Colin McMillan epitomised the sweet science

By Matt Bozeat

SITTING unnoticed at the York Hall this month was an ex-fighter who once made as many headlines as Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn.

Writers made comparisons between Colin ‘Sweet C’ McMillan and Sugar Ray Leonard.

“Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard were my inspirations growing up,” said McMillan, the former WBO featherweight champion, now 58 years old.

“Ali and Leonard were intelligent fighters, fighters who hit and didn’t get hit.”

At his peak, McMillan was just about untouchable, as Dennis Adams knows better than anyone.

Adams and McMillan sparred countless rounds when both were trained by the late Howard Rainey.

They stayed in touch after their fighting careers ended and McMillan now works as an advisor to Adams’ son, Billy, who he saw win all six rounds this month against Marvin Solano at the York Hall to improve to 4-0.

“His jab was like lightning,” remembered Dennis Adams of his sparring sessions with McMillan.

“The saying in the gym was: ‘When you feel it, throw it.’ As soon as he hit you, you had to throw. If you waited a split second he would be gone.”

Those he didn’t punch had their doubts about McMillan.

The Boxing News headline before he challenged Maurizio Stecca for the WBO featherweight championship in May, 1992 read: “Fighter Or Phoney?”

There were those who thought McMillan an imposter in this hardest of businesses. He was too clever, too pretty and too nice for boxing.

“My parents wanted me to go to university and become a lawyer or accountant,” he said, but instead he fought for money and had the confidence in himself to take on the establishment.

“I had a struggle with the boxing establishment,” he said, “because I wanted to take more control of my career.

“I would go to promoters and ask: ‘What can you do for me?’ and they didn’t like it because they were used to calling the shots.

“But if you are a fighter who has some potential, you can look after yourself and still be successful.

“I spoke to a lot of former champions and learned from their mistakes. 

“I wanted to have control of my career, so that when it was all over, I couldn’t blame anyone else. I wanted to make all the decisions.”

‘Sweet C’ was good enough to do it and brought celebrities to ringside who loved his lisping politeness and breathtaking skills.

Putting an early cuts defeat to capable North London southpaw Alan McKay behind him, McMillan went on to take the British featherweight title from Gary DeRoux in May, 1991.

“I remember being told before the fight: ‘He doesn’t like it when you put pressure on him,’” remembered DeRoux, “but it’s hard to carry out a game plan when you’re getting hit by fast shots that come from all angles.”

Better was to follow when 26 -year-old McMillan challenged Stecca at Alexandra Pavilion.

The Italian had won gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and in 45 previous professional fights, only quality operator Louie Espinoza had beaten him.

Stecca was in his second reign as WBO champion, a winner in six of seven-world title fights, and known as a boxer who made few mistakes.

Promoter Frank Warren had enough faith in McMillan to pay Stecca handsomely to come to North London to make a voluntary defence of his championship.

So comprehensively did ‘Sweet C’ outbox Stecca he became possibly British boxing’s leading light of the time.

“I was around at a great time,” said McMillan. “There was Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn and my name was up there with them. I was in good company.”

The performance against Stecca drew comparisons with British greats from past eras.

“McMillan’s master show a throwback to the days of Winstone, Buchanan,” read the Boxing News front page after McMillan’s masterclass.

For all his experience, Stecca had no answer to what Jim Watt described during commentary for ITV as “perfect boxing” from the challenger.

As early as the bell to end the second the Italian was showing his frustration and McMillan never let him into the fight.

Time and again, Stecca missed and ate jabs. McMillan barely threw a right hand until the closing rounds. He didn’t have to.

“That night was an accumulation of all those years of hard work as an amateur and professional,” said McMillan, “and I was so geared up for it.

“I didn’t want to miss my chance.

“I wanted to show everyone I was the best in the world. I was always very competitive and wanted to be the best.

“I went in there, took control and put on a show. I controlled the pace. I fought my fight.”

McMillan won by eight rounds on two cards, two on the other, and what’s more, he left the ring without a mark on him. 

That night looked like a possible platform for McMillan. Instead, it proved to be the highlight.

In his first defence, McMillan was ruled out with a shoulder injury in the eighth round against underrated Colombian Ruben Dario Palacio.

After seven hard rounds, McMillan was ahead on all three scorecards.

“I was on a roll and so much was expected of me,” said McMillan. “There was talk of a unification fight with [WBC champion] Paul Hodkinson.”

McMillan did eventually get the chance to win back his world title. Palacio tested positive for HIV only 48 hours before his scheduled defence against John Davison and in stepped Welshman Steve Robinson to fight the North East crowd favourite for the vacant belt.

Boxing without nerves, Robinson, whose record was an unflattering 13-9-1, won a deserved split decision. In his first defence, he was matched with McMillan and beat him on points.

“After the shoulder popped out I was never the same,” said McMillan. “I became a British champion, but I wasn’t the same fighter anymore. The shoulder injury cut my career short.”

The end came after Paul Ingle took away the British title in January, 1997.

“I’m philosophical about it,” said McMillan, who finished with a record of 31-4 (14).

“The way I look at it, I’m glad my shoulder injury happened after I won the world title and not before it.

“My aim was always to go to the Olympics and win a world title. I didn’t go to the Olympics, but I beat an Olympic champion for the world title.

“I know in myself I could have gone on to achieve bigger and better things. But it wasn’t to be.”

McMillan sees similarities between himself and Billy Adams, a stylish southpaw from Upminster who’s won all 18 rounds he’s boxed as a pro.

“Billy’s dream was to go to the Olympics,” he said, “and that was mine as well.

“Billy couldn’t make the weight. It wasn’t meant to be for either of us.”

Though he didn’t reach the Olympics, Adams did have international experience with the Great Britain squad during his 53-7 amateur career and he showed his quality when schooling the dangerous Solano.

“I watched a lot of Billy’s amateur bouts,” said McMillan. “I could see he had potential.”

McMillan thought he was finished with boxing management after handling Audley Harrison early in his pro career, along with Terry Dunstan, ‘Mighty’ Joe Young and Nigel Benn’s cousins, Paul and Michael Bowen.

From 2012, he has focused on the Colin McMillan Boxing Training Academy that’s based at Redbridge Sport and Leisure Centre and also visits local schools to promote boxing’s values.

McMillan was given the British Empire Medal in the 2019 New Year’s honours’ list in recognition of his charity work before returning to pro boxing with Hamzah Sheeraz and his cousin, Umar Khan.

“I still go to shows and run a dinner show once a year for Barking Amateur Boxing Club,” he said. 

“Hamzah’s dad Kam is active in the amateurs [with Five Star ABC] and he wanted me to see Hamzah and Umar.

“I saw them working, had a chat with them and said: ‘Yes.’ I came in as a technical advisor and mentor. 

“I pass on some technical tips and give them advice about life outside boxing as well.

“I have been with them four or five years now. It’s exciting to be involved with some talented fighters again.”

Sheeraz said: “I’ve watched Colin’s fights and he was fidgety and quick. Boxing is like chess and the key is thinking a move or two ahead. You don’t want them to know what you’re going to do next.”