Kevin is boxing clever!

9:06pm Tuesday 13th November 2007

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KEVIN Maree has a list of boxing conquests that would surely make him one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world had they happened in the ring.

The 29-year-old can list the likes of Henry Cooper, Frank Bruno and Steve Collins among his successes - and later this month he can add world champion Joe Calzaghi to an increasingly impressive list.

The former boxer, who was born in Dublin but raised in Nelson, had his fair share of conquests in the ring but he has been a knockout success since hanging up his gloves.

For the 29-year-old has quickly established a winning combination when it comes to organising boxing fight nights.

In the space of six months, he has organised three fight night specials which culminates with Calzaghi - arguably one of the greatest ever world champions - coming to Ewood Park on Saturday, November 24.

But it does not stop there as Maree has been given the opportunity to bring Ricky Hatton and the legendary Thomas The Hitman' Hearns to East Lancashire next year.

"I've been to a lot of these events and I have studied them and know what works and what doesn't work," said the former Fishermore High School pupil. "Through my own boxing experiences, I have made a lot of contacts so I decided to have a go myself.

"It was a gamble but so far it has paid off."

Gamble it may have been but Maree is a man who leaves nothing to chance - something he learnt as a boxer in the ring.

"What I learnt in the ring has served me well when I am organising these boxing dinners and in my business decisions.

"If you are going to do something you have to make sure you give it your all. If I don't prepare these events properly then it is me who is going to look silly."

That vulnerability is something that first attracted a teenage Maree to the noble art.

"I like a lot of sports but boxing has been the one that has meant the most to me. I like the fact that it is one of the few sports where you have to be at your peak or otherwise you will get punished.

"There are no hiding places in boxing. You step in to a ring in front of hundreds of people and if you haven't trained or prepared the right way then you are gong to make yourself look like an idiot.

"With football for example, you could go a week without training but you could still get away with it to a certain respect come a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning."

Maree, who joined Sandygate Boxing Club in Burnley when he was 14-years-old hung up his own gloves when he realised he could not give it his full attention.

"I boxed for a very long time but there came a point when I had to make the decision between my education or my boxing," added Maree who studied a Sports Science degree at the University of Centreal Lancashire. "I am the type of person that if I can't put 100 per cent in to something then I won't do it. So I took the decision to stop boxing."

But he didn't walk away from the sport - far from it.

His coach and mentor Bert Myers encouraged him to take up coaching and the experienced Burnley-based trainer makes sure he has remained fighting fit.

And since turning his attention coaching and arranging boxing nights, Maree admits the urge to get back in the ring in getting stronger by the day.

"It's hard to get it out of your system," said the former North West Counties flyweight champion. "I am really toying with the idea of getting back in the ring. People might say I'm too old but I am only 29 and look at Joe. He's 35-years-old and he's one of the best boxers in the world."

Despite his boxing background, Maree is a novice when it comes to organising boxing dinners but he has hit the ground running.

"I've met a lot of people through boxing and I have made a lot of contacts so I decided to give it a go."

His first event, held at the Stirkhouse Hotel in April, included former world champions Steve Collins, Robin Read and Ritchie Woodall. The night proved to be such a success, he obtained the services of two of the most popular figures in British boxing, Frank Bruno and Henry Cooper for an event held at the Rendezvous Club in Skipton.

It was there that one boxing promoted was so impressed, he offered him Calzaghi.

"Again it was a massive gamble because I took it just days before the Kessler fight. Joe could have lost and it could have all ended up in ruins. But it was another gamble that paid off and I suppose it is a real coup for me."

As well as organising boxing dinners, Maree runs a successful health and fitness club and, later this month, he will co-promote his first event at the Colne Municple Hall where Colne professional Stuart Mcfadden will top the bill.

He was also in the corner for the recent Michael Gomez against Carl Johansson televised fight after being invited in to Bobby Rimmer's camp - Ricky Hatton's former trainer.

While he is no Don King, Maree has never forgotten his boxing roots and always has a place at his boxing events for Bert Myers."

"Bert has been my mentor and has taught me a lot. Whenever I hold these boxing nights I invite him as my guest of honour. It is my way of saying thank you for all he has done for me."

l Tickets for the Joe Calzaghi boxing night at Ewood Park on Saturday November 24 are limited. Tickets are priced £80 and for further details, contact Kevin Maree on 07899 953543 or log on to: www.mareepromotions.co.uk