By Dean Parr

On 26th of March, the popular Pat McAleese, 10-0-1 (2 KOs), drew with Lee Noble, 11-13-2 (2 early), on the undercard of the Anthony Small vs. Sam Webb/Matthew Hatton vs. Gianluca Branco double header.  While Pat was disappointed it was adjudged a draw, he was less than happy with the performance he turned in.

"A lot of people in the crowd gave me five out of the six rounds, and I thought I won four out of the six, and drew the last, if not winning it," he divulged, with his opinion contrasting to that of Richie Davies who scored the contest 58-58.

"He was just covering up a lot and to be honest I totally over-peaked.  I felt absolutely drained and shattered before I even got in the ring because I was chasing tickets up for the two days before it.  It's hard trying to peak twice in two weeks,” declared McAleese.

McAleese took on Dee Mitchell just 13 days earlier, winning on points.  In that bout, he sustained a cut near his right eye, but this didn't prove to be a problem in the Noble encounter.

"He was cut over his left eye, but I didn't get cut," revealed the Johnny Eames-trained man.  "Noble was taunting me all the way through the fight and talking to me.  It didn't really throw me though; I wasn't paying much attention to it and it's just one of those things."

However, his uncharacteristic lack of stamina did prove to be a significant problem.  He asserted, "I didn't have energy whatsoever.  I felt tired after about two or three rounds.  It was really difficult, and it just didn't feel like anything flowed.  I've never felt so flat in my life, and it's a shame it was on one of the Ricky Hatton bills.  It was a big learning curve though.  I just totally overdid it, and I didn't do it right at all."

He continued, "I think you could do two fights in two weeks if you did it right, but when I'm busy and am at work as well [as a personal trainer] it was a killer.  I was working far too much; even the day before the fight, and up at six for that.  I think Noble could tell I was tired, and was really throwing punches at the end, particularly in the fifth round.  He caught me and threw me off balance a little bit.  It didn't hurt me, and I think he went for me because he thought he hurt me.  I just tied him up when he did that; he didn't hurt me at all.”

"At the same time though, I don't think I hurt him at all," continued McAleese, giving an honest assessment of the fight.  "I just didn't have the energy to do it - it was awful.  I'll hopefully get a rematch and set the record straight.  It just wasn't Pat McAleese in the ring at all.  People are saying I boxed alright, but the way I felt, it just wasn't me."

Speaking a couple of days after the fight, he said, "I'm still working but I'm having a week off training.  Johnny [Eames, trainer] said to me don't do anything; don't run or train and just have a solid week off.  I'm normally super fit, and I can do eight rounds easily in sparring, but to be tired after two or three was just totally not me.  It threw me mentally as well, because it was like I had nothing in any of my punches.  As I said though, it was a great learning experience and I will be back.”