ€™ve got a kid and you need to make some money out of boxing,โ€™โ€ he said. โ€œDad told me: โ€˜When you get titles, then the money will come.โ€™

โ€œThe goal was to earn enough money to have a house to live in and have another one to rent out. If I had won the world title and made two or three defences, I would have done that, but where would I be now?

โ€œI would be just roaming around doing nothing with my days. Because I didnโ€™t win the world title, I go into schools working with kids and have my own gym. I believe that is what I was meant to do – and Iโ€™ve ended up with two houses anyway.โ€

Munroe, who won Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight titles and challenged for the WBC belt in his 34-fight career, always did make sense of setbacks โ€“ โ€œthings happen for a reasonโ€ โ€“ and believes there was meaning behind a glum-looking Joe Ducker walking into his gym in Leicester a couple of years ago.

Munroe and Ducker trained alongside each other at the Shinfieldsโ€™ gym from where โ€œThe Boxing Binmanโ€ fought throughout his pro career and Munroe said: โ€œJoe is the reason I got my trainerโ€™s licence. He came in my gym one day and didnโ€™t look happy and asked me to train him. I wasnโ€™t sure I could do it.

โ€œI still get a buzz from sparring and thought I wouldnโ€™t be able to spar if I was a licensed trainer. I went to see the Board and they said: โ€˜Of course you can spar your fighters. It should improve them.โ€™

โ€œI got my licence and started training Joe. He won one, lost one and asked me if he was good enough to win the Midlands title. I told him: โ€˜Of course you are.โ€™โ€

Munroe was proved right, Ducker taking the Midlands Area lightweight title off Ishmael Ellis in Solihull last July with a 10-round points win. Ducker looks set to resume his pro career after a health scare and Sean Bruce is the latest addition to Munroeโ€™s stable.

โ€œI remember Sean as a good amateur [with Earl Shilton ABC] and he said he was boxing unlicensed to rebuild his confidence,โ€ said Munroe. โ€œI told him: โ€˜Youโ€™re wasting your time boxing unlicensed. Youโ€™re too good for that. You should turn pro.โ€™โ€

Bruce has his second pro fight on manager Carl Greavesโ€™ show in Leicester on March 11 when another of Munroeโ€™s fighters, Lianne Bush, will also be matched.

Munroe says training fighters has saved him from the temptation of returning to the ring. Always a fitness fanatic, Munroe entered natural body building competitions after retiring in 2014 after defeat to Josh Warrington and toyed with the idea of fighting again.

โ€œI could still fight again,โ€ said the 42-year-old, โ€œbut I wouldnโ€™t get the same opportunities. I donโ€™t want people paying me to get their name on my record. Iโ€™m not too proud to get up and go to work like everyone else.

โ€œI could get paid ยฃ50,000 for a fight โ€“ and spend it all on hospital bills.

โ€œThereโ€™s always fresh blood coming through on the conveyor belt and I decided to step off with my head held high instead of falling off it and having people talk about how good I used to be. People end up remembering you the wrong way if you carry on too long.โ€

munroe and bruce copy
Rendall Munroe and Sean Bruce

Munroe will be remembered as a fighter unfortunate to miss out on winning a world belt. He had two wins over Kiko Martinez in European title defences and on a memorable night in Coventry in April 2010, he thrashed Mexicoโ€™s Victor Terrazas, who went on to win a version of the world title.

โ€œWhen I got my chance (to win the WBC title), I had to go to Japan (to challenge Toshiaki Nishioka in October, 2010). If you look at the end of the fight, I started crying and punched my corner. I knew that was my big chance and I might not get another.โ€

Martinez got more opportunities after Munroe beat him twice. Munroe took the European title off the Spaniard in Nottingham in March, 2008 with a majority points vote and 11 months later, he dished out a 12-round beating in Barnsley.

โ€œI tell people: โ€˜Donโ€™t write Kiko off,โ€™โ€ said Munroe. โ€œPeople seem to think: โ€˜Heโ€™s been around forever, he must be ancient,โ€™ but he wasnโ€™t that old when I beat him. He was 21 years old the first time I beat him and I was 27.โ€

More than a decade on from their two fights, Martinez is still fighting, while Munroe has found a new focus.

โ€œI get the same enjoyment out of training,โ€ he said, โ€œand I donโ€™t get punched in the face anymore! As a fighter, I was world class, but Iโ€™m still an apprentice as a trainer, Iโ€™m still learning. When I boxed, I was always watching fighters who I wanted to be as good as and now I study the coaches who are at the top.

โ€œI have the insight because Iโ€™ve been there and done it myself.โ€

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