Meet David Price's Boxing Trainer, Franny Smith
 By SecondsOut, special to Doghouse Boxing (Sept 26, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
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By or provided from SecondsOut.com on Doghouse Boxing. Franny Smith has closed his successful business so he could play a
part in helping David Price achieve his dream of becoming world
heavyweight champion.
Smith owned a company selling alcoholic test tube cocktail shots, but a return to boxing was too much for him to resist.
Smith trained Price as an amateur, but retired until getting the call
to assist Adam Booth who had planned to mastermind the 2008 Olympic
bronze medallist’s pro career.
It will be his greatest training triumph if Price defeats Audley
Harrison at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday October 13 on Frank
Maloney’s big bill.
Smith explained: “I had retired from training and David called me out
of the blue if I would help Adam and it took about four seconds to take
the job.
“He signed with Hayemaker and was going to be trained by Adam in Cyprus and London, but needed someone based in Liverpool.
“Adam didn’t have a lot to do with the first fight, and then David
went off to Cyprus to work with him and David Haye for six weeks.
“When he returned the Setanta deal fell through. We separated from Adam and I became his main trainer.
“I kept my business going for 18 months, but my attentions were being geared more towards David.”
Smith planned to train Price exclusively, but has now taken on
Nathan Brough, Paul Edwards and Neil Perkins although he refuses to take
money from the three lesser known boxers.
He explained: “I didn’t ever go out to seek boxers and didn’t want any other boxers.
“It is just that I trained Nathan and Paul in the amateurs so I
couldn’t refuse them and Neil is David’s friend and a great training
partner.
“They are aware I am only here for David because he is the breadwinner.
“They don’t make much so I couldn’t physically take money when they
are getting £1000a fight. How could I take 100 quid from them?
“I wouldn’t be able to train them, but for David because he can afford to keep me as a full-time trainer.
“I have sat down and said when they have a title fight, I’ll take
something then. That is the deal, but while I have got David I should be
financially secure.”
Although Smith is relatively unknown in professional circles outside
of Liverpool, he had a fantastic career training amateurs at Salisbury
ABC.
His amateur success stories include David and Stephen Burke, Derry Mathews, Paul Edwards and Price’s senior career.
Smith said: “There was various fighters going to world championships and we were winning major titles at ‘Solly’.
“I had been doing it for 20 years and we were probably the top club in the country.
“David had gone with the national squad and many of the kids I had
since they were ten-years-old had turned professional or packed up.
“I was battling away producing the goods and then because I had
neglected my work and kids I thought ‘I can only do this for so long.’
“It came to the crunch where I called it a day. So I started my own
business and I was happy ticking along doing that until I got a call
from the big man (Price).”
Smith is a relaxed character, but bristles with anger when Price ‘s ability from outsiders is questioned.
He added: “People say he hasn’t been tested, but when David first walked in the gym he was getting beaten up every night.
“I started taking him around gyms and he was toughing it out with big
men. He has gone and sparred with world class fighters who are trying
to knock him out.
“As an amateur he fought the world’s best. Is that not enough?
“If Frank Bruno can win a world title, David can. He has a lot more ability and with the right fights he can do it.”
The talent stacked 14 fight card also includes a vacant British
cruiserweight title fight between Shane McPhilbin (8-3) and Jon Lewis
Dickinson (11-2), Chris Edwards’ (17-14-4) British and Commonwealth
flyweight title defence against local Kevin Satchell (8-0) and a British
light-welterweight title eliminator between Adil Anwar (17-1) and Dale
Miles (13-1).
SecondsOut.com to Doghouse Boxing.
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