By John Hargate
　
Michael Maguire has grown up. The boxer whom former trainer Adam Booth only last week described as “probably the most naturally talented fighter I’ve ever worked with” is impatient to make up for lost time and get back into the ring.
 
‘The Peterborough Pistol’ has been away from the game for nearly two years. His last fight was in January 2010 but according to Michael the boy that stepped out of the ring that night is a different person to the man that will step back through the ropes on 16th December on a dinner show in Liverpool.
 
Michael smiled when I told him that Booth had said he was a bit special. “I’ve got natural talent but I’ve never dedicated myself to it.” He looked away, thinking it over.
 
Booth had said the same. “As far as I’m concerned with Michael Maguire, if he lived the life of a fighter and just kept feeding his own imagination in the ring…” He tailed off. “He’s phenomenal already,” he said after a moment’s pause, “but he wasn’t living the life when he was with me.”
 
By his own admission Michael “went off the rails” for a time. “I was drinking, fucking about and that – nothing serious though,” he assured me. “It’s good I’ve done it while I was young because now I’m getting older I don’t want it for my kids and for myself.”
 
Michael has one child and another on the way. The responsibility of being a father and having a family to provide for have made him have a long, hard look at himself and from now on he’s determined to have a proper go at boxing to do himself justice in the ring. He is also making a sacrifice which emphasises his newfound commitment to the sport – leaving his family at home in Peterborough in the week while he stays Monday-Friday in Canning Town to train with British legend Johnny Eames.
 
After a flat performance in his fight with James Ancliff in 2009, a frustrated Maguire stormed out of the Ulster Hall. “When I walked out, I boxed a [fighter not on my level] and I made it hard for myself and I knew I should have done better. It was just frustration because I knew I wasn’t training properly. It pissed me off and I just walked out like a baby. That’s when I was younger though.”
 
Maguire, despite his pro style, was a superb amateur. He beat Khalid Yafai twice – by stoppage the first time around and 5-0 the second time. Adam Booth said he’d heard that Yafai “ran from him.” Michael also lost narrowly in his last amateur fight 22-16 to Luke Campbell - probably Britain’s best current amateur. “If I’d have been right – and I’ve never been right – I’d have beaten Luke.”
 
Not living the life has cost him already. Michael also told me he wasn’t happy during his time with Booth. “I felt like I was getting left out the side. When it was [Adam], George [Groves] and David Haye, [Adam] and George kept training and I kept getting pushed over here (to the TRAD TKO gym in Canning Town). I felt left out.”
 
Booth told me he wasn’t prepared to train Michael if he wasn’t living right. “As far as I was concerned, he wasn’t living the life so I stopped training him.”
 
“He’s already got a world class left hook,” enthused Booth, almost in the same breath. “He’s got an imagination when left to his own devices in the ring to do things you can’t teach somebody. Phenomenal talent.”
 
Michael has just signed with new boys Queensberry Promotions headed by Frank Warren’s sons, Francis and George and hopes to keep busy. “They’ve promised me five or six fights a year.”
 
Another big change will be his weight. Maguire, 6(2)-0, is moving down to super-fly. “It’s my proper weight. My last fight was up at 9st! I’m going to drop right down. There’s no-one there at super-fly.”
 
Well, not quite no-one. The plan could well be for Michael to have a couple of fights and then to put him in against Martin Power, possibly for the English title. It would make a lot of sense and would be a fascinating cross-roads fight. Michael doesn’t want to get carried away though. “I’m not going to rush everything - I’m only 22. I’ll gradually get back into it. Right now I’m training harder, feeling fitter and I want to do it (train and fight).”
 
“I’m excited.” Michael grinned, his eyes flashing with fire. The boy from travelling stock might have grown up, but he’s hungrier than ever and a fighter, born and bred. “People like watching me box and that’s the best thing about it. I just want to get out there and fight. Show people. I can’t wait.”
 
“If he’s clean, fit and healthy and living the life of a fighter, Michael Maguire can give anyone in his weight category nightmares,” Booth had told me earnestly.
 
More than a few super-flyweights are going to have to start sleeping with the light on if Maguire can live up to his promise - and his promises.