Goodchild back and itching for a real test

Connor Goodchild…beat Naheem Ali after three years away

AFTER more than three years away, Connor Goodchild’s career re-ignited on Saturday night.

On Anthony Manning’s three bout bill at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, the undefeated welter eased back with a four rounder.

Well-travelled Blackburn journeyman Naheem Ali – a veteran of close to 160 contests – was, is usually the case, still around at the final bell, losing a landslide 40-36 decision. Goodchild, from Kings Norton, needs to bank rounds and Ali can be relied on to provide that service.

At 28, Connor, whose had five fights in a career stretching back to 2022, now feels the need to take risks.

“I need a fight on the road,” he said. “I need something big. I owe it to the people, I want competitive fights, something that fires me up. If someone asked me to box next week, I’d do it.”

Manning, however, may consider Goodchild needs more “settling in” contests before he’s back to where he was. The man has talent and is aggressive, he showed potential yet to be fulfilled.

To his credit, Goodchild is honest about his ring absence – there’s no hiding behind fake injuries.  He served time and received the Board of Control’s green light to box again in December.

The good news is, he scaled 10st 10lb for his return – and that was a “same day” weigh-in. Welterweight is still his division. Connor also believes he’s a better boxer this time round.

“He (Ali) is a class operator,” he said. “He got under my skin a bit because he was saying a few things in there. It was a good fight, it was the first fight with Anthony (Manning) in my corner – he was calm and composed.

“With six rounds, I think I could’ve got Ali out of there, but I needed the rounds to blow the cobwebs off. I got a bit excited at times because it was there for the taking, I worked the body well, I think it was quite a mature performance, I didn’t really get out of second gear.

“Afterwards, I was a bit disappointed I didn’t get him out of there, but these journeymen know their way around a ring. When you fight prospects, they’re easier to tag.”

Goodchild has come back older and wiser.

“I’ve got better,” he insisted. “Before, I was a bit arrogant, I took it for granted. Now I take nothing for granted, keep my head down, stay focused and stay in the lane. What comes, I take with a pinch of salt.

“Hopefully, fight next in August and December push for a Midlands (title), if I can. Next year I want to fight for a Midlands title.”

In his first spell, Goodchild shifted serious ticket numbers. That fanbase now needs rebuilding to what it was.

He added: “It (the tickets) were a bit slower this time because of my career being stop-start. People were sceptical about the fight going ahead, but I’ve had a lot of interest since. They’re asking, wanting to know when I’m fighting again.”

If Goodchild had his way, it’d be tomorrow.