Scottish middleweight boxer Sam Hickey fights Brad Axe on Saturday at the 3Arena in Dublin on the undercard of Aaron McKenna against Etinosa Oliha. The fight will air live on Sky Sports as part of the IBF world middleweight title event, where McKenna aims to unify at 160 pounds before moving up to heavyweight.
Hickey is five fights into his professional career and is regarded as one of the top prospects in British boxing. He built an outstanding amateur record that included winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal before his weight class was removed from the Olympic Games program.
In his professional fights, Hickey has displayed sharp movement, strong counter-punching and spectacular finishing ability. In his most recent bout, he delivered a thunderous second-round knockout of Todd Tompkins.
Showmen heritage and Dundee roots
Hickey comes from a family of showmen, the community that travels across the country operating fairgrounds and carnivals. He remains an active member of the Scottish section of the Showman's Guild back home.
"Still got loads of family involved. I'm a member of the Showman's Guild, the Scottish section back home. I get a lot of support off the showmen all over the country, not just Scottish showmen and all my family. It's a big backing throughout the country," Hickey told Sky Sports.
The middleweight prospect receives extensive ticket support from his hometown of Dundee and across Scotland. He noted that many family members continue working in the industry while supporting his athletic career.
"We do a lot of tickets all over the country and I've got so much backing from Dundee, everywhere in Scotland. There's loads of us. It's great to be doing that and putting them on the map and getting so much support as well," Hickey said.
Hickey could have worked in the fairground industry himself if his parents had not settled in Dundee around the time of his birth. He grew up based in Dundee while visiting relatives who operated traveling funfairs during summer breaks.
"My mum and dad packed it in just as I was born so I was growing up around the fairs. My cousins and that were all travelling in funfairs and I was still going and staying with them in the summers and that," Hickey reflected. "I'm based in Dundee and I've been able to take up boxing and give it a proper go, but if my dad and mum were still travelling and working on fairs and had their own rides and stuff, maybe I'd be working on that."
Scottish boxing legacy and Dick McTaggart
Hickey aims to follow in the footsteps of previous Scottish fighters such as Josh Taylor and Ricky Burns. He hopes to fill the void created by the retirement of Taylor and establish himself as Scotland's next boxing superstar.
"In Scottish boxing there's a few of us coming though," Hickey said. "I'd love to do what Josh, Ricky, all these great fighters from Scotland. They were all amazing fighters. I feel like I'm getting a lot more comfortable in the pro ring, getting my own style and developing as a fighter. Being more relaxed. I just feel like it's coming together now."
Hickey comes from the same town as Dick McTaggart, who is regarded as the greatest British amateur boxer of all time. When Hickey was growing up as a youngster boxing on club shows in Dundee, McTaggart frequently came to watch and give him advice.
"He would just tell you to keep your hands up," Hickey remembered. McTaggart accumulated the most achievements as an amateur over a long period of time, winning numerous trophies and medals, earning recognition as the best boxer at an Olympic Games, and winning a bronze medal at the next Olympics.
Unlike modern fighters, McTaggart competed without serious funding for amateur athletes while continuing to work. Hickey noted that McTaggart always carried his Olympic medal in his pocket and handed it out for people to hold, and he never turned professional because he loved the sport so much.
Matchup against Brad Axe in Dublin
In an earlier fight, Hickey dropped Lewis Howells twice to the body before stopping his opponent in the opening round. Sky Sports analyst Johnny Nelson praised Hickey after that first-round victory, comparing him to boxing great Joe Calzaghe.
On Saturday in Dublin, Hickey faces Brad Axe, an ambitious prospect with one defeat against six victories. Axe is a Royal Air Force firefighter who won the Armed Forces championship as an amateur and is looking to derail Hickey's hopes.
Hickey expects a tough challenge from Axe on Saturday. "He's going to be tough, strong. But I've been exposed to really high-level boxing so I don't think it's going to be something that I've never seen before," Hickey said. "Brad Axe is no mug, he's going to come to fight. But it's up to me… I really should be breaking him down."
Hickey would love to replicate the kind of knockout he landed against Tompkins. "I don't even realise what I'm doing. I watch it back and think: 'How did I do that?' Honestly I don't understand it, it's weird. Next thing they're on the floor," Hickey said. He explained that the knockouts come down to timing when an opponent misses with a punch.
"Pro boxing's entertainment and you need to be putting on good performances," Hickey added. "I need to be switched on from the start. It's going to stand me in good stead later on in my career as well. I want to be in big shows in Scotland. If that comes sooner rather than later then that's the best thing for me. I just need to keep going, keep winning, enjoy the journey."
