‘I was there to lose' – Confessions of journeyman boxer who LOST 96 fights but has WON battles with cocaine and booze

The Irish Sun

31-05-2025

JOURNEYMAN boxer Johnny Greaves battled drugs, booze, depression and abuse throughout his 100-fight pro career.
The 46-year-old East Londoner admits he was 'no better than useless' as he lost
96 TIMES
.
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Johnny Greaves is one of Britain's most celebrated journeyman boxers
Credit: Rex
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Greaves had 100 fights, winning his final
Credit: Getty
He would take some fights at the last minute, entering the ring on a stomach of lager, while also battling a debilitating cocaine habit and praying he would
LOSE
to guarantee further pay-days.
Fans would
SPIT
on him as he walked into the ring and Greaves admitted that, at times, he was treated 'no better than a dog.'
But, no matter how big a beating he took, he never missed a day working as a self-employed painter-decorator to put food on the table for his missus Vicky, daughter Ruby and son Teddy.
When Greaves turned pro in 2007, aged 30, he'd already fought 50 unlicensed and 30 amateur bouts.
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But after being told he would earn just £800 a fight as a new pro, building up his name and needing to sell tickets, he swapped to the away corner.
Knowing he could make almost £2,000 a pop as an opponent for up-and-coming stars, he forfeited his desire to be a champ.
Greaves has relived his astonishing career for a new book called Bright Lights and Dark Corners
And in an exclusive SunSport interview, Greaves revealed: 'At the time I was skint. I didn't have a lot of work on.
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'Vicky and I had just moved into a place, Teddy had just been born with severe clubfoot, so he was in and out of hospitals every other day.
'I was struggling badly.'
However, his decision kick-started one of the most celebrated journeyman boxing careers in Britain, with Greaves fighting up to
20 TIMES
a year.
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Recalling his 2008 points loss to Ryan Walsh, Greaves revealed: 'I'd just opened my third can of Fosters when my phone rang at 4.30pm on the Saturday.
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'I took the fight, agreed the money and was in the ring boxing at the Excel Arena at about ten past six.'
On another occasion in 2012, Greaves, who also has a coaching licence, was set to act as a cornerman for Jody Meikle at York Hall - only to fight opponent Eren Arif himself.
Greaves added: 'I remember the promoter running out asking, 'What do you weigh?' I replied, '10st 6?'
'He continued, 'Do you want a fight?' I said, 'F***, what are you paying?'
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'So we discussed the money, then I phoned the missus to meet me at the station with a bag, my shorts, boots and a gum shield.
'She passed the bag over the counter, I rushed back to York Hall and I was fighting about half an hour after that.'
Greaves is very honest about the fight game, insisting money came first for him and winning could have affected his chances of earning.
It's not what a lot of people think, how the boxing game works. But let's have it right - it's a business, it's not sport.
Johnny Greaves
He said: 'I don't wanna make it look like it's bent, but, look, I boxed nine world champions, I boxed over 20 British champions.
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'I boxed the best fighters in the world -
'Or, you're boxing against young lads that look, let's have it right, if you win these fights, you're gonna lose work for yourself, you then become a risk, so you play the game.
'You don't let your hands go against these kids, you play through, get through nice and safe, get paid, lose on points, hopefully.
"And then you fight again the week after.'
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But while he was boxing, Greaves harboured a secret not even his family knew.
He was battling a cocaine addiction so fierce he would even take it on fight nights.
He confessed: 'I'm disgusted about the way I went through things with the drugs through my career.
'Things were pretty crazy'
'Recreational drugs, nothing performance enhancing. If anything it's performance debilitating, to be honest.
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'Getting through packets of cocaine, just just to control my nerves, control my moods. I had a habit and I'm really disgusted about it.'
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Johnny Greaves in action against Dan Stewart in 2009
Credit: PA:Press Association
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Johnny Greaves with a swollen eye against Bradley Skeete in 2011
Credit: Getty
In 2009, Greaves fought Oisin Fagan in Dublin on the back of a massive booze bender.
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Greaves recalled: 'I was on my own in a hotel room and up all hours of the night doing what I was doing.
'I got in and boxed the top Irish lad the next day. Things were pretty crazy then.'
Greaves has now overcome his cocaine habit and has been working painting The Shard at London Bridge Station.
He added: 'My family were always well provided for. My whole life has been about providing for my kids.
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'But my release, getting away and forgetting about my life as a loser, would be to go and get smashed and forget about it.'
The toughest part of my boxing career was dealing with the abuse that I was getting.
Johnny Greaves
He has also beaten his booze demons.
But still suffers from depression, still bears the mental scars of fighting against vulgar, hostile crowds.
And he said: 'I've always been weak mentally, suffered a hell of a lot with depression and suicidal thoughts, very low self-esteem.
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'And look, when you're in front of crowds of 900 people all screaming and shouting and slagging you off and laughing at your record, it was emotionally tough.
'The toughest part of my boxing career was dealing with the abuse I was getting.
'Why would I want my son coming to watch me get beaten and suffer dogs' abuse from the crowd?
'I've had people spit on me when walking into the ring, it's a nasty game. I was treated no better than a dog at times.
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"I had 100 professional fights, I won just four. To anyone who doesn't understand the game, you're no better than useless.
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'People just don't understand the game and the business model of how boxing actually works.
'So dealing with things mentally and emotionally was tough.'
Greaves had just one rule when he fought - his friends and family were banned from attending.
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He explained: 'Look, I'm there to lose. I don't want my wife and kids seeing that.'
However, he made an exception for his final fight in 2013 when he BEAT Dan Carr at York Hall to bow out with a victory in front of 500 of his fans.
Greaves beamed: 'I fought my heart out and trained like a beast. I would have boxed anyone in my last fight and been confident enough to win it.
'I would have boxed King Kong that last time and I'm pretty sure I would have at put up a good fight.'
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Greaves opens up on his astonishing career in his biography, Bright Lights and Dark Corners, which is on sale now.
Detailing his boxing life in black and white helped him KO the demons that plagued his years in the ring.
He said: 'This book has been a therapy session for me, it's about getting a lot off my chest.'
Bright Lights & Dark Corners by Johnny Greaves is available to buy now at
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You can buy Johnny's book, Bright Lights & Dark Corners, now
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