Joe Gallagher has seen a steady conveyer-belt of world champions flow through his gym over the past two decades and ProBox TV News asked the one-time Ring magazine Trainer of the Year to name the best five fighters he’s trained.
“People say Anthony Crolla is the jewel in your crown, or Natasha [Jonas] is the jewel in your crown. I say I don’t have a jewel. I have a crown full of jewels,” Gallagher said, embarking on the task of naming his top five.
He continued: “Each one has their own story. Natasha Jonas came back from what she did, Anthony Crolla came back from the head injury to win a world title and Paul Butler coming back to be a world champion again. Does that make sense? Matthew Macklin was robbed against Felix Sturm!
“The five best fighters I’ve worked with? Paul Butler, Natasha Jonas, definitely those two.” Gallagher paused… “Crolla.”
That left two remaining spaces.
“Scott Quigg.”
Gallagher paused again with one space remaining.
“I took John Murray from scratch all the way to 31-0 and ended up fighting at Madison Square Garden against Brandon Rios. He also had Fight of the Year with Kevin Mitchell. [Matthew] Macklin was very good to work with, I’m trying not be too obvious. It’s a difficult one.
“Hosea Burton I’ve had since he was aged 11. The Smiths…Stephen and Paul did really well. It’s really hard to pick a top five. It’s hard to pick one Smith out of all of the Smiths because they were all good to train.”
“If I had to pick one of the Smiths, it would have to be Callum Smith. I took Callum from scratch – as trainer and manager –his pro debut to Ring magazine champion and No. 1 in the division. He was a very good trainer too. I don’t want to offend anyone, but he was good.”
Gallagher’s Top 5
Paul Butler
Anthony Crolla
Natasha Jonas
Scott Quigg
Callum Smith
