SPARE a prayer for middleweight novice John Harding Jr trapped in a Portugal on COVID-19 lockdown sparring heavyweight monster Dillian Whyte.
When the Brixton Body Snatcher thought he had a fight booked with Alexander Povetkin for May 2, he arranged a camp in sunnier climes.
Harding Jr and Whyte escaped to Portugal days before the UK lockdown
Dillian Whyte trains alongside and spars middleweight John Harding Jr
The 31-year-old animal lover packed his giant dogs into the car and made the 40-hour drive, telling close friend and training partner Harding Jr to catch a flight.
It should have been a dream camp for the 35-year-old to be part of but the Manchester Arena card has since been KO’d by COVID-19 and the fearless 11st 6lbs fighter is now a human punchbag for the frustrated 18st fans’ favourite.
Battered and bruised but somehow still laughing, 8-1-1 Harding Jr told SunSport: “It looked like the perfect trip when Dillian called me, it’s always an honour and a privilege when he asks me to be involved in his camp.
“When he told me he was making that long drive over with the giant dogs in the back, I was worried he would ask me to be in the car with him but luckily a couple of us got a flight out instead.
“The camp is great, we have a private gym that only we use a couple of times a day, it’s just train, eat, sleep and rest.
“We were here a few days when the email from British Boxing Board came out, first fights were stopped until the end of April and we hoped the Povetkin fight would be fine. But then the second email came to confirm the break had been extended.
“It’s a massive shame but it has to be done to protect everyone. Dillian hasn’t said much about how disappointed he is but some of his shots in the gym have given it away.”
Dillian Whyte drove from London to Portugal so he could take his giant dogsCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
Despite the huge disparity in size and weight, Harding Jr has sparred with the WBC interim champ since his camp before the 2018 Joseph Parker win.
Heavyweight journeymen are easy to come by for Whyte to practice trading bombs with, but finding little snipers willing to share a ring to keep him sharp are far harder to come by.
“People have always been shocked to learn me and Dillian spar but hopefully it benefits us both, I know I learn so much” Harding said.
“Sharing a ring and going toe-to-toe has even made us closer friends, I think he respects that I do it and I am so grateful to learn from him, even though lessons can take a couple of days to recover from.
“I always try to offer him the sharper things that his usual big partners cannot do but sometimes we do just have a trade-off.
On Tuesday we got rid of the round timer, no bell, and just went for it.”
Harding Jr, like so many British fighters, works part-time as a personal trainer but the lockdown and social distancing orders have floored the fitness industry and second income source.
With boxing on shutdown, public gyms closed and most businesses on hiatus, Harding – who wanted a busy 2020 following a failed late-notice shot at the English title last year – has no reason to come home.
Instead he will focus on helping Whyte stay sharp and hope to return to a healthier UK with a backlog of shows to feature on.
He said: “Being locked away and training twice a day means we are shielded from a lot of the news but I have friends at home who have lost loved ones and it’s terrible.
“Right now, as dangerous as Dillian is in the ring, it is probably safer to be out here, with a secure gym, fresh food and good weather.
“I am not even sure how easy it would be to get back into the UK right now and travelling home for us is not essential so there is no need to add to the strain people are facing.
“When the time is right we will come back, I will have learned so much from Dillian and all of his team again and I know he will give Povetkin hell once that fight is rearranged.”
John Harding Jr is proudly sponsored by Vow nutrition, London Cryo, MyPhysio Croydon, Anytime Fitness Croydon Central and BLSCC Strength and Conditioning
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
