Boxing Unwrapped: A Day in Camp with Lewis Crocker
Holly Lennon
Lewis 'The Croc' Crocker, 14-0 (8KO'), has held the WBO European welterweight title since 2020 and is currently in week six of training camp in England, anticipating his return to the ring on December 10. An injury forced the undefeated fighter to call off his last match, so the additional time between fights left Crocker ecstatic to showcase his advancement.
In this Q&A, Crocker provides insight into his daily routine, his trainer Adam Booth, and the cruelty of the boxing game.
We have seen the significance of a coach who also acts as a mentor with Mike Tyson's brutalising progression as he worked with Cus D'Amato. In a symbiotic relationship, if one succeeds, both succeed. That Dre and Slim Shady affinity; an expert in the field who can spot talent, someone who can retrace history and knows what it takes to make it big. Crocker has found just that with world-renowned coach Adam Booth, who immediately drew parallels between Crocker and former world champion boxers.
How important is it for a fighter to have a diligent coach?
“A coach is much more than just a boxing coach. They are someone who looks out for your best interests and helps guide your career and life in many aspects. I train with Adam Booth. Adam has trained several world champions and has been at the very top of the game for decades. His knowledge of the boxing game is phenomenal. I listen to and trust everything he says.
You just have to look at the success of the fighters he has guided. This will be my first fight under Adam, so I'm looking forward to getting in and practising some of the things we have been working on since starting camp. I had hoped to have my first fight under him in August, but unfortunately, I got injured at the end of camp and had to withdraw from the contest.”
Crocker has a relentless training schedule in the buildup to a fight.
What does a typical day's training consist of?
"I train at around 11 am for my first session and around 6 pm for my second session Monday-Wednesday. Thursday is a rest day, and I'm back to training in the gym on Friday morning and evening. I then run a 12k run on a Saturday morning. The morning sessions are boxing-related, whether that be pads, bag work or sparring. The evening sessions consist of sprints and different varieties of running on the treadmill, working on strength and conditioning".
The gym is all go. Boxers are sparring in the ring, completing circuits, skipping and weight training. Eminem's “Lose Yourself" plays over the hissing sound of air releasing from the fighters' lungs, and then some less obvious dance hits elevate the intense atmosphere. Booth's sparring instructions are choreography in themselves, encouraging constant leg movement and precise technique.
Once the gym empties, Crocker makes his way to a local sushi counter, almost always vouching for the salmon platter. He grabs as many water bottles as his arms permit him to carry back to the apartment. His philosophy; "stay hydrated".
How do you feel about returning to the ring?
"Excited. Relieved. Confident".
What are some coping mechanisms you use to remain resilient during camp?
"There's a saying, ‘You don't play boxing’. Boxing isn't like most sports; you're essentially risking your life every time you step in that ring, staring across at someone looking to take everything you've worked for away from you. The resilience in training camp is strictly from not wanting to lose.
It's not like other sports where you go 1-0 down if you make a mistake. You make a mistake in boxing and could be waking up wondering how you got out of the arena. When training is tough, I imagine my opponent training and preparing for me, and this spurs me on and makes me dig that little bit deeper as I want to remain undefeated and go as far as I can in this sport".
How is dieting going at this stage in camp?
"It's not that bad", Crocker answers while fractioning a piece of chocolate once, then twice, before letting it melt into his tongue like an acid tab to "savour the flavour". Night-time is the most challenging for Crocker as a self-proclaimed "midnight snacker", and he turns to CBD to stop any hunger from interrupting his much-needed rest.
Crocker's next fight is on the Michael Conlan undercard, December 10, at the SSE Arena - a familiar venue to Crocker as he has fought there three times previously, all resulting in stoppages. The next few months are bubbling for the fighter as he predicts he will be "as active as ever".
Holly Lennon is an MA Literary Studies student and a Boxing Columnist for The Scoop