The cut required seven stitches.
 Ross
with Trevor Cattouse.
 Ross
with his trainers Johnny Eames and Peter Swinney.
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After four months healing Ross
was back in the ring with a first round KO win against tough durable
Irishman Dafydd Carlin. Back to winning ways Ross then fought John
Boy Marshall in his 12th contest. In this fight Ross won the first
three rounds with no problems until at the end of the 3rd they clashed
heads and Minter went back to his corner with an inch gash to his
forehead. With the great Dennie Mancini in his corner (as always)
he could get through the next three rounds though losing them through
trouble seeing. The fight was declared a draw.
The cut required seven stitches, and after four months trying to
heal, it became apparent that there were problems, as the scar remained
very painful and lumpy.
Ross was advised to see a plastic surgeon called Patrick Whitfield
who had stitched his father on numerous occasions. Mr Whitfield
had to reopen and cut out a lot of scar tissue that had formed around
Vaseline which had not been cleaned out during the stitching after
the fight. This operation then required another ten months to heal
properly.
With this massive blow Ross ever optimistic, kept training and learning
his trade. With Trevor's help Ross started coming into his own in
the gym.
Through his career Ross has held down a full time job, training
in the evening and running in the morning. But Ross found it hard
finding sparring as most pro fighters train during the day. Then
when Ross got made redundant it gave him the push he needed to become
a full time Pro. Unfortunately Trevor had family and work commitments
and was unable to join Ross in full time training.
"When I stopped working I found it so much easier training
during the day. I now have the time to put in more structured training
and get the well needed rest, necessary for my body to develop and
work efficiently. The hardest thing though, was having to find a
different trainer as Trevor and I had been a team for so long and
had become very good friends. I will always be in debt to him for
the support and belief he has installed in me. The work he has put
in was above and beyond his role as a trainer."
Alan contacted a trainer (that had previously been brought in
by Doug to help take Alan to another level in the latter stages
of his career) - A great fighter turned trainer Bobby Neill. Ross
trained under his guidance for his next fight which went well, but
due to Bobby's growing struggles with arthritis Ross was encouraged
to go to the TKO Gym in West Ham where he had previously visited
for sparring. Doug saw a lot of potential in Ross but also recognised the pressure
he was under, being in the local spot light, and as a result sought
out a gym further afield and so introduced Ross to Jimmy Dawson
the Foley ABC trainer who Doug had trained years before.
Ross bonded well with the two trainers Johnny Eames and Peter Swinney. Bobby, John and Peter worked with Ross for the next fight against tough journeyman Ernie Smith which he won on points. People said that the movement and confidence Ross had gained over the past year and a half was shining through. After this fight Ross decided to continue his training at West Ham, fitting in very quickly"I find the atmosphere in the gym very motivating. John and Peter get on so well, their styles of training compliment one another, and suit me perfectly. The stable of current and future champions spur each other on. They help me as I help them in sparring and pushing each other through tough groundwork, building great unity and respect between us. I find it easy to learn from watching the skills of the other fighters." |
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