In the second of our new Big Interview features, Lee Sobot catches up with Leeds boxer Jack Bateson.
Bateson is a former Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist who was then ranked ninth in the world as a pro. Now 31 years of age, Bateson still has unfinished business after September's defeat to Michael Conlan in a WBC international featherweight title fight, during which he broke his ankle.
How are things going at the moment Jack? You said your last fight against Michael Conlon on September 5 was probably the biggest one of your career so far?
"Definitely the biggest one of my career. The biggest name and biggest opponent that I have ever faced. I've known Mick Conlan since I was an amateur. I went to all the same tournaments as him and he was one of the names to watch out for. I didn't think we would ever cross paths but things happen and it's just such a shame on how it ended because I was doing really well, the plan was going perfect and it was just unfortunate to go over the way I did. I was caught with a lovely shot and broke my ankle which is just one of those freak accidents. It just happened to be on the biggest occasion of my career. I went straight in for surgery because I'd broke it in two places and dislocated it so I've got a plate in my ankle now so recovery has been a bit of a nightmare. I'm just hoping it heals perfect and I can get back to doing what I do."
As an ambitious boxer, what was that like emotionally then to go through that from your biggest fight so far?
"It was difficult because I think if I'd have just been beaten the normal way...obviously it went down as a TKO but if I'd have actually been TKO'd properly it would have probably felt a bit easier because I'd have thought, 'you know what, I've been beaten by the better man, it is what it is and it was always going to be a tough night in the office’. But for it to happen like it did I always think ‘what if, if I'd done this differently’. But these things happen and it's all right. I just hope that the opportunities are still going to come. The two biggest occasions in my career I've missed out both times so hopefully I can get the opportunity again. I lost to Shabaz Masoud who is undefeated European champion now and the other was Mick Conlan. But I don't feel like I've had much luck in my career. Hopefully it's due to change but even in the amateurs I didn't make the Olympics due to a few reasons which I thought really weren't much fault of my own and these things with the pros. But other than that I've had lots of good opportunities and so fingers crossed that they will still come. It's difficult but worse things have happened so I've just got to move on crack on and get back on the horse as they say."
Just two defeats in your pro career so far though?
"Two defeats from 23 fights so it's still a good record. I'm sure my ranking is still decent so I just need the opportunities to still come. I just don't want to become one of those ‘who needs him’ club with people thinking ‘yeah we could fight Jack but he's still a risky fight’ so hopefully they'll still come and my chances will be there."
At 31 is there a feeling of unfinished business then and more still to come?
"I think if my career was to stop tomorrow I'd feel like I had underachieved as a professional. You see the likes of Josh Warrington going on and winning world titles and fighting at the likes of Elland Road. I fought on his undercard at Elland Road but nowhere near the sort of level of fights that Josh has had. I'd love to be able to be in them sort of big nights and have the city behind me, because I know I've got the support base. It's just getting these opportunities now where the fights will come and obviously I've got to win the fights. That's the main thing isn't it so hopefully it'll come. I've just got to stay in the gym and stay positive."
How much confidence do you have that you can still get to that level?
"Definitely, I think it is doable. I'm 32 this year. I've been in the game a long time but I see fighters going on up until nearly 40 these days and stuff and honestly I don't know what else I'd do if it wasn't for boxing. This is the only thing I know so I know I've still got years to come."
You mention your support base Jack, what does the support of this city mean to you and what does it mean to you personally doing it for the city of Leeds? Josh Warrington being the biggest example of that?
"It's huge. If it wasn't for the support from the city and the people that I have got around me - I've got a few sponsors and stuff like that and they are hopeful in me and backing me and if I don't achieve what I want to achieve and if I don't keep going then I'm letting myself down but I'm letting them down too and I don't want to do that. I've had a lot of supporters throughout my career who have backed me since day dot and are still ringside today at my fights. They travel to Dublin and travel to wherever. I want to do them proud and I want to do myself and my family proud. I'm really, really grateful and I just hope I can still bring these big nights to Leeds."
Leeds boxer Jack Bateson pictured training in Kirkstall as he continues on the comeback trail from injury.
Photograph by Tony Johnson. 5th March 2026placeholder image
Leeds boxer Jack Bateson pictured training in Kirkstall as he continues on the comeback trail from injury. Photograph by Tony Johnson. 5th March 2026 | National World resell
When it comes to Leeds - you really are Leeds through and through aren't you?
"For sure, Leeds through and through. I think I was actually born in a house in Horsforth which is just next up the door to where I am now. I grew up in Moortown and went to Allerton High School and from there I lived in Guiseley for a short while but now I'm back in Cookridge with my family and I'm Leeds through and through. I go to as many Leeds games as I can if boxing allows. I love this city and I've been blessed to have the support every time I fight. The nights at first direct arena and Leeds have been special and not just myself fighting there but Josh Warrington and the ones that have backed Josh have backed me and the ones that have backed me have backed Josh. I'm so grateful because other cities are not made like Leeds. I really do appreciate everyone's support around me and it's amazing."
Does the success that Leeds has had as a city spur you on more?
"A million percent. For sure, the motivation you get from other people in your city achieving something that is so close is massive. I remember when I was on the GB squad as an amateur and Nicola Adams was like one of the big names. I remember being a kid going to Sharky's Boxing Club in Meanwood and she was pretty much unheard of in terms of people out of Leeds and then women's boxing took off and she was a household name. Seeing that, it just shows how close to home it is and how possible it is to achieve. I've got a lot of inspiration from my city, and I'm very grateful even in terms of like Leeds United FC. There was a piece of art released a few years back where they did all Leeds sporting stars and I saw myself and I couldn't believe it. It made me feel good to think that I can be named along with some of these people so it's special. If you put your mind to something and if you believe in achieving then I think in Leeds we've got that grit whether it's the football, the boxing, whatever the sport may be, I do feel we have got that grit and that determination. And I think a lot of that is because people from our city have gone on and done it and you think ‘do you know what, they have done it, I can do it’. If you believe, you achieve. If you really think about something and you want something that bad I do think you can achieve it so what's to stop me recovering now and getting back in there and doing it for my city and having some big nights to remember? When I grow old I want to be able to think when I did that. I don't just want to think remember when I was on the undercard card of Josh. I want to feel like it was my night. Hopefully them days will come. We've just got to stay positive and keep believing."
You mention Josh - how much of an inspiration has he been and what do you think he should do next?
"Such an inspiration. Josh has had a career that people would dream of. If my pro career turned out being like Josh's I would be a very happy man. I would like to seem go out the sport healthy. He's had some massive nights. It would be nice to see him go out on a high but the main thing is he gets out of the sport healthy because it's a sport and it's not really a game. He's such a great lad. I've seen him come from from being 12-13 years old when he boxed my brother as an amateur. He's come such a long way and he's a big inspiration to myself and a lot of others today and not just from Leeds but probably around England. It's brilliant to see and he'll always be a pal of mine."
Josh is also a few years older than you - so it shows it can still be done?
"Exactly, it shows that a loss isn't everything. He's lost a few now and he is straight back into the big fights and the opportunities have still come so I'm hoping it's going to be the same for me. I'd like to think I'm still a decent name in the sport and someone will think that's a good fight and get it made."
What's the best it's got titles wise for you and what would be the aim on that score?
"I won the English title. I won the WBA intercontinental title so I was ranked number nine in the world at one point. I got beat by Shabaz and he has won some sort of version of the world title at one point and that sort of set me back so I moved up to super featherweight and then came back down to featherweight to box Mick Conlan because the opportunity was too good to miss and I was able to make the weight. But I would love to win the British title. It's a title Josh won and it's a very historic title. The British title would be brilliant. It's a fight and a belt that my dad has always loved and to be able to hand him one of them and say ‘here dad look’ that would be special. But now it's all about getting back on the horse, get some decent fights and then got something I can really get my teeth into because I don't want to go back down to the low level fights again."
Leeds boxer Jack Bateson pictured training in Kirkstall as he continues on the comeback trail from injury.
Photograph by Tony Johnson. 5th March 2026placeholder image
Leeds boxer Jack Bateson pictured training in Kirkstall as he continues on the comeback trail from injury. Photograph by Tony Johnson. 5th March 2026 | National World resell
At what weight and when?
"Probably feather, feather or super feather because I'm big for the weight anyway. But if it's worth making for feather where I've really got to put some graft in, then it'd be nice to do feather or super feather when I come back fingers crossed. I'd like to be back in the ring around summer time to be honest. I think that's realistic. I've got a plate in my ankle which has got screws in and they said one of these screws could snap at some time. I'm like ‘what if I get back in into a fight and it kind of snaps a week before?’ They said it might swell up a bit. But I used to think running was the only way I could get fit so this has taught me a little bit now that that there's over things I can do, I can go on the bike and I've just got to manage it properly now and I think getting back in the ring in the summer is very realistic and it would be nice to have one or two fights before the end of the year for sure. Get back in the ring this year would be my aim and then look to really pick up someone titles and have a good last roll of the dice."
There will also be a life after boxing won't there so what are you thinking on that front?
"Really good. It's sort of given me an eye opener to say that boxing is your be all and end all but once you career ends I'm still going to have a life after boxing and so I've been doing a bit of coaching on the side while I'm recovering from injury. I'm still doing my training though whether it's morning/night. I'm down at D1 Fitness Gym in Pudsey where we do Shredfast sessions that have really taken off. The guys got in touch with me and said do you fancy coming down for a free session when I followed the page on Instagram and we ended up speaking and they said do you want to do some coaching? I gave it a trial and I'm really enjoying it and I'm probably learning more or thinking more about the sport sometimes when coaching someone because I'm thinking I need to brush up on that day or I've not really thought about that too much and then I'm then I'm getting in the gym on a night and I'm giving that a go. It's really good and I'd definitely recommend it to other boxes. I'd say give it a go because I literally made a note of a few things that I need to work on with that. It's the fundamentals, the basics. It's something I'm really enjoying and I'm grateful to the guys that at D1 who have allowed me to do that, especially at the minute while I'm not fighting. I need to pay the bills and stuff. I've got a family of four so it's quite important."
Leeds boxer Jack Bateson pictured training in Kirkstall as he continues on the comeback trail from injury.
Photograph by Tony Johnson. 5th March 2026placeholder image
Leeds boxer Jack Bateson pictured training in Kirkstall as he continues on the comeback trail from injury. Photograph by Tony Johnson. 5th March 2026 | National World resell
Is that what you will do long term then?
"Definitely. When I really thought about and thought what am I going to do after boxing I think it was around Covid time. All I could think of and literally all I know is just boxing. They've allowed me to put the sign up outside of the gym of JUST BOXING because that's all that I know and this is something that I want to base my life around whether it's after my career, during my career and I think it's something that I'll always be involved in until the the day I die."
You mention the bills to pay and the family of four so how's all that going as you will be a busy man?
"It's really good. I've got four-year-old and a seven month old now - Sienna and Skye and my wife Greta. While I was in camp we had literally just had Skye and I wasn't much help at home because I was deep in camp and doing all my training. I went off to Dublin and broke my ankle and I think Greta was really looking forward to me coming home after the fight and having some help. I came home on crutches and so it turned out she had three kids to look after with me as well! It's been hard for her, I couldn't even get up the steps, never mind help her out but I'm back now and giving her the best hand that I can! Sienna keeps saying she wants to come and box with me, the one who is four and I don't mind coaching and stuff. But it's a tough old sport and I don't know if I want to put her into it because it really has been tough over the years. You miss out on a lot of good things and stuff but if they decided to do it it's taught me a lot of good things as well, and just disciplines of life. I think it's one of life's greatest teachers."
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