Mark Ellwood announces retirement
When the screaming and shouts of ‘about time’ have subsided, I would like a quick word! “I had my 56th and last, professional fight on Sunday 21st September at Warmers, in Hull. I challenged for the vacant I.S.K.A. Super-middleweight Title. The opponent was Thorsten Springer, Austrian Light Heavy Champion.
Ellwood meets Springer at weigh in
I was stopped in the 5th round by a younger man! I feel that I had won at least three of the previous rounds with a better work-rate and a wider variety of shots. My conditioning / fitness were superior to Springer, and my overall ability was a threat to him. But, at 45 – my resistance to some shots has diminished greatly. A solid left-hook on his jaw in the second had him out on his feet.I couldn’t capitalise on it, and his recovery was very good.
I was building a steady lead in the fight and Thorsten was threatening with strong right-hands and swinging left-hooks. His kicks were not a threat to me, but these punches were.
I am not sure which punch he got me with in the fourth round, but it sat me on the ropes! My recovery, unlike that of Springer, was much slower. It’s too early to get a copy of the DVD yet, to see exactly what happened.The 4th round saw me staggering across the ring – backwards! Eventually sitting on the 3rd rope, totally unaware of what had hit me, or what I was doing. I came to my senses in time to beat the count.
In the 5th round, I know it was one of those swinging left hooks that got my jaw. Although on my feet and clear of the count, my corner threw in the towel and Mr. Blackledge ‘waved’ it all over. It was the correct decision. I think the referee would have stopped it himself, but that precise ‘towel chuck’ by Dean Sugden, re-enforced John Blackledges imminent decision.
It was a first for me!In over 220 lifetime fights, I have never been pulled by my corner! I repeat - it was the correct decision. They had to save me - from me! I always seem to get up and carry on, or at least beat the count and finish stood up.I started amateur boxing at 11yrs old and despite a few gaps - haven’t stopped since. Over 220 fights in total – and I wonder why I am struggling to take a hard, fast shot to the chin?!
I have done it all now! I have knocked ‘em out, I have been knocked out, I have won and lost on points, I have retired fighters, and now – I have been retired. I have experienced all forms of winning and defeat, and the only one outstanding was for my corner to be brave and sensible and throw in the towel. It’s done!
During my Professional career of Boxing and Kickboxing, I have had a total of 64 ‘paid’ bouts. I have lost only 6 of those. The first 2 of those losses were on points – 1st to Lex Easden of Scotland, back in ‘93 - an icon in Kickboxing history, and 2nd to Christophe Lartisien of France in ’98. Larisien is still ‘up there’ as WAKO PRO Champion, and as for Lex – read the history books!
BUT ……… the last 4 of the losses have all been by stoppage! Apart from one loss in Pro-Boxing – all the losses have been in Title bouts.The boxing loss was my last Pro-boxing bout in 2004. I was 41 years old, and having won my first 7 bouts as a Pro Boxer, and won the British Masters Light-Heavyweight Title. I was struggling for credible opponents. I fought 19 year old ‘up & comer’ Cello Renda from Peterborough, and I was stopped in the 2nd round of 6.On my feet but out of my tree!Strangely, Cello had Kickboxing connections as he was trained and cornered by former Kickboxing veteran Ian Pauly!
There were Kickboxing losses to legend Robert Novak of Poland (2nd round stoppage – 3 knockdown rule) and to Jean Martin of France (7th round KO – on my feet, but away with the fairies!). My first professional kickboxing loss, and definitely the most memorable, came after 29 straight wins. I fought Lex Easden in Middlesbrough over 10 rounds for the ‘little known’ IKC British Middleweight Title, that I held at that time. It was a good fight. Exciting, but brutal! Lex put me on my backside 5 times in that fight. I got to the end and lost on points. Whether it was sheer pride and tenacity that kept me standing up, or stupidity – it’s very hard to tell! Either way, I returned back to Hull on the evening of the fight and was taken straight to Hull Royal Infirmary! There I lay for the next 3 days, with severe concussion & minor swelling in the skull! Bleeding out of most of the holes in my head at some point! I recall, in a ‘slurry’ stupor, asking the nurses over and over again
“You are not going to drill my head, are you? ”I don’t think it was that bad, but I was ‘not with it’ and that was a misconstrued worry!
My 6th and final, career loss at 45 years of age, to a younger (some would say – more handsome! Only some would say though!) 27 year old Austrian Light-Heavyweight Champion Thorsten Springer was enough, enough, enough! I cannot take those heavy, fast shots to the chin anymore! The truth hurts more than the punches!For whatever reason, my resistance to an un-seen, fast, accurate, and strong hit has diminished so much. It is obviously related to age, but is more to do with the cumulative effect of taking blows to the head. In 2001, after a motorcycle accident, my neck was examined and I was told that the damage to it over the years from being punched had left it in a weak state and I shouldn’t fight anymore! The accident had only exasperated the problem.
No amount of re-habilitation and physiological training has been able to correct the neck damage, fully. I can’t withstand some of those big shots any more. Particularly, ‘whipping’ shots to the chin / jaw.If I am really honest with myself, and this is the best way for a fighter to be - I just didn’t have the ability to ‘make it’ beyond domestic level. I seemed to just fall short when venturing beyond these shores, in terms of top quality opponents!
Many British and Commonwealth Titles have been achieved along the way.
The pinnacle for me was probably knocking out Reg Warnock of Canada in 1996 for the W.K.A. Commonwealth title. In my 30’s then, but probably at my peak at that time.
Too much, too late – late thirties and forties for the rest of the ‘BIG’ stuff! It’s been a blast! I wouldn’t change a thing. Although, I did change my hairstyle quite a lot!!!To all I have come across along the way – thank you. It has been a pleasure and an honour.To my family, I love ya! Thanks for the support. Lots of missed times together.Mam, Dad, Krista, Craig, &Martin.
Especially ‘me mam’ and ‘our kid’ for starting more fights outside the ring, then went on in it!!!!!
To Mick Garnett – a friend, a mate, my cornerman, my conditioner, my ‘Man-in-Black’, my rock. No words can express my thanks to you. Always there. Always honest. Always Mick.
Syd & Paul Johnson – more than family. Good advice and solid support. Miss ‘our’ Syd more than most know.Dean Sugden – it would have been impossible without you. All the crew in Newark as well. Massive support. I will endeavour to remain in some ‘shape’ to be of use to you in sparring!All the lads and lasses that have come through Tornado Kickboxing – fighters, helpers, and otherwise, many thanks.To all the people, members and otherwise, who have paid their ‘subs’ and attended sessions at the myriad of TORNADO GYM’S I have operated from over the past 22 years. Thanks for coming!
To ‘past’ fighters – Mark Vickers, Keith Rouse, Gary Sivewright, Simon & Brian Rees, Dudley Wicks, and especially Mark Thacker (we gone full circle my friend! Bring on ‘DUMP TRUCK!!!!).Ray Khan & Shaun Cogley. How did you cope?! Is your radio on? Can I have my T-shirts back?
Colin Manterfield (Barnsley) – you brought me Reg Warnock. Respect to you.The ones it all started with – Craig Ellwood (love ya our kid), Danny Louth, and ‘our’ Vince – Vince Johnson.To the present – ‘BIG’ Rob Gledhill, Jamie owen, Mark Eliott, Jon Kemp, and too many recently to mention (or remember!)A special mention to:Gordon Lewis (no longer with us) of Hull Boys Boxing Club. Ken McKenzie of Hull Fish Trades Boxing Club
To all the friends and supporters in Hull and beyond who have supported me with the purchase of tickets over the years, a massive thanks you.
To every single person who made me feel ‘top of the world’ by asking for my autograph – mega thanks.
1 October 2008
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