Southampton's Pigford says career 'would have been better for me if I didn’t knock everyone out'

For Southampton super-welterweight Joe Pigford, it is fair to say he has bided his time for long enough.

The man nicknamed The Pig possesses a devastating professional record, with 18 knockout victories from 19 bouts – one of his most famous wins coming against then unbeaten Aaron Morgan in 2017.

But the 29-year-old is now eager to push on and believes Saturday’s ‘Battle On The Beach’ contest against Ghanaian Raphael King in Bournemouth can provide the catalyst for big fights in the future.

“It’s been a long time coming for me,” Pigford told the Daily Echo.

“It needs to start moving forward now and it starts this Saturday. I want to start moving up the rankings and get some really good fights by the end of the year.

“It’s difficult for the matchmakers I think. It seems that has been the way with my career – it probably would have been better for me if I didn’t knock everyone out.

“It’s hard work getting opponents and getting people to fight but we will plug away.

“Once I get my hand on a title and up the rankings, it gives people a reason to want to fight. We will get there in the end.

“That’s the catalyst. Getting something other people want - then they can’t avoid you.”

Now trained in Poole by coach Kev Thorniley, Pigford was previously under the tutelage of multiple world champion Ricky Hatton at his gym in Manchester.

He made the decision to base himself back in the south after the birth of his daughter Pia, who is about to turn three.

“I started with my amateur trainer and turned pro with him in Southampton,” the fighter added.

“I had about 13 fights with him before moving to Manchester and training with Ricky Hatton, Blain Younis and Mike Jackson up there.

“But then I had a little girl. COVID hit and I had known Kev for a long time anyway. I moved back home and started training with Kev. We get on really well, which is nice.

“Manchester was a big change. I thought I could move away, get my head into boxing and it was good.

“I was living in Manchester Monday to Friday and coming home on the weekends. It was hard and as soon as I found out I was having a little girl, I wanted to be back with my family.”

And now, every time the unbeaten fighter steps into the ring, it is to make his family proud.

“It does change you as a person,” said Pigford, when asked about fatherhood.

“Your motivations and reasons for why you do things – it’s definitely calmed me down and that’s what we do it for now.

“I am more of a family man, more sensible and have calmed down a little bit.

“You sacrifice a lot when you are putting the shifts in in the gym, training twice a day and are tired all the time. You sacrifice that quality time with them.

“Pia got ill earlier on in the week, so I said to my Mrs ‘you are going to have to go with your mum’ because I am only two weeks out from my fight. You sacrifice a lot but it’s all for the same reason.”

Pigford is hopeful that reason is to be unavoidable for bigger nights ahead and to climb further up the rankings, starting with victory over King.