Spencer Oliver
Former European Super Bantamweight Champion and Sports Writers Boxer of the Year Spencer Oliver is regarded by many as being one of the most exciting and dynamic boxers to come out of the UK, his high-intensity and exhilarating style being hugely popular both home and abroad. Born into a boxing family, he began training at the age of seven under the guidance of his late father Jimmy Oliver, a well-respected trainer who as well as Spencer, trained WBC Heavyweight Title challenger Dereck Chisora and London 2012 Olympic Super Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua.
Amateur Career
Born in 1975, Spencer showed promise from an early age, winning his first bout on his eleventh birthday. This promise continued, going on to win 75 of his 85 fights, an impressive achievement by anyone's standards. His amateur career peaked in 1994, winning the Amateur Boxing Association Bantamweight title, a silver medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and he was also given the honour of being named London's Amateur Boxer of the Year. With such impressive credentials, it was perhaps inevitable that Spencer would turn professional, and in 1995 he did just that, beating veteran southpaw Des Gargano on points at the Tryst Sports Centre in Cumbernauld, Scotland.
Professional Career
Although they may look similar, there is a huge chasm between amateur boxing and professional boxing. Professionals box as a full-time job, fight longer rounds in longer bouts and have the pressure of knowing that boxing isn't just a hobby any more but a career. In true Spencer Oliver style though he made the transition look easy, a testament to both his talent and his work ethic. He went on to win his next eight bouts and then in 1997 he beat Patrick Mullings on points for the Southern Area Super Bantamweight title in a hard-fought match in Cheshunt, Herts. His next title was only two months away, and in the May of that year, he fought the highly regarded Bulgarian Martin Krastev for the European Super Bantamweight Championship at the Picketts Lock Stadium in Edmonton, North London. Spencer's all-action style was too much for the Bulgarian, and the fight was stopped in the fourth round, Spencer coming out a worthy winner.
As European champion, Spencer successfully defended his title three times, stopping Fabrice Benichou and winning points decisions against Serge Poilblan and Vincenzo Belcastro. Spencer's last fight was in 1998 against the Ukrainian, Serhiy Divakov, losing by KO in the tenth round. Sustaining a serious head injury, it was due to boxing's emphasis on safety that meant the injury was diagnosed and treated early and ultimately this led to Spencer making a full recovery.
The future- Boxingschool.co.uk
Following his retirement after the Divakov fight, Spencer went on to carve out a successful media career, and he can be regularly found on Sky Sports as one of their most popular pundits and commentators. As someone who has gained so much from boxing however, Spencer has always wanted to give something back, and it is for this reason that he decided to start his own boxing school. Boxing has so much to offer everyone, from children who want an exciting, safe and healthy hobby, to young professionals who want something a liitle bit more exhilarating than simply 'going to the gym'. Spencer Oliver's non-contact boxing schools offer everyone a safe, fun and exciting way to get fit and learn the vital life lessons of discipline and respect for both themselves and others.
“Boxing is my life, it's my passion and I still have the same passion for the sport today as I did when I boxed. That's why I stayed in the gyms and do the TV work - because I love it”. And it is this passion that Spencer hopes to pass on through his boxing schools.
