Errol Christie Interview

Errol Christie began boxing at the age of eight, with his first proper fight at age 10. By 13 he was schoolboy champion of England and European boxing champ 10 years later. Errol was a professional boxer throughout the 80s and a regular fixture on ITV’s Fight Night.

Christies new book No Place to Hide (published by Aurum) is his story of growing up black in the Britain of the 1970’s and 80’s as told to journalist Tony McMahon has recently been released.

He is currently working as boxing trainer and advisor on Roy Williams new play Sucker Punch at the Royal Court Theatre, London, which looks back on what it was like to be young and Black in the 80s and asks if the right battles have been fought, let alone won.

Errol Christie spoke to Tony McMahon about teaching actors to box, the 1980s and being an entertainer

Whats it been like working with the actors?

Well Ive had to teach them how to box from scratch. All the moves from jabs and crosses to upper cuts and bobbing and weaving. Think they found it tough at first but now they’re addicted. When Ive finished the lesson, they’re straight on to the bags or shadow boxing in the mirror. Think they’ll keep on boxing after this plays finished.

You were a boxer in the 1980s when this play is set do you think its convincing?

Its completely spot on. I was so blown away when I read the script. Roy has really got his head round the language we used, the way we talked and just the atmosphere of those days. Like to think a bit of me has rubbed off in there as well. He’s heard my patter over the last few months and I hope Ive helped him and the actors get a real feel for what those days were like.

When it comes to the production, do you think the two actors you’ve been training will convince the audience?

Completely. Ive trained one to be more orthodox in style while the other is more the sort of dancer-fighter that boxers like me, Muhammad Ali and Tommy Hearns were. Traditionally, boxers just stood there like lumps and jabbed at their opponents head. But black boxers in particular brought a new rhythm and feel to the sport. We worked over the mans body from all angles and never stopped moving around. I often used to have a James Brown tune in my head when I was fighting. It was much about feet as arms and Ive got the lead actor moving like that. For the audience, its gonna be thrilling to watch.

Why is a play like this relevant now?

People are obsessed with the 80s at the moment. Or the Haties as I call them. A decade where there was a lot of strife. A lot of racism. And people like me had to fight our way through against all kinds of bigotry. As Britain feels more insecure at the moment, I think a lot of people are reminded of those times. The unemployment and the riots and the racism. We’ve even seen the BNP getting votes which is an echo of the old National Front. So I think the play has come at a good time. Its gonna make a lot of people sit up and think.

The play is set in a real boxing ring…

Which is a fantastic idea. More Ive been involved with this play, more I can see that boxing is a bit like theatre. You gotta appreciate, Ive never spent much time in theatres! But getting up in Wembley arena in front of thousands of screaming boxing fans is all about putting on a performance. I always felt I was an entertainer as much as a fighter. And these actors will have to both fight well and entertain. So were not that different. Only the knockouts wont be for real!