Guardian of the Streets by James Cook

Author:James Cook
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pitch Publishing
Published: 2019-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

MICKEY DUFF

FROM the moment I signed up with Mickey Duff, we got along with each other very well. Mickey Duff kind of liked me and the people in his office liked me, so I never had no problems with Mickey. He made it very clear to me from the start that he believed in my ability to challenge for a world title and win a world title, and I believed that he was the man to be with if I was going to get the opportunities that I needed. Mickey Duff was a very, very clever man who knew his boxing inside-out and, after all the ups and downs that I had experienced throughout my professional career, I just wanted somebody to look after me and guide me.

Believe it or not, I didn’t know nothing about the damn taxman until I walked into Mickey’s office. One of the first things he asked me was, ‘Have you got yourself an accountant?’ I said, ‘What do you mean, an accountant?’ Mickey tried to hide it, but I could see that he was really shocked when I asked him that question. He fixed me up to see an accountant straightaway and I honestly believe that, if it wasn’t for Mickey Duff sorting my life out, I probably would have gone to prison. It turned out that I owed about £18,000 in tax. Mickey spoke to the tax office at the Elephant & Castle on my behalf and he arranged it so that I had to pay back £50 a week.

Sometimes, I don’t think that fighters always realise that the promoters have got to declare to the taxman who they have paid out money to. Some fighters don’t understand that they need to keep on top of these things and they need to make the situation work for them. As soon as Mickey had set me up with that accountant, I was claiming for my boots, I was claiming for my socks, I was claiming for my bandages and anything else that I bought. Mickey Duff taught me that, once you get yourself a good accountant, then you are good to go.

Being with Mickey was an education in many ways. For example, I didn’t know anything about gambling in casinos in those days. One day, Mickey took me to this massive one on the Edgware Road and, as we walked in through the door, these big guys came towards us with their hands out. I honestly believed that they were going to rush me, so I put my fists up ready for a fight, and Mickey said, ‘No, no, no, James, they are only coming to take your jacket!’

We went over to this gambling table and Mickey took £100 out of his wallet. He put on a couple of bets and he lost his money, and then he won it all back with a bit more on top. That was when he turned around to me and said, ‘Come on, James, it’s time to go.

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