Part 4: an interview with Melanie SykesTom: so it is that time in the show where we interview a member of the BBU universe. This time we head into the offices of one of the stables. Specifically the Girls Friday stable to talk to Melanie Sykes.
(Melanie comes on screen wearing a white business suit with a navy blue blouse as she sits behind an old oak desk with her laptop shut.)Melanie: hey Tom, glad I can spare a few moments to speak to you guys and the fans.
Tom: I am glad you could make room for us. I know it has to be hectic to run a stable.
Melanie: don't you know it. (Laughing heartedly)
Tom: it should be noted though that you of course keep in shape. Arguably an inspiration to the girls under your watch. Here's a picture to embarrass you a little and show what we mean.
Melanie: I'd lie if I didn't say I love being on the front of magazines haha. I would miss doing the training in all honesty. I try to do as much work as I can before the girls arrive but I also at times help spar with the welterweights of the stable.
Tom: should say that you have fought your frenemy Sharon Horgan before. Is that something on the table? Another round or two with her?
Melanie: Sharon and me certainly push each other. I do like her but I also love smacking her in her face. If it came up again I might sign up to even the score in the ring with her. For now I'll keep going with having my stablemates beating her girls. (Winking at Tom.)
Tom: so onto those girls. First how do you feel last year went for your stable?
Melanie: well as ever we had successes and some rough periods. For starters we did have Josephine (Skriver) win the BBU welterweight title. She had a great year and we are proud of her, fingers crossed she can grab hold of another title.
We also had Dafne (Keen) sign with us and she looked great for the first year. We will try to push her more this year and you never know, we've seen in the FCBA this new era of young fighters coming through honestly amazes me. Seeing the likes of Millie Bobby Brown win a title at the age of eighteen. I honestly never thought I'd see fighters rise so quickly.
On the negatives, I don't want to single out certain people. Some of our fighters took some rough beatings over the year and others continued to struggle but I will end on another positive. Dua Lipa winning the FCBA lightweight title. I can tell you I have never seen someone stunned as much as she was that she achieved her goal, she looked at the title like it wasn't real, by God did she deserve it after all her hard work. Fingers crossed this year will be amazing for all of us.
Tom: that's wonderful to hear on Dua. We have seen the Frankie's Foxes make changes. We have to ask, is there any possible changes coming from your stable?
Melanie: at the moment I can seriously tell you that no we won't be making changes. We are always looking over the girls to see who doesn't fit, those who want to leave or those who are simply not good enough. Right now no one fits that billing, you never know what the future is though.
We are expecting to win another title sometime this year. I believe that we have the best set of fighters we have had in our history and that is saying something, we have had some amazing champions in a former fighters that have left us.
Tom: what will you be doing the rest of today?
Melanie: haha well I'll be doing boring stuff today since it's Sunday. A few pieces of paper work and then off to do our Sunday dinner at home. Tomorrow I'll be back in the morning and most likely sparring Joan (Smalls) in the afternoon, give her a workout.
Tom: thank you so much for being able to take the time to speak to us. We hope you have a wonderful day.
Melanie: thank you for having me, keep supporting my stable please fans of the BBU.
Tom: that's all we have time for folks. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read these posts. We hope you enjoyed them, we will be back next Sunday morning for the next edition of the Real View.