Lianne Bush: The Challenges of Weight Cutting in Boxing Advice for Aspiring Boxers, weight management, pursuing happiness and retirement from the ring [1.8]

In this conversation, Jonathan Millard interviews Leanne Bush, a professional boxer, about her journey in combat sports. Leanne shares how she initially got into martial arts and her transition to boxing. They discuss the rise of influencer boxing and its impact on the sport. Leanne also talks about her experiences with weight cutting and the challenges it presents in boxing. Overall, the conversation highlights Leanne's career and sheds light on various aspects of the boxing world. Lianne discusses the challenges she faced with weight cutting in boxing and how it affected her performance. She reflects on the decision to retire from professional boxing and pursue other interests. Lianne shares her experiences with marathon running and her involvement in the amateur boxing community. She emphasizes the importance of proper weight management and ticket sales in the boxing industry. Lianne offers advice to aspiring boxers and encourages them to take advantage of the amateur circuit. She also talks about her current fitness pursuits, including strength training and swim runs.

00.00 - Introduction
01.10 - Martial Arts or Boxing
04.24 - Impact of influence
19.20 - Weight Cutting Challenge
26.32 - Retirement
29.15 - Marathon Runner 
30.42 - Involvement with the Amateurs 
35.28 - Ticket Sales
36.40 - Advice for Aspiring Boxers
43.15 - Pursuing Happiness

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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liannebush18

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Takeaways

Leanne Bush started her combat sports journey with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing before transitioning to boxing.
Influencer boxing has brought more attention and interest to the sport, despite some criticism from professional boxers.
Weight cutting is a significant issue in boxing, with many fighters feeling pressured to cut weight to gain a size advantage.
Leanne emphasizes the importance of finding a comfortable weight and avoiding extreme weight cutting for the overall well-being of the boxer. Weight cutting can have a significant impact on a boxer's performance and overall well-being.
It's important for boxers to speak up and advocate for themselves when it comes to weight management.
Retiring from boxing can be a difficult decision, but it's important to prioritize personal happiness and well-being.
Engaging in other fitness pursuits, such as marathon running, can provide new challenges and opportunities for personal growth.
Being involved in the amateur boxing community and giving back can be fulfilling and rewarding.
Proper weight management and ticket sales are crucial aspects of a boxer's career.
Listening to one's body and pursuing other interests outside of boxing is essential for personal growth and happiness.

keywords
boxing, combat sports, martial arts, influencer boxing, weight cutting, boxing, weight cutting, retirement, marathon running, amateur boxing, weight management, ticket sales, fitness pursuits


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Transcript

Jonathan (00:07.322)
Hey, hey, everybody, it's me, Jonathan Millard, the voice of the veil with another big hype podcast. And today, my very special guest joining me live in the studio, my house by my studio, Leanne Bush. How are you, Leanne? You're all right.

Lianne (00:18.189)
Hahaha!

Lianne (00:23.245)
I'm good, thank you. How are you?

Jonathan (00:25.576)
I'm very good, I'm very good, I'm really happy and really excited to have you on the show actually because it's been one of these things that I've had in my mind to do but never been able to do it and that is actually announced you to come into the ring.

Lianne (00:39.363)
no, it slipped us by.

Jonathan (00:43.448)
It's just one of those things, isn't it? You you had the, you know, I had plenty, no opportunities. So I'm going to do it now. Is that all right? Yeah. So ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, please now welcome into the ring to the blue corner, Leanne Bush. Yay. I've it. I've done it. I've done it now. Yay. Because it's really interesting how we, how we got to know each other or kind of know of each other. was actually, it was through your brother.

Lianne (00:49.288)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Lianne (00:59.202)
I do miss that bit, I suppose. Yay!

Jonathan (01:11.952)
Who did a sort of white collar program. Was it white collar fighter or ultra? But one of those things.

Lianne (01:12.427)
Yes.

Lianne (01:16.194)
Yeah, he did a couple of MMA white collar fights and I was initially there supporting and then I had my daughter when I was 27 and wanted to get back into something and started with, well, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at first actually. So the journey into boxing was, it was quite strange. It didn't start out as boxing.

Jonathan (01:38.353)
Mm

Jonathan (01:45.948)
Okay, okay, let's unravel that then. how long were you interested in, I suppose, combat sports, that's where it started, rather than boxing per se?

Lianne (01:57.6)
Well, my dad was a martial arts instructor, when I was five until I was 12, I did like some sort of like cross between karate and something else. So I trained when I was like younger for a couple of years, well seven, I think. And then got to 12, got to senior school, got interested in going out with my mates and sort of sacked it off.

Jonathan (02:06.185)
Mm

Jonathan (02:19.578)
Mm

Lianne (02:27.711)
And then when I had Jess, my daughter, when I was 27, I just wanted to get back doing something. And that's why I think I initially went to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu rather than actual striking because what I'd done when I was younger, but quickly found that I preferred the striking. But it was kickboxing first, to be honest, kickboxing, Thai boxing.

Jonathan (02:57.276)
Okay, okay. And then obviously, so how long were you involved with that? Because that was obviously, what about that? Well, we just talked about this before we came on like, so it's 10 years ago that that was that that started. So how long did you stick with that for?

Lianne (03:08.564)
Yeah.

I maybe three years. The problem being that you would train really hard and make a weight just like you do in boxing. You do that for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions and unlicensed competitions. But the depth of girls wasn't there so I was making weight for things and

Jonathan (03:26.15)
Mm

Lianne (03:41.17)
girls were pulling out or they were coming in really heavy but I was still taking the fights. And I did a couple of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions as well, think. Got third or second place a couple of times. So I like the competition aspect of it. But I moved on from MMA quite quickly because there was just no girls.

A bit like there wasn't in boxing, I guess, at that time. It seems to be flooding with females now because of the Olympics and amateurs and more exposure on the sport. But yeah, back then, was slim pickings, really.

Jonathan (04:24.232)
It certainly is. mean, the women's side of boxing, as opposed to the women's side in MMA, I suppose now it has seen more people getting involved. I think it's become more open and more accessible, I think perhaps for some people that, you know, they see it, maybe the influencers as well, a little bit, I guess that, you know, they're seeing some of these influencer boxes coming through and, know, they're having a go. You know, that's probably the best way, you know, then.

Lianne (04:38.256)
Yeah

Lianne (04:43.471)
Yeah.

Jonathan (04:53.36)
they're inspiring these other to get in sport and get involved. So yeah, so.

Lianne (04:58.33)
Yeah.

And I think even though a lot of professional boxers kind of look at the influencer boxing and find it a little bit annoying, probably because of the money they're making and the exposure they're getting for less of the hard work I think people feel, it's still bringing eyes to the sport.

Jonathan (05:25.774)
Yeah, I, yeah, I mean, I'm not going to get in the whole political argument around the, it right? Isn't right. Isn't it right? It is what it is. They do what they do. And like you say, they're making money from it. And, know, I can only, there's some of the stories that I hear, you know, when you're talking to boxes at shows, you know, you know, you, when you go, it's, it's, you know, you're sitting around catching up with other people, so -and -so from some sort of gym you haven't seen for a while. And then they come down to this subject and

Lianne (05:35.589)
Yes, happening. Yeah.

Jonathan (05:55.304)
One of them turned around and said, well, he's offered X amount of money to do one fight. I just went, that's like a year salary. Why the hell wouldn't you take that for one fight? I mean, you know, please like, no, no, he wants to stay and he wants to do it that way. And I must go the other way. was going, well, you know, whether it's right or wrong, I don't know. But like you say, it's pretty more, more interesting in the sport. And if he's attracting more people into having to go and getting involved, you know, it can only be, it can only be a good thing in that capacity. Cause

Lianne (06:02.915)
Yeah.

Lianne (06:13.817)
Yeah, I think... Exactly.

Jonathan (06:24.028)
yeah, like you say, I think the board have kind of become a little bit more accustomed to the fact that there, are other routes into boxing as opposed to the amateur.

Lianne (06:32.82)
Yeah, definitely. Yeah, because I didn't do it through the amateurs and I was granted my licence and there were a couple of other people didn't come through the amateurs and they've been granted board licences. So yeah, they've definitely opened up to that a lot more over the years.

Jonathan (06:55.142)
So did you get any, you did have a few amateur fights though, didn't you? Before.

Lianne (06:59.187)
I had unlicensed, in fact I've done it a bit backwards actually because last year when I decided not to renew my professional license I actually got my amateur card so I've done it back to front and I've actually just done my level C amateur judging qualification so I judge and time keep amateur shows now as well so but yeah I did unlicensed which is like

Jonathan (07:12.028)
you

Jonathan (07:19.59)
Thanks.

Lianne (07:29.817)
not white collar, not the charity white collar or pink collar stuff. You're still selling the tickets and if you get behind like good promoters you're in some good arenas like I've done Motorpoint Arena at Nottingham as an unlicensed boxer but yeah it was unlicensed that I came through.

Jonathan (07:55.068)
I'm not gonna say that. I must... Was I there?

Lianne (07:59.82)
don't know. You know when you're boxing, you very rarely remember who's ref'd and who's called it. Unless the ref didn't give you the decision and then you remember who they were.

Jonathan (08:06.881)
I know, I know, I know.

Then out comes the little doll on the pins. Yeah. No, when you say that, I mean, obviously, I mean, I'm involved, you know, I've been involved with boxing for 15 years, 16 years, pretty much. I like you. I like to give you back to the amateurs and I like to support the amateurs wherever possible. And yes, I have done some of these shows that you talk about. And yeah, you can find if they're

Lianne (08:15.937)
Yeah, exactly.

Lianne (08:36.695)
Yeah.

Jonathan (08:40.7)
you know, good solid shows productions. Some of the boxing quality is sometimes better than some of the some of the pros. You know, again, it's how it's matched if it's matched well on the level right there. Then obviously, yes, you can still have a good contest. And that's I think something that the fans want to see as well. They want to see good boxing and, you know, 50 50 fights where possible. So, yeah. OK, so who so how many how many of those unlicensed or semi professionals, whatever you want to call it?

Lianne (08:46.75)
Yeah?

Lianne (08:57.94)
Exactly, yeah.

Lianne (09:02.069)
Yes.

Lianne (09:10.135)
So there was two or three kickboxing, three boxing and then I went into the pro's so quite limited experience really.

Jonathan (09:19.697)
Mm

Jonathan (09:27.624)
It is, but it isn't nowadays in this capacity. mean, obviously that, you know, people are coming to the sport with, you know, particularly after COVID, we have another podcast that we talked to another one of the other boxes and he said, well, obviously COVID was there and nothing was happening. I couldn't get a fight. There was no amateur fights. So he turned over pro. and he was, he was young. So yeah, so it's not, it's not in here, but obviously, like you're saying that totally not be a couple of more fights probably than some of those guys that sort of did it. So.

Lianne (09:29.834)
Yeah.

Lianne (09:45.929)
Yeah, a lot did that. Yeah.

Lianne (09:55.859)
Yeah, and because through Covid, I got my professional licence just as we got locked down. I, anyone with a professional licence was really lucky because you were allowed to carry on training, whereas the amateurs were told to stop. So for two years, we could still travel and spar with the professional boxers. So it was just like basically weekly sparring.

Jonathan (09:55.984)
That's not that's not a thing.

Lianne (10:25.427)
because everyone wanted sparring as well because they weren't getting fights. So the amount of rounds I probably did in Covid, it's like huge. Basically like cramming in a little amateur career into Covid really because we were sparring as often as we could.

Jonathan (10:46.298)
Yeah, COVID was a unique time of year for time for everyone. Like I say, you were very lucky in the fact if you had a license, you could still train. There wasn't the opportunities for fights, realistically, until a little bit later when some people got their heads together on how to actually put shows on. So you had the, know, Sheffield's car park, which was

Lianne (10:49.992)
Yeah.

Lianne (10:59.387)
No. No, not really.

Lianne (11:08.53)
Yep.

Jonathan (11:09.628)
You know, a great, great thing. Obviously, Matrim then decided to do that and ought to be, know, Frank Warren and and Queensborough were doing the BT Stadium with, you know, with Boxer staying in the hotel or locked down in their rooms and not being able to mingle per se. So lots of ways around it. People found those ways around it, which, you know, it made then obviously some interesting television. We can actually watch boxing back on television, which was always nice.

Lianne (11:19.475)
Yeah.

Lianne (11:23.665)
Yeah.

Lianne (11:34.045)
Hmm.

Jonathan (11:36.86)
Although I'd an empty arena. of them were actually, actually probably more focused on the fights as well that way as well. didn't have all the dodgy camera angles of looking at the massive crowds and going, that's fine. Let's just let them carry on singing sweet Caroline is fine. We want to watch the box. It's fine. So, yeah, so good in that capacity, but, so yeah, so you had a lot of opportunities then to, to spar. Then you, then you had your debut in 2101, which was, we're out of lockdown at that time.

Lianne (11:42.512)
Yeah

Lianne (11:51.026)
Yeah.

Lianne (11:59.9)
Mm.

Lianne (12:07.28)
Yes, yeah and we must have only just been out a lot of them because that's when all shows had to do Covid testing to let you box and everybody got day before weigh -ins so it was I can't remember when we properly came out but I know obviously my debut was October but we were still doing Covid tests I remember doing the Covid test thinking

it's going to come back positive. They're going to tell me I'm not boxing tomorrow. Just panicking. But yeah, so it was very close to COVID and end of lockdown.

Jonathan (12:45.818)
I was in Wales. I live in Wales. So for us in Wales, we still had COVID like for like six more months after you guys did. yeah, let's talk about that. that's, but not getting the political arena of that side of it. We were kept down for a little bit longer. yeah. So it was good though. Obviously I'm like, that's why I can't remember when we came out of it. I don't think there was a date because obviously there were different rules and different regulations in different parts of the country. But that's good. And you came out obviously.

Lianne (12:50.137)
Yeah, you stayed in a while longer.

Lianne (13:00.272)
Yeah.

Lianne (13:05.734)
No.

Jonathan (13:13.86)
First fight, six two -minute rounds. Quite comfortable win, realistically.

Lianne (13:16.987)
Mmm.

Lianne (13:22.64)
I wouldn't say so because and I never know how to say her name, my opponent, so I call her Effie and I do speak to her occasionally on Instagram because we follow each other. No, it wasn't easy because she had a winning record. She's fit, like she stays fit all year round.

what she must do to take a fight on however short notice she took it, came from Scotland and she comes to win and she'd been like been in big fights with Rachel Ball, like think they'd both hit the canvas in their fight, blood everywhere. I think Rachel might have got fight of the year nomination for that in the Midlands board. So yeah, she was a tough opponent.

with a winning record on my debut, I do wonder what my manager at the time was thinking there, but, actually in the fight, I think because I knew I had to be switched on, but I also knew that she was a very come forward fighter and I just had to hit a move. I fought well and I don't think I've ever fought as well since that in my other four fights.

But yeah, I had to fight every second for it. She was ready to take my head off and I remember in the sixth round, she caught me with a hook and I remember thinking, five rounds I've won and this is where she's gonna get me. Yeah, she caught me definitely because I was tired. She'd had me moving the whole time because she never stopped coming forward.

Jonathan (15:16.432)
No, she's a game opponent. I will say that I've seen her box elsewhere since since that as well. She's still active now as well, isn't she? So, you know.

Lianne (15:26.529)
Yeah, took, is it Ebony Jones? When she fought for boxer, she took her to a draw, like what, a year later or not so long later? And that is because she is fit and she will be in your face the whole time.

Jonathan (15:45.168)
Yeah. Yeah. So like what you said, what was going through your mind, obviously, when you went into the fight, did you know this person had obviously mentioned the record a couple of times, she's coming in and beaten at the time.

Lianne (15:59.979)
Yeah, well, I think she'd lost only to Rachel Ball. I think she was like four and one, five and one, something like that. I think I remember getting the call on the Tuesday to say that's who we'd got. And I think it was, I said Doddy Decision Band manager. I'm only joking because I think because we were only just coming out of lockdown, I think it was a bit difficult flying opponents in then. And there weren't as many.

Jonathan (16:02.097)
sorry.

Lianne (16:29.664)
females turned over UK -wise as they are now. You've got more female journeymen in the UK than you did have then. So I think we were limited with options that girls would fight on that short notice in the away corner. it was on the Tuesday, I think, I got the call saying we've got her. Actually, think Stevie Levy actually messaged me and said, mate, you're taking that opponent.

Jonathan (16:36.816)
Yeah, I agree with that.

Lianne (16:58.643)
well in or some, like you've got some balls or something. I was like, what's she on about? So I checked Box Wreck and that's how I found out actually. Stevie Levy let it slip and I couldn't believe it. I was like, and I remember messaging my manager and my coach like, why have you booked her? Again? Yeah. Yeah. I did. Yeah.

Jonathan (17:19.974)
They relate the challenges there, but the challenge was there. You rose the challenge. And you know it was, you know, it's only so any put you in good stead with, you know, like you say she took Abney bridges to to the draw. Sorry, I'm only Jones story. She's taking obviously. Taking taking a few other fights just looking the quick quick look through lost to to Rachel Ball. she's one up against people like she born or Larry.

Lianne (17:36.668)
Ebony Jones. Yeah.

Jonathan (17:50.63)
She won O 'Leary and she's got Ellie Halliwell coming up as well in a few weeks time. she's...

Lianne (17:52.202)
Mm.

Lianne (17:58.414)
I didn't realise she was taking another fight. Good on her. Because I know she is a bit older than me. Yeah, she probably is. She probably is. Because I see... I think I responded to one of her stories the other day saying, are you ever not in shape? I think I sent that to her last Saturday or something.

Jonathan (18:00.535)
there you go. Well, that's what BoxRex says. If BoxRex had it, must be true.

Lianne (18:21.649)
I was going through a story and she's like got the abs out and I think I responded to it saying are you never, are you ever not in shape? So I wouldn't be surprised if she's took it. So yeah, if so, brilliant. I can't wait to tune into that. Thanks for letting me know.

Jonathan (18:35.604)
There you go. I'm sure that'll be a bit of a barn burner as well. Anyway, but then obviously we came through that fight. Manager Sensor said, well, okay, we're now we're coming out of with 2022. We've got a bit more flexibility. A bit more of a sort of journeyman route kind of thing. Journey woman route,

Lianne (18:52.945)
Yeah.

Lianne (18:58.47)
Yeah, because we still needed to do the learning on the job because we'd not done the amateurs and we'd gone straight into six rounds as well. I never did a four round fight and I mean, I'd say we needed to work out the weight as well, but we never got the weight right in all my five fights. So.

Jonathan (19:01.211)
Yeah.

Jonathan (19:19.217)
How did you manage with the weight then? Were you cutting a lot? you... Okay.

Lianne (19:25.893)
Yeah. Yeah. And I think, I think the weight cutting thing is a big thing in amateur and pro. That some people talk about when it gets to a certain point that they have to talk about it. And a lot of people don't talk about it at all. And I think it's a big thing in boxing and I think it causes a lot of problems. But it comes out in conversation when something happens. You know, if...

someone has a surprise loss or someone looks really drawn out on the scales or someone struggles to make weight then people want to have a conversation about daft weight cutting but other than that it gets brushed under the carpet and I think that's one of the factors where I sort of had enough last year so I mean if I'd been younger I'd probably have persevered but I'm 37 so

I just, I don't, everybody's competing to cut the most weight and be the bigger boxer in the ring and it's...

Jonathan (20:31.994)
Yeah, I mean, we've talked to have talked on, obviously, the podcast is talking to boxes. So, you know, this topic hasn't isn't new to me and isn't is new to the situation. I kind of feel that, you know, you should be at comfortable weight. You know, if you're not a comfortable weight, then you know, again, that's, you know, that but also comes down to

Lianne (20:42.821)
No.

Lianne (20:48.293)
Yeah.

Jonathan (20:52.524)
discussions with the boxers, with the management team and the coaches and saying, this is where this boxer naturally sort of sits. You know, he's comfortable, she's comfortable at that weight. That's where we should be meeting realistically, maybe a few pounds either way, but nothing excruciatingly massively from, you know, two weight divisions above kind of thing dropping down.

Lianne (20:58.618)
Yeah.

Lianne (21:08.462)
Yeah.

Jonathan (21:18.544)
You know, odd kilo here is kind of okay. yeah, again, it's, it's, think perhaps again, like you say, you don't hear about it until you get a massive issue. You had that UFC fighter that, you know, passed out on this past out on the scales, you know.

Lianne (21:20.087)
Yeah.

Lianne (21:31.716)
Yeah.

Yeah, well you see that a lot in the UFC. They're shaking and they barely make it onto the scales. They get the weight registered and then people are just grabbing them off because they're ready to pass out.

Jonathan (21:38.769)
to you.

Jonathan (21:45.956)
Yeah, well, again, obviously, mean, you know, this is something that perhaps needs to be looked at higher level right now. I think we just have to say it's happened. It happens in the sport and right or wrong. It's something that's there. But do you did you did you find, did you find that, you did you find that you were being pushed into it or you just sort of, know, that, that, you know, if the fights are only there, if you can go to X weight.

Lianne (21:57.954)
Yeah, it is. It's... and I think...

Lianne (22:07.307)
And... No!

Lianne (22:13.38)
I felt pushed into it with the first management team. So for the first three, four fights, I felt pushed into it. And I think they'd done the damage that by the time I changed management and I was boxing solely, training solely with Rendall, too much had happened with the weight cutting and...

well, with the love of it, really, that it was irreparable. And I remember having that conversation with Randall and Carl Greaves. And like Carl said, if only I'd signed over with him a bit sooner before I'd, the weight had taken over. but yeah, I was definitely pressured into it at first. I think the gym hours at the start, everybody is. Because when I say that weight is a thing that.

is a big issue in boxing. It's not for some people and I think there's a lot of girls that fight at their natural weight because they can and they're the girls that you see in doing really well. And the boys as well. I'm just talking about the girls because I feel like I can give that female perspective rather than the male perspective. But I do know it happens in the male side as well. But I can tell...

as I'm sure other boxers can, I can tell when a girl's got on the scales and she's fighting at a weight that suits her and then you can see it in the performance and you never could see it in my performance because I was always scrapping to cut the last bit of weight even on the day and it was only my debut that was a day before weighing so I had all night to recover. So I'm still cutting weight on the day of a fight which is not my...

Which is my fault and not my fault. My fault is in I should have been speaking up and saying no don't want to fight it that way and I wasn't.

Lianne (24:20.489)
until I did and because Carl and Rendell have been saying to me, are you sure? Are you sure? But I think it programmed into me, though this is the weight I should be making. And then by the time I said to Carl, I actually do think I'm struggling to make the weight and it's not the right weight. And I think he looked at me and sort of like, yeah, I did tell you. Good, I'm glad you said it. But by then...

Jonathan (24:42.416)
Yeah.

Lianne (24:48.308)
We'd committed to a weight with Becky and she didn't want to change it and it's my fault I was trying to change it too close to the fight. I'd sold all my tickets so committed to the weight and I struggled every weight cut after my debut. My debut was fine because it was a day before weigh. The four fights after were horrendous and you can see on one of my pictures on Instagram I look horrendous.

Jonathan (24:58.213)
Yeah.

Jonathan (25:14.192)
Becky Ferguson that was your last fight and that was that was who you were talking about there with regards to that and Becky Becky's a know game opponent as well she's always always in the gym and

Lianne (25:18.718)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Lianne (25:25.887)
yeah, yeah and she's lovely as well so she deserved the win. It's nothing against, I'm not saying my opponents didn't perform but I'm saying I definitely didn't. My sparring and my boxing and my fights were just night and day because I was sparring -fuelled. was sparring, I probably sparring at the weight I should have been fighting at but instead I would take another £10 off which is ridiculous.

Jonathan (25:52.954)
Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, that brought the end to the professional then career. Obviously, as you say, that was last year.

Lianne (26:04.455)
Yeah, I think if I'd have been younger, what I obviously would have done and could have done was change weight classes and just start again because the two losses didn't matter. Having an unbeaten record to me and I think in female boxing particularly doesn't mean anything because there's not enough of us.

Jonathan (26:10.001)
Mm.

Lianne (26:32.282)
that you can't come again, especially at another weight class. So wasn't the losses that bothered me. If I'd have been younger, what I'd done is I'd changed the weight and set everything back and gone again. But I'd had enough of the weight. And so even a little cut, I was like, no, I can't be arsed, I've had enough. Even half a stone was enough, was enough to push me over the edge.

Jonathan (26:54.64)
That's you've got to do it. Yeah, you've you've got to be happy doing what you're doing. If you're not happy doing it, then you're not going to enjoy it. And that's the thing. If you're not happy doing what you're doing, why are you doing it? That's the question that comes into into the mind, I guess, for you as a boxer.

Lianne (27:07.718)
Yeah.

100 % yeah and I think and the ticket sales which I'm sure is a common thing that boxers would say if you ask them and it's something weight and tickets you can if you listen carefully on a the commentary of a boxing match on Dezirin or whatever you can hear how often they talk about either weight or ticket sales

especially when someone sold a lot of tickets. And I never struggled to sell tickets to cover my opponent. In fact, a couple of fights I made over a thousand pound myself and that's after paying my opponent and giving my manager their cut. ticket sales was just, it felt like the actual boxing fight, me and my opponent was like way down on the priority ladder.

Jonathan (28:10.202)
Mm.

Lianne (28:12.048)
weight came first, tickets came first, social media came first and I was like, I just want a box to be honest. And it was killing the enjoyment, everything was killing the enjoyment and it was sad because I'd made some really good friends and I've got some really good sparring partners, Jess, Barry and we used to have some brilliant spars and I think we had two, two last spars I had with Jess.

Jonathan (28:17.924)
Yeah, yeah.

Lianne (28:41.729)
and I was just, it's like I wasn't there. I wasn't landing properly, wasn't, I was taking really silly shots and I knew then, I'm done.

Jonathan (28:52.124)
Yeah, yeah. And obviously, you know, it's making that decision. It's, you know, rather than trying to stick into something and stay with something, you know, and that's a very mature choice to make that decision and try and do something else. So whereas now obviously you've been out of boxing for a year, what have you been up to in the last year or so?

Lianne (29:04.068)
Yeah.

Lianne (29:17.348)
So we are about exactly a year since I told Carlin Rendell I was done professionally and then I have done like bit of long distance running so I've done two marathons this year, I London and Rome. I've been doing a couple of swim runs, like triathlon but without the cycling.

Jonathan (29:35.942)
Bye bye.

Jonathan (29:45.616)
Okay.

Lianne (29:47.085)
got one next week actually in Devon and I did actually do the amateurs like I say so when you said earlier I have had a couple of amateur fights I did a Boxer Cup in December and again because you've got to cut some weight I get that and I just don't enjoy getting on the scales anymore but I think what I was finding harder to let go was the team

Jonathan (29:51.857)
Mm.

Lianne (30:15.415)
I love Rendon, I love seeing him twice a week and I really like Carl and I'd just found an amateur gym that was so welcoming and Dean the coach was like, don't give it up fully, have a go at the amateurs. So for six months at the back end of last year, I actually got my amateur card and I did a box cup in December and then had a break because...

Training for two marathons was pretty hard, like time consuming. But at the same time, the gym, the amateur gym was like, would you like to do your qualification for judging and timekeeping level C? I was like, yeah. So I got my lanyard through actually when I came home today. I think we've got some championships happening just up the road from me this in September. So I'm to get myself over there and help out there.

Jonathan (30:45.04)
Hmm.

Jonathan (30:53.094)
Good. Yeah.

Jonathan (30:59.718)
Good.

Jonathan (31:11.27)
get yourself involved because yeah, I can talk about my past in that capacity. Being there, done that got t -shirts, some of the sort of thing. you know, it's always, I always try and give back to the amateur side of it as well. Cause you know, you know, I always say this, they're the stars of tomorrow. a lot of the ones that like, you know, a lot of the ones that I like to, you know, I've seen in the coming through the amateurs over the last couple of years now have turned over pro and they've gone, you know, they're doing well. Some of them have done super well.

Lianne (31:25.217)
Yeah.

Jonathan (31:39.578)
Some of them are just doing okay and happy with where they are and everything else. And it's great to see and it's just good to see that there is that opportunity. And like I said, no shows again, busier and busier. The amateur side of it has got busier and busier as well, which is great because it's really good to be out there and support them as much as I possibly can. The whole two clubs that I've got here in my town, I try and support them both whenever I can. yeah, it's good to give back.

Lianne (31:39.98)
Yeah?

Lianne (31:45.045)
Yeah.

Lianne (31:56.341)
Yeah.

Lianne (32:07.338)
That's it. They are the stars of tomorrow, definitely. there's a lot of the gyms around here getting flooded with girls as well. Good girls, really great girls that I look forward to being able to say, I've sparred with them or I've trained with them when they turn over because they'll go far, I think, because they're dedicated. And this is what I said when we were messaging, setting up.

this chat, what I just, I try not to preach to them too much like, old wise lady that's been pro trying to, you know, put all the negativity on things. What I try and say to them is, just don't make the mistakes that I know are made. So get your weight right and don't be told otherwise. You stay healthy and...

soak in the amateurs, know, take full advantage of it, travel the world, you know, if you can get yourself onto the England pathway, you know, listen to what your great coach says and because when you turn over, if you turn over and you can't sell a ticket, unfortunately, the world of boxing is going to be harsh. So take that time to gain your experience, you know, get really, really good and

build a fan base, the people want, the moment you tell people that you have turned pro, they're gonna ask when you fight, can I get a ticket? Because that is the biggest challenge and that's what I think wears a lot of people down, the weight and the ticket sales. Because only a very small percentage walk straight onto a TV deal. So unless you've done something at amateur,

Jonathan (33:42.278)
Yeah.

Jonathan (33:58.606)
Mm -hmm. Yeah, yeah.

Lianne (34:04.858)
and they'd be mad not to sign you, you're going to be paving your way on the small hall shows so have something to give. Don't be afraid to take stuff in the away corner either, you know, and don't be precious about taking a loss but everybody is in the pros. yeah, so...

Jonathan (34:23.676)
I think I think think yeah, there's the there's the hype around, isn't it? He's 10 and or she's five and and six and and now she's going for a world championship or challenging for the interim world championship or intercontinental or European, or even the British area titles now. So, you know, there is that pressure, I suppose, guess. Yeah, probably rightly or wrongly. Again, like you say, it doesn't affect doesn't really affect the boxer.

if they've learnt on that lesson and they've learnt something new and they can take that forward in next two fights, three fights, they go through and then...

Lianne (34:55.058)
Yeah.

Lianne (34:59.027)
100 % because it's like the two losses that I had, like I say, if I was younger, there'd have been losses and then I'd have carried on. But because I stopped, it would easily look like, I suffered two losses, so I stopped. people were friends, family, friend or they were more upset about the losses than I was.

The loss to Vicky, I was like, I was lazy in that fight. I was lazy and again, at the wrong weight, but I was lazy. That was my fault. And then Becky, it was weight again. So there were my mistakes and there were my mistakes to either rectify and carry on or decide that what needed fixing, I didn't want to fix. I didn't want to carry on and try and fix it. And that's the decision I made. I take nothing away from.

Vicky and Becky having those wins, they worked very hard and they, you know, both fights were close. But yeah, everyone else was more upset than me about the losses. I was like, the losses lost. Why is everyone so obsessed with the O, having an unbeaten record?

Jonathan (36:10.292)
You tried, it's tried and try. Yeah, it's better. Is that thing of try, try again? Is that like you say, if there's not something that you're unhappy with in your case, you know, the situation, but you still, you you would have, you would have tried on if you, if you would have, you know, again, it's making that mature decision and going, actually, I'm like, you say, I'm that age, I don't want to carry on anymore. I don't want to keep doing cuts. I don't want to keep doing this. I'm going to try and.

Lianne (36:20.239)
Yes.

Jonathan (36:39.512)
move into a different arena. And this capacity is the it's moving back to the amateurs or moving to the amateurs for the first time rather than that. So no, think I guess again, that's a really wise, wise decision. And so how does the how does the marathon running and how does that all affect is because running is a different sport to to boxing and hitting people.

Lianne (36:43.695)
Yeah, and...

Lianne (37:04.919)
Yeah, yeah, it's less interesting. In fact, it's been hard to get back into running since the London Marathon in April. And I used to run every week without the boxing, I did a lot of cross -country at school. So I've always been a long -distance runner. So the running for boxing has never been a problem. I know some people are like, I've got to go out and do a run. But it's just something I've always done. But since the Marathon, since April,

Jonathan (37:06.854)
You

Lianne (37:34.743)
I have actually struggled because I think I ran that many miles and saw the local route around my house that much. I'm sick of the sight of them. And I knew every hill, every pothole, and I was, so I've had a bit of a break, but I am getting back into it because like I say, do like to do, challenge myself with swim runs because swimming is not a natural thing for me, although.

Jonathan (37:48.291)
you

Lianne (38:03.348)
I have had sea swimming lessons so I'm better now but I like to challenge myself in that way but yeah the marathon is really interesting and I made sure to book well I booked Rome first and I thought you know because I'd always said I wouldn't do a marathon I've done a lot of halves and I thought if I'm gonna do one I'm gonna do an interesting one so I booked Rome because I didn't get into the London Marathon through a work

Jonathan (38:17.83)
Yeah.

Lianne (38:32.429)
space at work, get two charity spots, staff spots, and I'd applied for one and I didn't get it. And then whoever did get it dropped out. in February, they came to me and said, do you still want to do London? And I said, well, I'm actually training for Rome and it's only a month later. yeah. So I had two months to raise 2000 pounds instead of six months. I still did it. I did bake sales and all sorts, but.

Jonathan (38:33.436)
Okay. Yeah.

Jonathan (38:57.51)
Good. What was the charity? What was the charity?

Lianne (39:02.637)
It was Alzheimer's UK, so it was really, really great charity to do it for. Both routes were really, really great because I think as much as I have run in my life and I don't mind running, it can get boring. Four hours running...

Jonathan (39:07.27)
Okay. Yeah.

Jonathan (39:24.4)
I'm not going to say anything weird, and for this person you're in the room right now. yeah, running's never been my forte. Lifting, that's fine, I can lift. don't mind weightlifting, I don't mind doing, don't really like cycling, but I the cardio if I need to. yeah, walking, much fine. That's why I loved lockdown. Lockdown was great for me because I lost weight in lockdown. Everyone was like, I found the fridge. I found two, I walk six miles a day every day.

Lianne (39:41.964)
Yeah.

Lianne (39:47.351)
haha

Jonathan (39:51.226)
two hours and the weight was dropping off me and I was like, then I've gone back to work and back into offices and back on zoom. You know, I still got zoom meetings, but now they're just racked into everything else and being in a building rather than at home and not having the two hour window. So yeah, that's my fault. So there you go.

Lianne (39:52.631)
Bro

Lianne (40:05.812)
Yeah.

Lianne (40:12.799)
Yeah, I mean, you mentioned lifting weights as well. That's always been something I've not been able to do properly because it would mess with the weight for boxing. Because I don't know whether it's genetics or what, but if I really get into lifting weights properly, my weight stops or it even goes up.

Jonathan (40:37.52)
Yeah, yeah, I can understand you. You're gaining muscle so muscles heavier and you know,

Lianne (40:43.367)
Yeah, so I have to stay away from them for boxing, but since I've taken a little break, me and my personal trainer that I've been with for like seven years, or whether it was boxing, MMA, we've been consistent throughout, he was really excited because we could now change it up and start doing weights. So now I'm doing like three to four weight sessions a week. So learning all about strength training and...

that's really interesting and yeah I guess that was another thing when I was thinking about the boxing it was like it's it's stopping me doing other things that I'm starting to get interested in that I'm naturally wanting to look into and I can't do it and I think you just have to listen and think well if you feel this way you feel it for a reason I always say to people I knew what I felt like when I loved it and

I don't feel that way so clearly I don't love it and then since I made the decision I'll see other things about boxing on social media or on TV and I enjoy it for other people but I don't miss it so I obviously made the right decision but it is hard because it's like breaking up with someone and like you don't know how to live without it and yeah

Jonathan (42:02.042)
In the blood is in your blood. Yeah, this is what we say and saying this into another podcast. Boxing is in your blood once it's in your blood. It doesn't kind of leave any kind of stuck with it. And yes, yeah, I can understand what you're saying. It's like a breakup. Yeah.

Lianne (42:13.456)
Yeah.

Lianne (42:18.736)
Yeah, and you get addicted to the feeling of being fit because now I'm doing other sport things and know I'm not as fit and that does make me a little bit sad because I used to be super fit and I'll try and do something that I did when I was training camp. I'm like, yeah, I'm not as fit as I used to be. But you have to sort of let that go.

Jonathan (42:42.48)
Yeah.

Lianne (42:48.303)
I think the biggest thing, the biggest stress I did have again was weight. Total opposite of, okay I don't want to be stressing about everything I eat and I don't want to be like hungry all the time but I don't want to go to the opposite end of the spectrum and suddenly I've like, suddenly hate my weight and be worried about my weight all the time and

learning more about nutrition alongside the strength training has helped with that because like it was what do do about my weight if I'm not boxing at least boxing having four or five fights every year at least four or five times a year I know I'll be a size eight to ten what do I do without that?

Jonathan (43:18.524)
Good stuff.

Jonathan (43:35.727)
well, Leanne, thank you so much for joining us. think what we do is just tell people how they can follow you and follow what you've been up to and if you want to give them the socials, if you want to give them a plug for that one.

Lianne (43:46.331)
Yeah.

Lianne (43:50.202)
Yeah, I mean I'm on Instagram. I'm not on anything else. not, you know, calling down with the kids like TikTok and all that. yeah, I'm on Instagram as Leanne Bush. So, probably don't post as much as I should really because I am very active and I am doing things. But yeah, I mean, there's a lot on there of when I was boxing and yeah, if anyone wants to ask, you know, if there's any amateur.

Jonathan (43:54.971)
Neither am

Jonathan (44:05.593)
story to tell there.

Lianne (44:18.234)
girls out there that think, you know, is there some honest advice they want to hear? I do it in a supportive way. Yeah, I'm not going to try and put anyone off. I just want people to be successful, so it's about being honest but in a supportive way.

Jonathan (44:23.45)
Reach out and drop your message,

Jonathan (44:34.0)
right. That's right. We also do a little thing at the end of every show, which is a quick rapid fire unboxing. So I'm going to give you the questions and I give everyone else. And then you can just tell me which one you prefer. Okay, it's a simple either or. Okay. So I think Pepsi or Coke. Yeah. All right. Southport or orthodox.

Lianne (44:44.937)
gosh.

Lianne (44:52.697)
Yeah.

Lianne (44:56.268)
are orthodox.

Jonathan (44:56.688)
headshots or body shots.

Lianne (45:00.836)
body.

Jonathan (45:00.924)
train alone or with a partner.

Okay, early bird night owl.

Lianne (45:05.796)
with a partner.

Lianne (45:10.381)
Early bird.

Jonathan (45:10.576)
The heavy bag or the speed bag?

and the dog all favorite.

Lianne (45:15.054)
Have a...

Lianne (45:19.628)
and dog.

Jonathan (45:19.78)
in the gym or out and about.

Lianne (45:24.077)
in the gym.

Jonathan (45:24.358)
short powerful punches or was it more the long technique for you?

Lianne (45:31.332)
short, powerful.

Jonathan (45:31.974)
Fight dirty or clean.

Lianne (45:35.716)
Clean.

Jonathan (45:36.088)
Loud crowds or the quiet atmosphere?

Lianne (45:43.02)
Loud, but I could never hear him. I zoned him out.

Jonathan (45:46.147)
The quick knockout or the strategic win?

Lianne (45:51.384)
Strategic win.

Jonathan (45:51.439)
AJ or Fury?

Lianne (45:55.392)
AJ, are you furious?

Jonathan (45:57.849)
Didn't have to say that, but thank you very much, Leanne. Thanks for joining us on the podcast. Hopefully, wish you every success with obviously you're doing there and we continue to move what you want to do and raise money for charity and those marathons and other things that you set yourself in challenges. So thank you one more time, Leanne, for coming on to the podcast. Have a wonderful evening. All right.

Lianne (46:04.142)
Sorry.

Lianne (46:13.913)
Yeah.

Lianne (46:17.612)
Thank you. Thanks. All right, thank you. Bye.

Jonathan (46:20.732)
Cheers then. Bye bye.