BOLTON-based boxing trainer Joe Gallagher has seen his fighters compete at the highest level in 2016 in what he says has been a good 12 months for his camp.

While it has been a mixed year in terms of results in those big fights, Gallagher can be rightly proud his charges have been in the ring with some of the best boxers on the planet this year.

After a successful 2015 that saw the Mancunian win the Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year award, five boxers from the camp based at Amir Khan’s Gloves Community Centre have fought for world titles – something Gallagher says should be hailed.

Bury’s Scott Quigg went up against rival Carl Frampton in February, only losing by a split decision, while Anthony Crolla knocked out Ismael Barroso in May to win the WBA world lightweight title.

Liam Smith won the WBO world super welterweight title and took on Saul Alvarez in Texas before being beaten by a fighter that had previously despatched Amir Khan.

Unbeaten younger brother Callum Smith claimed the WBC Silver super middleweight title with victory at London’s O2 Arena against Norbert Nemesapati, while another of the Smith clan, Stephen, fought for both the IBF and WBA World super featherweight titles this year.

They may not all have ended in triumph but Gallagher says the fact lads from his stable are fighting at that elite level is something he is proud of.

He told The Bolton News: “If you look at social media then my camp is having a nightmare of a year.

“But if you look at where we are this year compared to last year then it may surprise people.

“Last year we had 30 fights, won 27 and lost just two and they were to Andre Ward and Arthur Abraham.

“This year we had 36 fights and only lost six but no-one talks about the wins.

“We have had 15 title fights and lost some but they have been to fighters like Carl Frampton, a split decision, Jorge Linares for the Ring Magazine belt, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and Canelo Alvarez.

“People have to remember the level we are fighting at, but we have also had wins at the top level as well.

“Anthony Crolla beat Ismael Baroso in a great fight and Liam Smith beat Predrag Radosevic.

“Hosea Burton beat Miles Shinkwin for the British lightweight title, Callum Johnson won the Commonwealth title, Scott Cardle defended the British title and Marcus Morrison had good wins – but no one wants to talk about all them.

“It is easy to have a go at the headline acts but people should remember that lads from this stable have all fought in world title fights in 2016 – we had seven and three were against the elite in that division in Linares, Frampton and Canelo.

“We are fighting the best of the best – not losing to so-called mediocre world champions.

“We could easily defend titles against lesser opposition but that’s not the case.

“People say it’s a bad year but is it really?”

The most recent big outing for Gallagher’s Gym came earlier this month on the bill of Anthony Joshua’s successful defence of his IBF world heavyweight crown at Manchester Arena.

While Burton was beaten in the final round of his British light heavyweight title bout against Frank Buglioni, Morrison won and Callum Smith retained his British super middleweight title against fellow Bolton-based fighter, Luke Blackledge, of Elite Gym in Halliwell.

Arguably the biggest positive of the night saw Quigg get back to winning ways after moving up a division to featherweight – beating Mexican Jose Cayetano with a ninth-round knockout.

And Gallagher expects the step up to work in the 28-year-old’s favour as he bids to challenge for a world title again in 2017.

He said: “It has been a long year for Scott.

“When you think this time last year we were going into camp for the big fight with Frampton.

“Scott has been out of action from the end of last season, summer and now we are halfway through this one.

“Scott can now concentrate on having a go at featherweight with piece of mind he doesn’t have to try and make that lower weight again.

“I feel it was always going to happen to take him up a weight.

“I think most boxers when they get to that age of 27 or 28 have man strength.

“Scott’s body has grown so it would be tougher making super bantamweight.

“It is natural to move up – Crolla, Stephen Smith Liam Smith, Paul Butler have all done it.

“He was a world champion at super bantamweight – this is a chance to try to become a two-weight world champion.”

It is not just Quigg, though, who Gallagher has high hopes for as he looks for more success out of Bolton in 2017.

Crolla, who came third in British fighter of the year in Boxing News last week, is in line for a Linares rematch while many of the 11 fighters in Gallagher’s stable will be hoping for title shots – world, domestic, European and Commonwealth.

He added: “My lads want to test themselves against the best in the world.

“Liam Smith and Anthony Crolla had that this year.

“These kids are earning good paydays and it will be there for them again.

“Crolla has the rematch with Linares and Liam Smith looks like he may get the Miguel Cotto fight.

“Who would have thought three years ago when I sat talking that my fighters would be taking on those elite boxers and selling out arenas.

“We are going into 2017 looking for more of the same with Scott Quigg hopefully fighting for a world title and Paul Butler as well.

“Callum Smith will hopefully take on the winner of James Degale and Badou Jack as well.

“We get criticised for losing but you have to be in that position in the first place to fight at that level.

“None of my lads have been disgraced – they are not getting knocked out in a couple of rounds.

“The lads have just fallen short but no-one beforehand had any of them as favourites.

“All the lads have come back from setbacks and competed at world level and there is no shame in that.

“Everyone can look at bad stuff but there is a lot of positive stuff going on in this gym.

“Hosea’s fight against Buglioni was second in Boxing News’ British fight of the year while Stephen Smith’s clash with Jason Sosa came third in International fight of the year, while Callum Johnson and Callum Smith had notable mentions for their knockout wins in 2016.

“At the moment, the stable still houses a European champion, a Commonwealth champion, two British champions, a WBC silver belt holder and a WBC international – no other stable in the country has that.

“The world title will come with the calibre of fighters we have here.

“I know the lads who have lost like Liam Smith, Crolla and Quigg are hurting but they have determination to bounce back and they will.

“They are like caged animals – you can see the frustration in them waiting to get back out there to fight.

“All my fighters are hurting and want to avenge their defeats in 2017.

“The hunger and desire is still there and that is a testimony to them.”