Mickey Cantwell (born 23 November 1964) 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 (1988 and 1989).
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.Maloney, Frank & Breenan, Kevin (2003) No Baloney: A Journey From Peckham To Las Vegas, Mainstream Publishing, 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."Keith out to teach Vann in school of hard Knox", The Scotsman, 15 May 2003. retrieved 21 March 2015 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."Jamili Takes Strawweight Title", The New York Times, 20 December 1997. Retrieved 21 March 2015 In June 2000 he challenged Zolani Petelo for the IBF mini flyweight title, again stopped in the eighth round."Sports Digest", Glasgow Herald, 3 June 2000
Cantwell had a small role in the 2000 film Snatch, playing Liam."Meet Micky Cantwell", boxingfutures.com, 22 December 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2015
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.Evans, Gavin (2013) "'Baby' Jake Matlala: World champion in two weight divisions who was named as his favourite boxer by Nelson Mandela", The Independent, 10 December 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2015
After retiring from boxing, Cantwell was Chief Executive of the Professional Boxing Association and as a project worker for the Educational Sports Forum.Cridland, Alison (2009) "Boxing champ boots boss in the bottom during Brighton conference row", The Argus, 16 October 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2015
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."Micky Cantwell opens gym with help of Ricky Hatton", boxing.com, 9 December 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2015
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes22Loss14–7–1Jacob MatlalaTKO5 (12), 29 Sep 200121Loss14–6–1Zolani PeteloTKO8 (12), 2 Jun 200020Win14–5–1Dave ColdwellPTS61 May 199919Loss13–5–1Eric JamiliTKO8 (12), 19 Dec 199718Win13–4–1Dave ColdwellPTS83 May 199717Loss12–4–1Jacob Matlala128 Feb 199716Win12–3–1Krasimir CholakovPTS629 Jun 199615Win11–3–1Keith KnoxPTS1221 Mar 199614Win10–3–1Anthony HannaPTS62 Jul 199513Win9–3–1Anthony HannaPTS627 Apr 199512Loss8–3–1Lyndon KershawPTS815 Jun 199411Loss8–2–1Luigi CamputaroUD1227 Apr 199410Win8–1–1Anthony HannaPTS83 Nov 19939Loss7–1–1Pablo Tiznado1215 Sep 19938Win7–0–1Darren FifieldPTS1014 Apr 19937Draw6–0–1Louis Veitch810 Feb 19936Win6–0Louis VeitchPTS616 May 19925Win5–0Shaun NormanPTS814 Dec 19914Win4–0Carlos ManrigueTKO5 (8), 23 Oct 19913Win3–0Ricky BeardPTS830 Sep 19912Win2–0Mario Alberto Cruz Alfaro626 Mar 19911Win1–0Eduardo Vallejo4 (6)21 Jan 1991
References
External links Career record at boxrec.com