By Elliot Worsell
Not too long ago, Jordan Gill experienced a period of profound silence in his life. However, this silence was far from peaceful; rather, it seemed to symbolize failure, isolation, and a sense of vanishing. Unfortunately, this silence followed him wherever he went, becoming his only constant companion for a while. The usual distractions that would typically disrupt the silence, such as ringing phones, gym buzzers, and the voices of friends, had all disappeared. And in a way, Jordan Gill himself seemed to vanish as well.
However, eventually, a sound emerged, a sound filled with concern. It was the sound of someone rushing to offer assistance. And, at last, the sound echoed through the air, the sound of Belfast boxing enthusiasts applauding his tremendous feat of defeating their beloved fighter, Michael Conlan, within a mere seven rounds.
All of a sudden, the eerie silence vanished. Instead, there emerged not only a symphony of sounds, akin to merriment and triumph, but also a different kind of silence. This silence, often linked with satisfaction and serenity, was the inner stillness within.
“You ride high after a win for a certain amount of time,” Gill told Boxing News, “but then you think, Right, come on then. What’s next?”
Gill, also known as “The Thrill”, was about to experience an interruption. He momentarily paused our interview at the gym, apologizing, as he attended to a fan. “Excuse me,” he said, “I’ll be right back.”
During this moment, Gill adeptly handled the well-wisher, displaying the elegance and appreciation of someone who can recall a time when they were overlooked and everything was quiet. “I sincerely appreciate it,” he expressed as the man wished him success for his upcoming Saturday fight. “Absolutely, I’m eagerly anticipating it,” he added in response to being asked if he was excited for the event.
Gill, who had joined me once again, acknowledged the unexpected spotlight with a casual comment, “Yeah, it’s strange,” followed by a chuckle. “But hey,” he added, “that’s just the way it is.” Without dwelling on it for too long, he swiftly resumed discussing his thoughts on the recent victory against Conlan, stating, “I truly believe it was a win that will shape my career. I’m confident we’re about to embark on a successful streak, and Saturday marks the beginning of that journey.”
By the way, Gill now recognizes another reassuring sound: interruptions that precede greetings. This pleasant occurrence marks a significant milestone in his career, which has predominantly been battled behind the scenes and in silence. It mirrors the usual trend in boxing, indicating his success and rising popularity.
The victory of Conlan, for instance, was already a significant triumph. However, what truly struck a chord with numerous individuals was the way it unfolded. Firstly, Gill defied expectations by challenging Conlan in his own hometown, going against the usual approach. Essentially, he outplayed the Irishman at his own game. Secondly, Gill, who was considered an underdog before the fight, achieved a victory that very few had anticipated. The sheer magnitude of this accomplishment was evident from the expression on his face at the end of the bout.
Gill expressed, “To truly value the highs, one must go through the lows, and I have personally experienced both. I have faced my fair share of lows, losses, and moments when no one seemed interested. However, these experiences have built my character. They have taught me to cherish those nights when I deliver a stellar performance and everything falls into place. Those moments now hold a greater significance.”
The sport is undeniably challenging, an enduring game of great difficulty. It can be ruthless. In those 50-50 fights, the odds are split evenly between victory and defeat. You must endure the highs and lows, embracing the valuable lessons that come with it, often through hard-earned experiences.
Each battle varies, and every adversary possesses unique qualities that require distinct approaches to neutralize them. During the Conlan fight, I had to adopt an aggressive stance, taking the lead and showcasing a different aspect of my abilities in order to execute the tactics we had prepared.
Conlan is on the receiving end of Gill’s jab, as captured by Mark Robinson from Matchroom Boxing.
Gill, who had previously claimed a European title at featherweight, now stepped into the ring at super-featherweight with a renewed vigor. In Belfast, he showcased a revitalized version of himself, both physically and mentally. His presence was strikingly imposing, surpassing his typical demeanor, and he fought with an air of assurance in his ability to withstand punches, a quality that often diminishes when a fighter is drained from excessive weight loss.
Gill explained his recent transition to super-featherweight, saying, “Moving up in weight class enables me to live a regular lifestyle. It may sound odd, but when I was competing in featherweight, it took a toll on me both physically and mentally. It consumed my everyday life, constantly draining me. I was constantly struggling, always fatigued. I couldn’t properly fuel my workouts or focus mentally to follow instructions or game plans.”
Personally, I consider myself to be more of a technical boxer, even when I display aggression. In order to perform at my highest level, I rely on mental clarity and energy. Unfortunately, in my last four or five fights at featherweight, I was unable to showcase more than 60% of my capabilities. In fact, in my most recent fight, I believe I was only operating at 20% of my potential. It became evident to me after the Kiko Martinez fight that I could never endure fighting at featherweight again. It’s not just about meeting the weight requirement, but also about being able to perform effectively at that weight. I simply couldn’t perform at my best anymore. While it may only be a difference of four pounds, when you’re cutting weight by such small percentages, it truly makes a significant impact.
The distinction between the two fighters was evident in the significant impact Gill had on Conlan, especially in the early stages of the match. This was exemplified in the second round when Gill successfully knocked down Conlan, causing him significant harm. Gill continued to dominate throughout the fight, leading to its eventual stoppage in the seventh round.
Gill explained, “I was aware that landing a clean hit would have an impact, although I anticipated it happening later in the fight. Surprisingly, the tactics worked perfectly, and I managed to hurt him early on.”
“The move up in weight obviously helped. I’m not known as being a big puncher, and I don’t think I am a big puncher, but what I am is a consistent and accurate puncher and I’m physically strong. Mick felt the power and I applied myself well in the fight.
Although I did make mistakes, the fight wasn’t flawless for me. However, this gives me an opportunity to focus on and enhance my skills for the next one.
Gill not only won the hearts of fans that night as the underdog on away soil, but he also solidified his place in British boxing history with a powerful and heartfelt post-fight speech. In an unplanned moment, Gill took the opportunity to share the depths of his recent despair and the remarkable efforts he made to transform his life.
“I’ve had a hard year,” he said after stopping Conlan. “Not many people know what I’ve been through this year. After the Kiko (Martinez) loss (in October 2022), I sort of lost touch with myself. I broke up with my wife and on the 30th of June I was in a field, I drank a litre of vodka, and I was going to kill myself.” He followed this admission by then saying, “Somebody came and saved me that day,” and praised his corner team, friends and family for pulling him out of what was clearly a very deep and dark hole. He also mentioned the imminent opening of a boxing gym and said, “I’ve turned my life around this year – in the last four months. If you’re thinking, What am I doing with my life? You can do it. You can make a change. Just get up, have that belief in yourself, and go and do it. Nobody believed I could do this, but I did, and that’s all that mattered.”
Mark Robinson of Matchroom Boxing captures Jordan Gill’s post-fight interview after his impressive seventh-round victory over Michael Conlan.
Gill reflected on his journey, four months after sending that message and just four days away from his upcoming fight. He expressed, “The past year has been challenging for me, as I had to overcome numerous obstacles to even reach this point of competing again. When you’re presented with an opportunity like this, it becomes crucial to share your story. Although it wasn’t something I had intended to do, all my emotions overflowed. It’s common for such moments to evoke unexpected outpourings, especially after winning the most significant fight of your career. These things simply emerge from within you.”
Following that, I was inundated with an outpouring of messages, numbering in the thousands. These heartfelt expressions often conveyed, ‘I found myself in a comparable situation, and you made a difference for me. Thank you immensely.’ While I certainly wasn’t anticipating such a response, it is truly heartwarming that individuals reached out and appeared to derive value from my words.
I believe it made me more relatable. Whether it’s in the world of boxing or for the average person, we often tend to perceive those in the public eye as leading flawless lives. However, we must remember that appearances can be deceiving. We are unaware of the challenges and realities that individuals face in their personal lives.
I believe it is crucial to demonstrate that we face challenges just like any other individual. We all experience emotions and possess the same physical attributes, such as two arms and two legs. Some mornings are more difficult to get out of bed than others. I view it as a positive practice to acknowledge and disclose this reality. It is beneficial for people to comprehend each other’s journeys and realize that many of our paths are alike.
Similar to life, a boxer must realize early on that their career will not be a smooth and straightforward journey. Gill, who is now 29 years old, has learned and embraced this truth. Throughout his 31-bout career, he has experienced knockout defeats (courtesy of Kiko Martinez), retired during a fight (against Mario Enrique Tinoco), fought while drained of weight (multiple times), and suffered a fight-ending cut (against Alan Castillo). However, he has also emerged victorious in hostile territories (like his last fight against Michael Conlan), and he aims to achieve the same result this Saturday (April 13) when he faces Zelfa Barrett, a Mancunian, in Manchester.
He expressed that this is an immense chance, a monumental evening, and exactly what we strive for. It encapsulates the reason we pursue boxing. We crave these significant bouts and aspire to be the main attraction in grand arenas, surrounded by a roaring crowd. Returning to where I feel I truly belong is gratifying. This upcoming fight is just another challenge on the road, but one that presents considerable danger. It holds great importance for both of us, and we will both be fiercely determined to emerge victorious. This is precisely why I anticipate an exceptional fight.
Zelfa is an incredibly resilient individual, reminiscent of Mick Conlan, but perhaps even tougher. He has made a name for himself in the super-featherweight division and possesses significant power. I have always been a fan of his boxing style and have admired him as a person. Despite our previous intentions to spar, it never materialized. However, now we have the opportunity to face each other in an exhilarating 12-round match, wearing eight-ounce gloves.
When Jordan Gill expresses excitement about something, he does so with the enthusiastic energy of a devoted fan. He appears relaxed and comfortable, both with himself and whatever outcome may occur. His words reflect the perspective of someone who has faced challenging situations and can now understand the real essence of boxing and its matches. He comprehends that the upcoming event at Manchester Arena on Saturday is a fight solely in terms of competition. Unlike traditional fights, this particular match will reach a conclusion within a short span of 36 minutes, one way or another.
“Boxing has been both a blessing and a lifeline to me,” expressed Gill, with a record of 28-2-1 (9). “I can’t imagine where I would be without boxing. It provides me with discipline and brings immense joy into my life.”
“I also enjoy training now, since moving up in weight. I feel like I have a new lease of life. Boxing is everything for me, as it always has been, but now I can enjoy it without feeling like I have to do it. I’ve got a lot of other projects going on and I don’t do boxing for money or anything like that. I do it because I want to achieve more and I want to win world titles. I want to do it for as long as I continue enjoying it. For me, boxing gave me that structure when I was having my dark days and it has provided a life for me. So, I’m happy.”
