What does winning the national title mean to you?
You know what, itโs the absolute world. I was on cloud nine. Words canโt describe, it means so much to me. Iโve got the best support, family, friends, in the world, but this is for my dad, this. Heโs fanatical with all the support. He does it as much as me.
Did he get you into the sport?
I donโt know. I must have been rubbish at football or something. I started when I was six. Iโve had 98 fights. I want the 100. Iโll travel anywhere, Iโll fight anywhere.
Iโm just so happy [with the title]. I came close last year. I lost to Harris [Akbar] in a close fight.
And Harris is very good, isnโt he?
People were saying he should have got gold in the Europeans and it was my first year at 69kgs. It shows where Iโm at really.
I want to be on Team GB. Thatโs the goal. Thatโs the aim and I didnโt get on the final selection, I didnโt get on the final assessment [earlier this year]. They spoke to my dad for feedback, what he could have done, what he should have done and all this. They said basically youโve got to win the ABAs. So Iโm not saying I should be on, Iโm not saying I deserve to be on but Iโm doing the right steps to be on.
So there was a lot riding on the national final?
Oh yes, loads. Itโs the pinnacle of the sport as well. The scene in boxing, the scene at welterweight as well, itโs a popular weight. Us and middleweight [are the most competitive] I think. Iโm just so happy. It means so much to us. First national [title]. Iโve been to five nationals, through schoolboy, junior, youths, last year. Iโve been beat in all four in the finals.
To get this win, Iโm so happy.
Elliot Whale was boxing well in the final, were you worried at all in the first round?
I had two fights in the quarters and the semis, I was comfy in them but I had two kids that were strong physical kids, that wanted to put me under it a bit. They couldnโt really stand up to me skillwise. But Elliot beat me three years ago when we were 17, 18. I boxed him in Kent. It was a close fight again. So that was a bit of psychological stuff as well. Iโm just so happy. Iโm proper over the moon.
And you work as a scaffolder so youโve got to fit all training in around that?
I do 40 hours a week. Two weeks into being 18 I got the job. I donโt want to be a scaffolder by all means. I want to be a boxer. Itโs a career, itโs not a recreation for me. Everythingโs based around that really.
It keeps me fit, keeps me active. Man strength and all the rest of it.
Youโll be the next star to come out of Hull?
Luke [Campbell] has planted the seed, and Tommy [Coyle]. Weโve got a big scene in Hull now. When I went to St. Paulโs I was 11 or 12 and the seniors by then were amazing.
Lukeโs obviously gone to the next couple of levels. To be around them, St. Paulโs is the best club by far in my opinion. Mike Bromby and the coaches, Iโve got the best people in my corner.
Everythingโs great.