‘Always dream and always believe.’ Meet the journeyman Zygimantas Butkevicius

Zygimantas Butkevicius

When and why you started boxing:
I was 15 years old when I started out in the sport back home in Lithuania. I wanted to get strong and try something new.

Favourite all-time fighter:
Either Mike Tyson, Canelo Alvarez or Mikey Garcia. I like tough fighters who have that โ€˜Mexican styleโ€™.

Best fight you’ve seen:
Iโ€™ve seen so many great fights over the years. Itโ€™s too hard for me to pick a favourite one.

Personal career highlight:
As Iโ€™m always the away fighter, I havenโ€™t really got a career highlight!

Toughest opponent:
Iโ€™d have to say Joe Laws from Newcastle [l pts 4 โ€“ July 2019]. He was tough and strong.

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My biggest strengths are my character and dedication. My weakness is that I need more experience.

Training tip:
Make sure you train hard and train smart.

Favourite meal/restaurant:
I like all sorts of food, but chicken curry and fish and chips are two of my favourite meals. I donโ€™t mind which restaurant I go to, just as long as Iโ€™m there with my wife.

Best friends in boxing:
My coach, Michael Hazon.

Other sportsman you would like to be:
Iโ€™d be the American basketball player, LeBron James.

Last film/TV show you saw:
I watched The X Factor: Celebrity series last weekend.

Who would play you in a film of your life:
Maybe someone like Jason Statham could play me.

Have you ever been starstruck:
I donโ€™t think Iโ€™ve ever been starstruck in my life.

Last time you cried:
I canโ€™t remember the last time I cried, to be honest.

Best advice received:
โ€˜Always dream and always believe.โ€™ Iโ€™m not sure who told me that, but itโ€™s always stuck with me.

Worst rumour about yourself:
I try not to listen to any rumours.

Something not many people know about you:
I like reading books, especially self-help books and sporting biographies.

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