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.
Toughest opponent:
Aslanbek Kozaev [w ud 12 โ February 2014]. Heโs 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 Iโm an awkward fighter with a unique style. However, this has been a weakness in a way because itโs meant that people have avoided me and I havenโt 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 youโre hurting is yourself.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
A steak at Del Friscoโs.
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 Iโm 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:
Thereโs actually a short film on YouTube about my life story. Itโs 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 itโs like to grow up as a young boxer in Philly.
Have you ever been starstruck:
Iโve never been starstruck, but maybe if Iโd met Muhammad Ali it wouldโve been different.
Last time you cried:
When I found out I was having my son, Kingston.
Best advice received:
โThere are no friends in boxing. Itโs just business.โ Thatโs the truth.
Worst rumour about yourself:
Iโve 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.