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Cleverly v Bellew II: Denis Douglin will seek advice from mother about George Groves

Saphya will be standing by her son at Echo Arena in Liverpool

Image: Saphya Douglin: Watching closely from the corner

Denis Douglin will be hoping his mother knows best when she resumes her training duties for his fight with George Groves.

The New Jersey man is a stand out figure in the sport, carrying the nickname ‘Momma’s Boy’ due to the presence of his parent Saphya in his corner.

She will be at her son’s side this Saturday, trying to plot a shock win against Groves on the bumper bill for Cleverly v Bellew II, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Douglin was steered towards boxing by his mother after coming off second best in a school fight and the pair forged a successful partnership that has continued into the professional ranks.

I didn’t train Denis to become a boxer. I trained Denis to learn to defend himself, because he got into a fight in school.
Saphya Douglin

“I didn’t train Denis to become a boxer. I trained Denis to learn to defend himself, because he got into a fight in school,” Saphya told Sky Sports. 

“He didn’t do very well and I was working in a boxing gym, and he always used to go to work with me. I said after that: ‘I’m going to train you to defend yourself’. It wasn’t, I’m going to put you in boxing and you’re going to become a boxer.

“He didn’t even like boxing, but after a while he started to love the sport.”

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Douglin has secured 17 wins under the watchful eye of Saphya, but there have been setbacks along the way, with ill health and three defeats threatening to derail his career.

The pair have stuck together, despite these difficult times, although there is plenty of family squabbling.

“Depends on the day, sometimes it’s good," she said. "We have a lot of friction of course because he knows I have to turn off the mother thing, especially being his trainer, so we overlap.

“Yes we argue a lot and even leading up to the fight it gets even worse when he has to cut weight, because he’s mean and of course takes it out on me.

“It gets really interesting closer to the fight, but it’s good.”

And Saphya admits her instructions are only ignored when she tries to offer advice about Douglin’s love life.

“Yes, except for girls!" she said. "I could choose the one for him, but he always seems to choose the one that is just a little bit different from what I would choose!"

Watch Groves v Douglin live and exclusive as part of Cleverly v Bellew II, on Sky Sports Box Office on November 22, with Joshua, DeGale, Quigg and more, also on. Go to skysports.com/cleverlybellew to book. 

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