Mickey Cantwell


Mickey Cantwell is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2001. He challenged for multiple world titles; the WBO light flyweight and mini flyweight titles in 1997; and the IBF mini flyweight title in 2000. At regional level, he held the British flyweight title in 1996.

Career

Amateur

Born in London, Cantwell represented England in the light flyweight division at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Boxing for the Eltham & District ABC, he was twice winner of the prestigious ABA light-flyweight championship.

Professional

Cantwell turned professional in 1991 and, unbeaten in his first seven fights, beat Darren Fifield in April 1993 to take the vacant BBBofC Southern Area flyweight title. Five months later he challenged for Pablo Tiznado's WBC International light flyweight title, losing on points - his first professional defeat. In April 1994 he challenged for Luigi Camputaro's EBU European flyweight title, and again lost on points.
In March 1996 he faced Keith Knox for the vacant British flyweight title, winning on points to become British champion. Aiming for higher honours he relinquished the title, and in December 1997 faced Eric Jamili for the vacant WBO mini flyweight title; A cut to Cantwell's nose caused the fight to be stopped in the eighth round. In June 2000 he challenged Zolani Petelo for the IBF mini flyweight title, again stopped in the eighth round.
Cantwell had a small role in the 2000 film Snatch, playing Liam.
Cantwell's final fight came in September 2001 when he unsuccessfully challenged Jacob Matlala for the WBU light flyweight title, the South African stopping him in the fifth round.
After retiring from boxing, Cantwell served as Chief Executive of the Professional Boxing Association and as a project worker for the Educational Sports Forum.
After an incident in September 2008 in which Cantwell knocked his manager Alan Irwin out during an argument at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, he was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work.
Cantwell became a patron of the Boxing Futures charity and in 2011 opened Cantwell's Gym in Bromley.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
22Loss14–7–1Jacob MatlalaTKO5, 1:5929 Sep 2001Elephant & Castle Centre, London, EnglandFor WBU light flyweight title
21Loss14–6–1Zolani PeteloTKO8, 0:592 Jun 2000Stour Centre, Ashford, EnglandFor IBF mini flyweight title
20Win14–5–1Dave ColdwellPTS61 May 1999Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London, England
19Loss13–5–1Eric JamiliTKO8, 1:2219 Dec 1997London Arena, London, EnglandFor vacant WBO mini flyweight title
18Win13–4–1Dave ColdwellPTS83 May 1997NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England
17Loss12–4–1Jacob Matlala128 Feb 1997London Arena, London, EnglandFor WBO light flyweight title
16Win12–3–1Krasimir CholakovPTS629 Jun 1996Erith Leisure Centre, London, England
15Win11–3–1Keith KnoxPTS1221 Mar 1996Elephant & Castle Centre, London, EnglandWon vacant British flyweight title
14Win10–3–1Anthony HannaPTS62 Jul 1995Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
13Win9–3–1Anthony HannaPTS627 Apr 1995York Hall, London, England
12Loss8–3–1Lyndon KershawPTS815 Jun 1994Elephant & Castle Centre, London, England
11Loss8–2–1Luigi CamputaroUD1227 Apr 1994York Hall, London, EnglandFor European flyweight title
10Win8–1–1Anthony HannaPTS83 Nov 1993Whitchurch Sports Centre, Bristol, England
9Loss7–1–1Pablo Tiznado1215 Sep 1993York Hall, London, EnglandFor vacant WBC International light flyweight title
8Win7–0–1Darren FifieldPTS1014 Apr 1993Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandWon vacant British flyweight title
7Draw6–0–1Louis Veitch810 Feb 1993Lewisham Theatre, London, England
6Win6–0Louis VeitchPTS616 May 1992Alexandra Pavilion, London, England
5Win5–0Shaun NormanPTS814 Dec 1991Crook Log Sports Club, London, England
4Win4–0Carlos ManrigueTKO5, 0:5523 Oct 1991York Hall, London, England
3Win3–0Ricky BeardPTS830 Sep 1991Royal Albert Hall, London, England
2Win2–0Mario Alberto Cruz Alfaro626 Mar 1991York Hall, London, England
1Win1–0Eduardo Vallejo4 21 Jan 1991Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London, England