# Mickey Cantwell

Mickey Cantwell (born 23 November 1964) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2001. He challenged for multiple world titles; the WBO light flyweight and mini flyweight titles in 1997; and the IBF mini flyweight title in 2000. At regional level, he held the British flyweight title in 1996.

## Career
### Amateur

Born in London, Cantwell represented England in the light flyweight division at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Boxing for the Eltham & District ABC, he was twice winner of the prestigious ABA light-flyweight championship (1988 and 1989).

### Professional

Cantwell turned professional in 1991 and, unbeaten in his first seven fights, beat Darren Fifield in April 1993 to take the vacant BBBofC Southern Area flyweight title. Five months later he challenged for Pablo Tiznado's WBC International light flyweight title, losing on points - his first professional defeat. In April 1994 he challenged for Luigi Camputaro's EBU European flyweight title, and again lost on points.
In March 1996 he faced Keith Knox for the vacant British flyweight title, winning on points to become British champion. Aiming for higher honours he relinquished the title, and in December 1997 faced Eric Jamili for the vacant WBO mini flyweight title; A cut to Cantwell's nose caused the fight to be stopped in the eighth round. In June 2000 he challenged Zolani Petelo for the IBF mini flyweight title, again stopped in the eighth round.
Cantwell had a small role in the 2000 film Snatch, playing Liam.
Cantwell's final fight came in September 2001 when he unsuccessfully challenged Jacob Matlala for the WBU light flyweight title, the South African stopping him in the fifth round.
After retiring from boxing, Cantwell served as Chief Executive of the Professional Boxing Association and as a project worker for the Educational Sports Forum.
After an incident in September 2008 in which Cantwell knocked his manager Alan Irwin out during an argument at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, he was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work.
Cantwell became a patron of the Boxing Futures charity and in 2011 opened Cantwell's Gym in Bromley.

## Professional boxing record

| 22 fights | 14 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 3 |
| By decision | 12 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 22 | Loss | 14–7–1 | Jacob Matlala | TKO | 5 (12), 1:59 | 29 Sep 2001 | Elephant & Castle Centre, London, England | For WBU light flyweight title |
| 21 | Loss | 14–6–1 | Zolani Petelo | TKO | 8 (12), 0:59 | 2 Jun 2000 | Stour Centre, Ashford, England | For IBF mini flyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 14–5–1 | Dave Coldwell | PTS | 6 | 1 May 1999 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London, England | |
| 19 | Loss | 13–5–1 | Eric Jamili | TKO | 8 (12), 1:22 | 19 Dec 1997 | London Arena, London, England | For vacant WBO mini flyweight title |
| 18 | Win | 13–4–1 | Dave Coldwell | PTS | 8 | 3 May 1997 | NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England | |
| 17 | Loss | 12–4–1 | Jacob Matlala | SD | 12 | 8 Feb 1997 | London Arena, London, England | For WBO light flyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 12–3–1 | Krasimir Cholakov | PTS | 6 | 29 Jun 1996 | Erith Leisure Centre, London, England | |
| 15 | Win | 11–3–1 | Keith Knox | PTS | 12 | 21 Mar 1996 | Elephant & Castle Centre, London, England | Won vacant British flyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 10–3–1 | Anthony Hanna | PTS | 6 | 2 Jul 1995 | Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland | |
| 13 | Win | 9–3–1 | Anthony Hanna | PTS | 6 | 27 Apr 1995 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 12 | Loss | 8–3–1 | Lyndon Kershaw | PTS | 8 | 15 Jun 1994 | Elephant & Castle Centre, London, England | |
| 11 | Loss | 8–2–1 | Luigi Camputaro | UD | 12 | 27 Apr 1994 | York Hall, London, England | For European flyweight title |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Anthony Hanna | PTS | 8 | 3 Nov 1993 | Whitchurch Sports Centre, Bristol, England | |
| 9 | Loss | 7–1–1 | Pablo Tiznado | UD | 12 | 15 Sep 1993 | York Hall, London, England | For vacant WBC International light flyweight title |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | Darren Fifield | PTS | 10 | 14 Apr 1993 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | Won vacant British (Southern Area) flyweight title |
| 7 | Draw | 6–0–1 | Louis Veitch | PTS | 8 | 10 Feb 1993 | Lewisham Theatre, London, England | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Louis Veitch | PTS | 6 | 16 May 1992 | Alexandra Pavilion, London, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Shaun Norman | PTS | 8 | 14 Dec 1991 | Crook Log Sports Club, London, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Carlos Manrigue | TKO | 5 (8), 0:55 | 23 Oct 1991 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Ricky Beard | PTS | 8 | 30 Sep 1991 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Mario Alberto Cruz Alfaro | PTS | 6 | 26 Mar 1991 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Eduardo Vallejo | TKO | 4 (6) | 21 Jan 1991 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London, England | |