Ross' with his dad Alan Minter.
 Ross "The Boss" Minter is born.
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Ross fought on and soon it was
time once again to fight in the ABA's. He gave up work for a few
weeks and trained with Jim to get in shape for the competition.
Ross got to the London Final and again got beaten on points - though
this time on computer scoring '15-17'. He lost to Luke Dawes who
he had beaten previously on a gym show two months earlier. Ross
was very disappointed with the decision and felt cheated by amateur
boxing as he looked back on his career. He then decided to turn
professional to the disappointment of Jim and the Lodge, but Ross
felt he owed it to himself to be the best he could be. This would
be as a professional, as his grandfather had always thought.
Ross started training most nights as a pro with Trevor Cattouse.
Prior to meeting with a manager Ross talked with his father Alan,
and together they met with Frank Warren. A deal was set and papers
were signed - Ross had become a Pro. He adopted the ring name "The
Boss" a title his grandfather had awarded him years before.Ross "The Boss" Minter was born.
Trevor and Ross trained religiously every night in various gyms.
The most commonly frequented was owned by Mickey Crowe of Crowe
Scaffolding. The use of this local private gym, that Mickey very
kindly let Ross and Trevor use for one to one work, was a great
asset to help them focus on and pin pointing areas of weakness without
distraction.
They travelled around sparring with different fighters including
at the time The British Welterweight Champion Harry Dhami, Such
quality sparring brought Ross on and Trevor was eventually happy
that Ross was ready for his pro debut. The press coverage was immense
for the debut of 'Minter's son'. Ross and Alan attended a press
conference where afterwards Ross was complimented on being one of
the best talkers in front of a camera that they had interviewed.
Ross won his debut against journeyman Brian Coleman who had fought
125 pro fights. Ross kept on winning until his 7th fight when he
fought a Light Middleweight ex-world title contender Howard Clarke.
The doctor pulled Ross out in the second round after he sustained
a very bad cut under his left eye. This was caused by Clarke's first
punch in that round. Ross was treated by the ringside doctor and
was given seven stitches straight after the fight. A few weeks after
this fight Ross was introduced to a fitness trainer Dave Richardson.
Dave is the owner of the Lifeline
Personal Fitness Centre in Hurst Green, he was able to add some
scientific knowledge and structure into the tough training regime
of the boxer. This helped Ross immensely and was supported through
the nutritional help of SIS, including the structured balance of
rest and concentrated work which Dave introduced, helped Ross became
a better and enhanced athlete.
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