Latest news with #Greaves
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘I was there to lose' – Confessions of journeyman boxer who LOST 96 fights but has WON battles with cocaine and booze
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Johnny Greaves is one of Britain's most celebrated journeyman boxers Credit: Rex 5 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. READ MORE IN BOXING GLOVE AND HATE Fisher opens up on backstabbers who turned on him after Allen win 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. '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. Britain's next Tyson Fury set for world title & Taylor urged to fight on | Split Decision 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. '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?' '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. 'I boxed the best fighters in the world - Anthony Crolla, Jamie Cox, Johan Perez. '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.' 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. '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.' 5 Johnny Greaves in action against Dan Stewart in 2009 Credit: PA:Press Association 5 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. 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. '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. '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. "I had 100 professional fights, I won just four. To anyone who doesn't understand the game, you're no better than useless. You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, 0800 585 858 Heads Together, HUMEN Mind, 0300 123 3393 Papyrus, 0800 068 41 41 Samaritans, 116 123 '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. 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.' 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
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I was there to lose' – Confessions of journeyman boxer who LOST 96 fights but has WON battles with cocaine and booze
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 . Advertisement 5 Johnny Greaves is one of Britain's most celebrated journeyman boxers Credit: Rex 5 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. Advertisement READ MORE IN BOXING 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. Advertisement Most read in Sport Breaking '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. Britain's next Tyson Fury set for world title & Taylor urged to fight on | Split Decision 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. Advertisement '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?' Advertisement '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. Advertisement '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.' Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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.' 5 Johnny Greaves in action against Dan Stewart in 2009 Credit: PA:Press Association 5 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement "I had 100 professional fights, I won just four. To anyone who doesn't understand the game, you're no better than useless. You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, Heads Together, HUMEN Mind, Papyrus, Samaritans, '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. Advertisement 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.' Advertisement 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 5 You can buy Johnny's book, Bright Lights & Dark Corners, now Advertisement
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fallon Sherrock shows true colours as she makes feelings known on Beau Greaves
Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves are two of the top female darts players in the world, but they evidently don't let their rivalry get in the way of mutual respect for one another In the electrifying world of darts, few rivalries capture the imagination quite like that of Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves. Sherrock, the trailblazing Queen of the Palace, made history as the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship back in 2019. Greaves, the reigning women's world No. 1, has dominated the Women's Series with an unmatched consistency that has cemented her status as a darts prodigy. Together, their rivalry pushes the boundaries of the sport, showcasing the growing prominence of women in a traditionally male-dominated arena. Speaking to Online Darts on Tuesday, Sherrock opened up about the dynamic of their rivalry. "Yeah, it's a fierce rivalry," she said. "But it's because when we play, we bring out the best in each other. "There's never one of us really folding, it's always nip and tuck – and I think that's what makes it such a good watch because we both refuse to give up." Unlike past rivalries where opponents might have given her the cold shoulder, Sherrock showed her true colours as she actually appreciates the camaraderie she shares with Greaves. "I actually enjoy the friendly rivalry. We're sat upstairs, we're talking and stuff like that. In the past, if I've had a rivalry with someone, they would just ignore me. So it's kind of nice." Sherrock, 30, also voiced her support for Greaves, 21, potentially competing in the PDC World Darts Championship instead of focusing solely on the Women's World Championship – as she's done in the past two years. "I hope [she does] because of her run at the UK Open – how she's playing at the Challenge Tour and the Development Tour and stuff like that, her game is in a really good place," Sherrock said. "Why would you not just challenge it and compete at the Worlds? Because if you go on a run at the Worlds, or win the Worlds, your life changes completely." Reflecting on Greaves' talent back in October, Sherrock was full of praise. When asked by Wayne Mardle on Club 501 if she'd ever seen a female player as talented as Beau 'n' Arrow, she replied: "Not as consistent, no. "There are youth players and stuff that you see coming through the system who had talent. But they never had the consistency and never stuck to it. Whereas Beau's always been that good, and then now she's had the consistency doing it on a regular basis, you can see why she's number one." The Buckinghamshire-born star also noted the ripple effect Greaves has on the Women's Series, where opponents raise their game to challenge the top-ranked player, often hitting impressive 90-plus averages. Sherrock's rise to fame began in 2019 with her ground-breaking performances at Alexandra Palace and captured global attention. Greaves, meanwhile, has carved her own path with a relentless work ethic and a game that blends precision with power. At just 21, she has already secured multiple Women's World Matchplay titles and consistently delivers high averages that rival the best in the sport. She recently pushed former world champion Luke Humphries to the limit at the UK Open in February, narrowly losing 10-7 to the world No. 1. "We all know Beau's potential, we all just want her to go and succeed," Sherrock told ITV earlier in the day. "It's so good for the women's game, and I'm like, 'Come on Beau, keep going.'" Greaves has been equally positive about Sherrock in the past. Back in 2022, the Doncaster-born star hailed Sherrock's 2019 run in the World Darts Championship, suggesting it had inspired her own ascent in the sport. "What Fallon did was brilliant, you can't take it away from her," Greaves said. "She did brilliant darts and obviously the opportunities anyone would take... I don't want to be compared to Fallon in stuff like that, what she did was amazing, but I want to do my own thing and just sort of keep to myself and keep enjoying it."
Techday NZ
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Techday NZ
NZ government agencies urged to adopt AI to fix records gap
A report from New Zealand's Chief Archivist has found significant non-compliance among government agencies with the Public Records Act 2005. The 2023/24 Annual Report, issued by Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga (Archives New Zealand), indicates that a substantial majority of government agencies are struggling to meet statutory requirements for recordkeeping. According to the report, two-thirds of surveyed agencies are categorised at early stages of maturity with only seven agencies achieving compliance levels of 50 percent or above. The report draws attention to enduring challenges such as reliance on manual processes, inadequate visibility of information, and insufficient integration between digital systems. These issues are exacerbated by a decrease in information governance capability, with the number of records team personnel falling by more than 15 percent over the last two years. Rachael Greaves, Chief Executive Officer at Castlepoint Systems, commented that the report data highlights systemic problems that have yet to be addressed. "Agencies are expected to meet increasing regulatory and ethical obligations, but are often left without the tools or resources to do so effectively. Automation is now essential to reduce risk, protect citizens, and uphold trust." The consequences of inadequate recordkeeping have been most pronounced for vulnerable groups, particularly those in State and faith-based care. The Annual Report states that these failings are a core concern in the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, cautioning that recordkeeping gaps can impede efforts for redress and exacerbate harm for affected individuals. In response to these challenges, some New Zealand government agencies have turned to automated tools with the aim of boosting information transparency and meeting compliance obligations without increasing workloads. Central and regional agencies are reportedly implementing AI-based solutions to classify and manage records across disparate systems, which is contributing to more efficient and accountable public service operations. These emerging tools, including Castlepoint's AI platform, are in accordance with Archives New Zealand's published AI guidance and aid compliance with regulatory requirements such as the Temporary Care Records Protection Instruction. They are also being deployed to identify and administer sensitive records, including those concerning iwi, hapū, marae, and historic abuse in care. Castlepoint's technology, which carries Tier 2 information security endorsement from the New Zealand Government and ISO 27001 certification, is being used to integrate compliance processes into agencies' everyday operations, reducing the reliance on resource-heavy, standalone efforts. Greaves emphasised that the need for responsible information management goes beyond public agencies. "Any organisation that handles sensitive or regulated information needs to think seriously about how they manage and preserve records. The longer the gaps persist, the greater the risk of harm." The report signals a growing call within New Zealand's public sector for responsible adoption of automation and AI to address compliance weaknesses and safeguard public trust.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Budget Fails To Support Costs Of Social Service Delivery
Press Release – Presbyterian Support Northern We would have liked to see more focus on adequate funding and support of the NGO and charity sectors that deliver the bulk of social service contracts. Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN) welcomes some of the new investment announcements in today's Budget 2025, but is concerned about rising costs for social service providers. 'PSN is pleased to see updates to the Accommodation Supplement boundaries, Working for Families abatement threshold increases, and continued food bank funding,' says PSN CEO Shaun Greaves. 'However, we would have liked to see more focus on adequate funding and support of the NGO and charity sectors that deliver the bulk of social service contracts. 'In the case of PSN, we have seen a consistent year on year reduction in Government funding in real terms, and each year this reduction in support impacts the level of services we can undertake for our clients. 'While we acknowledge that the Government needs to reduce costs, spending restraint should not be at a cost to social service organisations who take up the responsibility of caring for vulnerable New Zealanders hardest hit by a faltering economy.' Greaves says the Government's launch of the Social Investment Fund last week was an encouraging sign, but it's equally important to invest in ensuring organisations are able to continue delivering on existing social service contracts. 'One of our concerns from Budget 2025 is the lack of support for community providers in delivering the increases in Kiwisaver employer contributions. 'This is an extra cost, which although is good for our employees, will take money away from our frontline service delivery.' While Greaves acknowledges the Budget 2025 investment in overhauling the way emergency services respond to 111 mental health call outs, he says it falls short of supporting critical services like Lifeline, a major mental health helpline. 'Lifeline is an important national suicide and mental health helpline delivered by PSN,' he says. We receive nearly 90,000 calls and 240,000 texts a year, but receive no Government funding. We would have liked to see more in the budget to support Lifeline as we're often the first point of call for people in mental distress.' Greaves says that while the increase in the abatement threshold for Working for Families will help more families, the downside is that the first year of the Best Start payment will be income tested. 'This is a concern for us as it's critical for first time parents to have that extra payment to help them give their child the best possible start in life. 'At PSN, we deliver many Government contracts across a wide range of social services, as well as disability support and aged care services. 'Budget 2025 is a missed opportunity to truly support children and families doing it tough, and invest in a better future for our country. 'As a valued partner (with 140 years of service) PSN will continue to work constructively with government and communities to deliver impactful, value-for-money solutions to the issues our country is grappling with.'
