Jon Pegg’s New York fight week notebook

Big Apple big fight is only days away for Jon Pegg and Louie Counihan

JON Pegg and Louie Counihan, of Birmingham’s Eastside gym, are living every fight fan’s dream.

Last weekend, they arrived in New York. It’s no holiday for the pair – on Friday, July 11, they are part of a world title fight at a truly legendary venue. Madison Square Garden beckons.

The pair are key members of female boxing legend Savannah Marshall’s team for her forthcoming world title bid.

They’ll be in Savannah Marshall’s corner for the Hartlepool boxer’s world super-middleweight clash with Shadasia Green.

While tasting the Big Apple, Jon has agreed to keep readers posted through a diary of the week.

 MONDAY

Early start with a pastry and hot chocolate at a deli, then a very long walk to Central Park with Fran Hennessy.

Walked past Carnegie Hall and Times Square on the way, but kept walking with our destination in mind. Made it and it is huge - didn’t even look round a quarter of it and about 5,000 steps saw the zoo and a huge lake. We watched a knockabout baseball game.

Decided to head a different route back and saw a cinema which specialises in boxing films which seems a nice coincidence. Stiflingly hot in New York and a short rain shower was very welcome. Saw John Ryder arrive and said hello. Took another walk in a different direction and saw a bagel shop, went in and told them my friend advised me to try one. The girl behind the counter was so shocked I’d never tried one before she gave me a bag for free.

Louie takes in the sights while in sweltering New York

Sat with Sav (Savannah), Mick Hennessy and the team talking all things fight night. Sav seems very confident in a quiet way, which is great.

Popped over to a different gym across the road called the Last Round - great boxing gym, easy to get a sweat on because it’s actually below street level. The coaches in there knew Sav and all implored her to beat Claressa Shields in the rematch and shut her up. Was quite surprising to see how unpopular Shields is in her own country.

Nice light session as weight is good and everything is going well. Back to the hotel and Ellie Scotney’s mad brother is making everyone laugh again with his stories. Planned tomorrow with Louie as a lot of fight week stuff is falling into place and it is only going to get busier.