Boxing Insider Interview with Jumaane Camero

By: Oliver McManus

Jumaane Camero is a guy who despite being Southern Area champion has seemed to fly under the radar within the boxing community and he himself says he is “a pretty boring character” but, trust me, he isn’t – he’s an absolute gem of a human being.

He was meant to fight on June 9th against Michael Devine in an English title eliminator, this was then pushed back a week so it could appear on Dave (UK TV) as part of Haymaker’s Joe Joyce card – unfortunately a week beforehand and a week after this interview, Devine wasn’t allowed to fight by the BBBofC due to issues with his medical.

Thankfully we didn’t devote too much time to that fight so I’ve only had to edit out one question but as you can see from the first thing we talk about, Camero knows the difficulties of finding an opponent all too well;

This (the fight) was doubling up as a Southern Area defence as well as an eliminator for the English title, has it been hard to find opponents that want to get in the ring with you?

It has been a nightmare! I won it in July 2017 and only now, almost a year later, I’m defending it. I had multiple fights fall through near the end of 2017. No mandatory defences were called and I was deemed too inexperienced to fight for an English. I was literally just waiting for something to pop up. But like they say it’s better late than never! Let’s hope he doesn’t now pull out!

I feel that people felt I was too much of an unknown quantity to risk a fight with me this early. It’s not important to me however, because I have what I want now, progressing towards a British Title.

That English belt is held by Myron Mills, belt aside, is that a fight that you’re interested in?

Myron Mills seems to really be proving himself, that is definitely a fight I would look forward to having and I believe a fight which British fighters need in order to move to the next level.

I truly think it would be very competitive and it would initiate improvement for us both to move onwards to better opportunities. This progress would start once the fight is made as we would train harder than before to come out on top and that’s the pressure you need in each camp. Pressure creates diamonds!

If we go back to your fight with Freddy Kiwitt in February, he himself was a late replacement for John O’Donnell and then you were the replacement opponent for Kiwitt – what goes through your mind when you take a fight on short notice?

It was quite funny, the moment I got a call I was with my nieces stuffing my face with pizza so the only thought going through my head was ‘I wonder how much I weigh right now’.

The call came the day before weigh so there wasn’t really any time to think about anything even if I wanted to. It was a good to get experience being under the lights of a show such as Hayemaker.

Looking back, you narrowly lost, do you regret taking that fight?

My last two fights have been nothing but fillers until I could finally get a southern area defence or push on to challenge for an English. The risk-reward of the Kiwitt fight meant if I won the board would have to put me towards an English title fight sooner. Losing meant nothing, I kept my area title and got decent exposure.

People still can’t believe I make lightweight or think I struggle to make it. I personally don’t actually know how I do it other than being very strict. It’s hard to stay disciplined but the weight itself is never a struggle.

And people often say you learn the most from your losses, have you found that to be true?

It is really hard to say but I feel I learned very little from that fight if I am honest. In order to learn you need to be drilling something to a point where you can use it in an active environment.

Knowing where you deviated and why and working on those areas so you can execute how and when you want. If I was hitting a hundred tennis forehands but didn’t see where they landed you can’t hope for it to improve because the stroke you’re repeating could be going out or into the net, this ignorance leads to zero improvements
I didn’t perform great but fortunately he had no idea how to deal with my style so I got away it (haha).

For you then what’s been your best performance as a pro – would you say the fight against Birmingham?

I would actually say my best performance came four weeks prior to the Birmingham fight. It was meant to be an 8 round British challenge belt but last minute the fight fell through and I got a well-seasoned journeyman to do 8 rounds with. I structurally felt good landing with a plethora of shots and kept as elusive as possible. It just felt like a performance where things were coming together.

You are still only 23, how long can we expect to see you around in the boxing scene for?

Thanks for reminding me my best years are behind me.

Nah just kidding!! But truthfully, not long at all, I’m surprised I’ve lasted this long already. I really don’t want to overstay my time in boxing which is a reason I’m pushing for fights earlier than you may expect from a person of my age but more importantly my experience.

That fight on the 15th was on the undercard to a Joe Joyce fight, what have you made of him so far?

He seems to completely decimate anyone in front of him. You can’t do anything but give him props whether you like his style or not. I love his punch output, SO many heavy hard punches.

If I had any criticism it would be that he seems very slow, especially considering he can perform such great athletic feats. You’d think he’d be more explosive. But what he’s doing works and people cannot live with it so why change it?

Because it’s not aesthetically pleasing?

Depends what his goals are and I think it’s to grab as many titles as he can, not to crowd please. Plus it’s exciting enough that he’s stopping all his opponents.

I do want to ask about referees, when you find out the referee is there anything you look to adjust in your game plan? Because obviously some referees are more eager to break up action than others?

This is a great question, everyone knows how opinionated boxing can be and also why there are such deviations on some fights.

When I go into a fight usually I will have a few different styles and game plans, each depending on what the opponent gives me and also how the ref reacts. I wouldn’t say I solely change my game plan if I know a certain ref is there but I do have to be versatile enough to see when something else will be more effective.

In my division if a referee was break us early it would probably favour me because of my freakishly long limbs and height.

That’s the boxing questions over with then mate but I was shocked to hear you say you’re a boring person so I’ve got a couple of quick-fire questions – what do you do in your spare time?

You will either find me eating more than I should be able to consume, sleeping, reading or traveling.

I have spurts where I get really into a game on PS4 but a lot of the time my patience doesn’t make it past the update screen.

I do like to write down things I’ve never experienced and attempt to work towards making time to learn a skill to allow me to achieve it.

Favourite music?

This is truly dependent on how I feel at any given moment. I am really into soulful house, I can listen to it in most moods.

But I could start my day listening to heavy EDM and end it with obscure classical music.

Favourite type of doughnut?

Be right Bake donuts, I can change the filling to match my desires and there donuts themselves are so delicious. I always have a pack after I fight.

Give them a follow on social media!

Instagram :- @berightbake
Facebook :- be right bake

Last film you watched?

Pirates of the Caribbean, my friend and I had the theme tune stuck in our head after listening to a street concert orchestra play it. So we decided to watch one of the films – easily influenced!

And there we are then Jumaane, thanks for taking the time out to speak to us mate!

That was Jumaane Camero, Southern Area lightweight title holder, 6 and 2 as a professional boxer looking to make a big statement in a short amount of time – his attitude is right, the talent is there and, by all accounts, he is one of the nicest men in boxing; keep an eye out!