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Why you gotta love Ted 'The Big Cheese' Cheeseman

UK super welterweight Ted Cheeseman is one tough dude. The man is never boring.

 

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Ted Cheeseman with belt photo by Dave Thompson Matchroom Boxing
Ted Cheeseman with belt photo by Dave Thompson Matchroom Boxing

Matinee idol he’s not. Pasty skin, protruding ears and a crooked nose that after most fights looks like it’s been run through a meat grinder. He’s hardly intimidating, looking more like a guy you’d see getting pushed around.  

But you know what? 

 

UK super welterweight Ted Cheeseman is one tough dude. The man is never boring.

 

Quitting in a fight would be akin to death for “The Big Cheese.” 

 

Weekend before last, underdog Cheeseman did his thing at Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar.  

 

What’s his thing? 

 

War. 

 

His opponent was undefeated James “JJ” Metcalf. He glared at Cheeseman before the fight began, never took his eyes off him. Cheeseman smiled and bounced like a guy without a care in the world.   

 

He wasn’t acting. Just a few years ago, Cheeseman’s life was in turmoil. A gambling addiction almost killed him. His desire for boxing was waning.  

 

Cheeseman entered 2019 undefeated in 15 fights. He owned the British super welterweight title. Nobody said he was a great fighter. It was still open to debate how good he was, but no one who saw him fight questioned his heart or desire.  

 

Then he met Sergio Garcia at the O2 Arena in London. Cheeseman was battered and bloodied, pounded like a punching bag for 12 rounds.  

 

Cheeseman hung in to the end, like grim death. The loss left him in tears.  

 

“He’s heartbroken,” Sky Sports commentator Matthew Macklin said in an article by Sara Shepard of www.theathetic.com, “but it’s a long old road, he’ll learn from this. He can certainly come back.” 

 

After the Garcia fight, Cheeseman admitted to trainer Tony Simms that his gambling, something he had been secretly struggling with since his teenage years, was out of control. Cheeseman joined a support group. That helped. He now had a number to call when the desire to gamble was bordering on compulsion.  

 

“The last five grand I had out of my purse I gambled the night before the (Garcia) fight,” said Cheeseman. “I can honestly say from my first fight in 2015 to my Garcia fight, I fought for free. Whether it was before the fight or in the weeks after a fight, losing the money always happened.” 

Cheeseman told Luke Reedy of www.bbc.com that the beating he received in the Garcia bout was welcomed - by himself.   

"My hands are down and I’m letting him hit me. In my head, I’m punishing myself. You have a million thoughts in the biggest fight of your career, and mine were about money.” 

 

Clean now for the first time in years, Cheeseman was back in ring four months after the Garcia match against the new rising star in the division, Kieron Conway. In another grueling 12-rounder, Cheeseman appeared to do enough to win the fight. The judges didn’t agree – seeing a draw, which infuriated Cheeseman.   

 

In late 2019, he tried again, this time facing a very confident Scott Fitzgerald. Hearing whispers that he took too much punishment, Cheeseman boxed more than brawled, countered Fitzgerald, and moved. The ringside announcers were impressed, but not the judges. Cheeseman’s loss was his second in three fights.  

 

Disgusted, Cheeseman considered walking away from boxing. The sport was corrupt, he said, but he couldn’t quit.  

 

A few months later, he was back in the squared circle against gritty Sam Eggington.  

The fight was do-or-die for Cheeseman. He spoke of retiring if he lost.   

 

Cheeseman didn’t lose. The fight, as expected, was a give-and-take affair. Eggington, winner of four bouts in a row, started well, until Cheeseman buckled his legs in round two. Eggington kept working the body, while Cheeseman rattled him with combinations. Gassed in the final round, Cheeseman and Eggington went toe-to-toe until the bell rang. Cheeseman was relieved when the decision was announced in his favor.   

 

Circle back to fight night in Gibraltar. Cheeseman is in search of redemption. A title he once held and revered, the BBBofC British super welterweight belt, is within his reach.  

 

Cheeseman wants it back. He fought well, stinging Metcalf with combinations. He came close to knocking Metcalf out in round four, only go to the edge again as Metcalf rallied. The bloody Cheeseman wrestled back control of the fight in round 11, stunning Metcalf with a right and depositing him on his back with a brutal left hook.  

 

Cheeseman had done it. The belt was his once again. 

 

“Two years – it’s been a road to recovery," Cheeseman said. "I’ve improved and improved. I fought there and I punched there. Everyone said ‘Ted, you’re done. To many tough fights.’

 

Not done at all. If anything, an inspiration.  

 

Whether it’s boxing or gambling, Ted Cheeseman won’t quit.  

 

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