When did you start boxing? When did you know you were good at it?
I started when I was eleven as a bit of laugh. I went with a mate who was quite big, and who wanted to lose a bit of weight, so we thought we’d go down there and just bash the granny out of each other, and it just went from there. I was training for about six weeks and the coach asked me if I was ready for a fight, and they said I was good enough to do it.
Then I had to choose between either boxing or football. I was a good footballer too, so it was a hard decision. But they pushed me into the boxing and I’m glad they did now. My dad wasn’t happy as he was the manager. And my mum wasn’t happy because she didn’t want me getting hurt. But it has worked out well.
Who was your hero as a youngster?
Football-wise it was Dennis Bergkamp. I’m an Arsenal fan and he was the player who got me into Arsenal. He was different class.
In terms of boxing, Ricky Hatton was coming through when I first started so I took to him. Over the years though I’ve loved watching Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. But to start with it was Ricky Hatton, he always put on a good fight.
Talk us through a typical day of training for you?
I’m still working. I work as a plumber. A typical day for me involves working, then training from 10-12 or half past, then back to work, and do my hour-run at six.
What part of training do you enjoy the most?
Has to be sparring. It’s full-on. I do enjoy my running because that’s a hard part of the sport aswell, but sparring is just like getting in there and having a fight but not as intense. You get to show all your skills and put everything together.
It’s become a big take-up sport around the country now? What’s your best bits of advice for people taking up the sport?
When the going gets tough, keep going. There’s times when it gets really, really hard. Some people give it up after a couple of month’s training but you have to go through the pain barrier.
Also, I’d say you can overtrain. You have to appreciate that sometimes resting is as good as training.
What’s your ultimate goal in the sport?
World Champion, without a doubt. I want to win the British title, then the Commonwealth title and then the World title. It’s always been my dream to one day fight for the World title in Las Vegas and I hope one day it will happen.
What do you like about the Weekend Offender brand?
They’re very unique. They have a great attitude and some of the slogans are good. “Fuck off Mondays” in the name tag’s a good one. I didn’t think it would be as quality as it is. It's ust as good as Lyle & Scott and Ralph Lauren.
What’s your favourite couple of pieces from the new collection?
They’ve got some really nice polos with denim pockets and denim collars. Real nice stuff.
As an East End lad what is a style faux pas for you? What sorts of clothing should men never wear?
All Saints boots. I don’t like them. We’re rough and ragged round my way. No-one wears rolled up trousers or All Saints boots or make-up round here.
What do you wear in general if you’re out on a Sunday night?
Jeans and a polo.
Have you got a style icon? Someone who you look to for style hints.
Nah, I do my own thing.
That’s it, take care, good luck with everything.
Nice one, bye.
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