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Many boxers will credit their development to coaches, trainers and family. Archie Sharp does that too, but it is the presence of someone with no traditional ties to the sport who has helped him move onto the cusp of world title contention.
At 24, Welling-born Sharp has made serious inroads at super-featherweight, undefeated after 17 professional fights and in possession of the WBO European belt.
It was an away day win over Leon Woodstock in Leicester in 2018 that saw people really start to sit up and pay attention. He is now one of the country’s brightest prospects and ranked no.5 by the WBO, leaving him firmly in the frame a shot at the belt which is currently wrapped around the waist of Jamel Herring.
But after battles with depression and some personal demons in the final stages of his career as an amateur fighter and early days as a pro, Sharp firmly credits his rise down to sheer mental strength, working in tandem with his mind coach Linda to help lift him to the next level each time.
“When I was turning pro I was suffering from a lot of mental health issues, a bit of depression,” Sharp told Standard Sport. “I was in a bit of a bad place mentally as well as physically - I lost a couple of fights as a senior at the end [of his amateur career].
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“I was a bit mentally unstable but then I came across my mind coach Linda Keen, I still work with her to this day. I believe my mind is the strongest part of me and one of the most important parts of the sport. You’ve got to have it all as a boxer, of course, but people can lose a fight before they even get in the ring.”
Working with his mind coach involves programmes focused on positive visualisation. Three years ago he and Linda started work on a programme that would prepare him mentally for the point of his career in which he is at now – within a sniff of world title gold.
After that sensational knockout win over Declan Geraghty in September, Sharp will be back in action before the end of the year to defend his European title for the third time against unbeaten Latvian Artjoms Ramlavs on a card headlined by Daniel Dubois on 21 December. But with a no.5 ranking in the bag, Sharp wants to climb the world ladder further in 2020.
That might mean looking past some of the more compelling domestic fights on offer. Sam Bowen – who dropped the British belt to Anthony Cacace in November - and Sharp have seen their names paired throughout the year while the Londoner and Zelfa Barrett seem destined to meet at some point in the future. But until there is a world title slant on those fights, Sharp’s focus is elsewhere.
“This time next year I could be fighting for that WBO belt if I don’t have it already,” Sharp continued.
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“It’s about moving quickly and moving smartly [up the rankings]. Domestic level is great, don’t get me wrong, to be British champion is massive, it is everyone’s dream as well. But at world level, your name is getting thrown intro the mix alongside Oscar Valdez, Carl Frampton, Jamel Herring.
“Once we pick up the WBO belt, we are looking at fighters like Tevin Farmer, names like that. At the minute my name can be chucked in at domestic level with Sam Bowen and Zelfa Barrett and whoever else. Or it can be thrown in with Oscar Valdez in the next 12 months.
“I’ve been training to become a world champion since the age of seven. I’m ranked fifth with the WBO and that’s the route I am on at the minute. I’ll just let the domestic lot fight each other.”
Sharp’s title charge has been made all the more compelling by Carl Frampton’s decision to push for a world title at super-featherweight in his bid to become a three-weight champion. After easing past Tyler McCreary at the end of November, the Belfast fighter now has his eye on Herring’s WBO title.
It’s also the belt Sharp is closest to, and while the Londoner would jump at the chance to meet Frampton in an eliminator, he understands the legacy his former sparring partner has carved for himself in boxing could justifiably see him jump the queue.
“I would like to box Carl now in an eliminator to fight for the WBO. But fair play, he doesn’t need to do eliminators, he has made his career. He is a two-time world champion so has earned enough respect to swerve prospects like myself.
“That’s just how it is, I don’t take it personally. But if he does win that WBO title it will be me and him boxing at a later date for sure.”
With a top five ranking with the WBO already in the bag, Sharp believes 2020 will also present opportunities to rise with the IBF. After discussions with Frank Warren and MTK, a plan is also being drawn up to climb the rankings currently ruled by Tevin Farmer – another glamour fight he has his eye on.
While he has his eye on the prize, Sharp is wary there are domestic rivals who will join him – particularly 23-1 Barrett.
“He's on his path, I know he has his eyes set on Bowen, and I’ve got my path. There are fights that are definitely going to happen. We are both climbing the rankings very quickly.”