Reuben Moynihan-Case sat down with Conor Millward at DCT Boxing Academy, to discuss his late start in the sport, his decision to go pro, and why he believes Nottingham is fast becoming a major hub for British boxing.
Nottingham’s sporting flame has never burned brighter. With Leigh Wood drawing sell-out crowds at the Motorpoint Arena, Ekow Essuman preparing to welcome former undisputed champion Josh Taylor to the welterweight ranks, and rising stars like Ezra Taylor making serious noise, boxing has been a key flagbearer for the city’s recent successes.
Now, another name is emerging from the city’s fight scene: Conor Millward, also known as The Bulwell Bomber. At 26 years old, Millward is preparing to turn professional, awaiting a summer date for his debut bout. With a clear sense of pride in his Nottingham roots, and a full-time role supporting children with mental health challenges, Millward is fighting for far more than belts - he’s boxing for his community.
Talk to me about your decision to turn pro…
It’s always been something I wanted to do! When I first started boxing, it was always in the back of my mind, it was just about being disciplined, being focused and being committed enough. And getting myself in a position in life that would enable me to fully commit and give it my all.
You started boxing at seventeen - which is later than most - what drove you to step into the gym at that point in your life?
I was a bit of a bad lad! I kept getting into street fights, but the funny thing was... is that I just kept winning! And I thought to myself, I must be half decent at fighting. So, I just walked into a boxing gym one day and I saw these two lads sparring and I thought, “Wow, this is a whole different world! I need to get good at this.
Inside and outside of the ring it changed my life, the way I was acting, the way I was behaving, the things I was doing and the people I was hanging around with – boxing took me away from all of that and gave me something to work towards.
For young people, how powerful do you believe boxing can be to channel energy and build discipline?
When I was a youngster myself, at seventeen, I didn’t feel like there were a lot of opportunities for me as a young lad and boxing gave me the opportunity to change my life. Inside and outside of the ring it changed my life, the way I was acting, the way I was behaving, the things I was doing and the people I was hanging around with – boxing took me away from all of that and gave me something to work towards.
You’re already making a positive impact in the community through your role as a support worker for children with mental health challenges - do you feel that experience puts you in a strong position to continue inspiring young people through boxing as well?
It’s so good to give back to the whole community. It’s quite a rewarding job in that sense. I enjoy it thoroughly and it is nice to be able to go on that journey of development with the kids that I work with, seeing them progress from where they started to where they are now.
You’re going to be campaigning at Super Welterweight, which on the world scene, you’d probably have to say 154lbs is the hottest division in the sport. Domestically, Josh Kelly leads the way but there is also a plethora of guys at that level, the likes of: Sam Gilley, Sam Eggington, Ishmael Davis, Junaid Bostan, William Crolla - how do you see yourself fitting into that landscape in the next few years?
Those guys, the level that they’re boxing at is top. Even at a domestic level, the likes of Ishmael Davis, William Crolla, who is up-and-coming, they’re in my sights but equally they’re far ahead of me right now. For now, it's just about establishing myself on the domestic scene and gaining a ranking.
The weight is so exciting because eleven stone is genuinely the most common weight in the world, so there’s more boxers at this weight than there are in any other division... It's exciting, really exciting! I’m looking forward to getting in the mix with some of these guys.
With that being said, eighteen months from now, where are you at?
I am undefeated. I’ve gained a good ranking, maybe in and around the top fifty in the UK and I’m ready to progress and push on for some titles!
With Nottingham’s sporting momentum stronger than ever, how proud are you to represent your city as you enter the professional ranks?
Massively proud, I’d love to properly put Nottingham on the map, like the likes of Leigh Wood. Leigh has a massive following in Nottingham and it’s inspiring to see how the city has rallied behind him. Also, Ekow Essuman - who I train with – he hasn’t got as big of a following as Leigh but how he has established himself on the scene and the circuit in Boxing means that he too is a force to be reckoned with and I’d happily follow in both guys footsteps.
Ekow, your stablemate, has a huge fight coming up on 24 May welcoming former Undisputed Super Lightweight World Champion, Josh Taylor, to Welterweight up in Glasgow. Given that you say he’s gone under the radar, do you not think he gets the recognition he deserves in Nottingham?
I feel as though Ekow has kind of gone under the radar and he’s slipped through the cracks. But saying that, I think he’s been avoided because of how much of a high risk fight he is versus the tradeoff of economic upside or name value. Josh Taylor has now found himself in a position where he has to take this fight and if he’s not careful he’s gonna really slip up against Ekow because he’s not a person to be played with, I see how hard he trains, how dedicated he is all year round, he really lives the lifestyle.
With the likes of Essuman and Wood, Ezra Taylor now coming through and yourself... What is it about Nottingham that’s creating this wave of boxing talent?
There’s just something in the water. It must be the River Trent! Yeah, even if you look at Carl Froch, I don’t know what it is but we’ve all just got that something about us that makes us serious fighters and that speaks to Nottingham in general, I think there’s so much talent for such a relatively small city in the UK. I’m just so proud to be from Nottingham!
Leigh Wood’s success has proven that Nottingham can be a real boxing hub, with the city turning out in force to support their own. Do you see yourself following in those footsteps, headlining and selling out the Motorpoint Arena with Nottingham fans behind you?
Definitely! It’s certainly something I’d love to do in the future, obviously, taking things one fight at a time. But just looking at Ezra Taylor, he’s the co-main event for Leigh Wood’s upcoming fight against Anthony Cacace, so it shows that having the right team around you and having the right support, alongside putting the work in, can get you great opportunities.
I’ve got a great team; Total Reclaims Demolition Ltd and all my other sponsors help massively because starting out as a boxer the financial aspect of it is quite hard. Also, my coaches, people that I’m in the gym with like Ekow and Derrick Osaze - it's great to have such a team around me.
Getting to know Conor - Quickfire round:
Describe your fighting style in three words…
Slick, silky and explosive!
Outside the ring, how would you describe yourself?
I’m always in the gym, I’m very disciplined so quite boring haha! But also, a good mix of laid back and outgoing.
Go-to place for a post-training/fight meal in Nottingham?
Piccolino, I love pasta!
Who’s the best boxer to come out of Nottingham?
Leigh Wood, Ekow Essuman
If there’s a big fight on, which Notts pub are you watching it at?
I’ve banned myself from going to the pub hahaha! Normally I chill at home, but if I was to go to one it’d probably be somewhere in Bulwell.
Fight at the City Ground or fight in Vegas?
City Ground!
LeftLion joins Nottingham in wishing Conor the best of luck as he turns professional. Follow him via Instagram to get news on his upcoming matches.
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