Sam Jones: "It's very difficult to impress Joe Joyce"

Sam Jones has always had the gift of the gab. 

Take the time Jones talked himself into a meeting with the legendary Floyd Mayweather. He hoped to secure a place for his fighter Savannah Marshall on the undercard of Mayweather's blockbuster fighter against Conor McGregor. 

"Floyd gave me five minutes of his time," recalls Jones. "Literally, three out of the five minutes he was just staring at my watch. He was looking at it like, 'I shouldn't be speaking to this kid with this crap watch on.'"

Nonetheless Marshall got to fight in one of the biggest events in boxing history. You can't argue with the results. 

We spoke to Jones about his self-made journey into boxing, his friendship with his fighter Joe Joyce and a whole lot more besides. Have a listen and enjoy!

On getting into boxing 

I idolised Prince Naseem Hamed. I fell in love with boxing. He's the reason why I'm so passionate about boxing. I love the showbiz side of it, I love it all. And it's solely down to him. My dad let me stay up to watch the Kevin Kelley fight. It was unbelievable, that fight. There's never ever going to be another Prince Naseem Hamed. He was the most exciting fighter I've ever seen in my whole life.

On the importance of teamwork 

I fluked my way into boxing but it just so happens that I'm very, very good at what I do. I've got great people around me, I'm not ignorent enough to think I could have done this by myself. Adam Morallee is the best friend and business partner anybody could wish to have. The company's no company without Adam – just because I might be the mouthy one and the enthusiast, Adam is the backbone of what we do.

On dealing with Floyd Mayweather 

I contacted one of Floyd Mayweather's closest friends called Deshawn Wayne. He helped produce the Tupac biopic All Eyes On Me. He put me in a meeting with Floyd when Floyd was coming over to the UK for the Liam Walsh vs Gervonta Davis fight. Floyd gave me five minutes of his time. Literally, three out of the five minutes he was just staring at my watch. He was looking at it like, "I shouldn't be speaking to this kid with this crap watch on." Later Floyd FaceTimed me at three o'clock in the morning – I've still got the screenshot...  

On sparring rumours

There's always rumours about Anthony Joshua getting knocked over in sparring. And there's a rumour circulating when Joe is leaving the GB squad to turn professional that Joe Joyce had put Joshua on the floor. I remember Joe ringing me saying, "what do you reckon I should do about this!" I was like, "go along with it!"

You learn about the business and the sharks within the business

On signing Joe Joyce

I wasn't really thinking all these companies are going to try and sign Joe – but they were! They were trying to sign Joe when I'd already signed him! You learn about the business and the sharks within the business. Eddie Hearn was trying to sign Joe – I think he met him in Waitrose. He made what he thought was a good offer – but it's very difficult to impress Joe Joyce.

On seeking advice

Early parts of Joe's career, I would speak to Peter Fury every single time when it came to matching Joe. If you don't know the answer yourself, seek advice from people who are experienced. I owe a vast majority of my career to Peter Fury. He gave me time. I lived above the gym, I've spent time with his family. He's a great man.

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