60 second interview: Ray Robinson

Ray Robinson

When and why you started boxing:

I started when I was eight years old. I tried a lot of sports but just fell in love with boxing.

Favourite all-time fighter:

Muhammad Ali. He was a smart, slick boxer who had good footwork and was fun to watch.

Best fight you’ve seen:

The three Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward fights were back and forth and really kept your interest.

Personal career highlight:

Fighting at Madison Square Garden [against Josh Kelly in June โ€“ d md 10]. A lot of the greats have fought there.

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Josh Kelly draws with Ray Robinson at Madison Square Garden Action Images/Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Toughest opponent:

Aslanbek Kozaev [w ud 12 โ€“ February 2014]. Heโ€™s a great fighter and he forced me to go to another level.

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:

I feel like I can out-think my opponents because Iโ€™m an awkward fighter with a unique style. However, this has been a weakness in a way because itโ€™s meant that people have avoided me and I havenโ€™t been able to get the very big fights.

Training tip:

What you put in is what you get out. If you take shortcuts with training the only person youโ€™re hurting is yourself.

Favourite meal/restaurant:

A steak at Del Friscoโ€™s.

Best friends in boxing:

My team โ€“ the ones who I train with every day, who push me in camp and are in my corner on fight night.

Other sportsman you would like to be:

I just like being myself and enjoying the journey Iโ€™m on in my boxing career.

Last film/TV show you saw:

[TV series] Black Mirror on Netflix.

Who would play you in a film of your life:

Thereโ€™s actually a short film on YouTube about my life story. Itโ€™s called The New Ray Robinson. A young boxer from my gym plays me as a kid. He does a great job, as he knows what itโ€™s like to grow up as a young boxer in Philly.

Have you ever been starstruck:

Iโ€™ve never been starstruck, but maybe if Iโ€™d met Muhammad Ali it wouldโ€™ve been different.

Last time you cried:

When I found out I was having my son, Kingston.

Best advice received:

โ€˜There are no friends in boxing. Itโ€™s just business.โ€™ Thatโ€™s the truth.

Worst rumour about yourself:

Iโ€™ve not really heard any rumours about myself.

Something not many people know about you:

Not many people know that I like to listen to country music.

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