When and why you started boxing:

Before boxing, I had practised Wing Lam kung fu for two years. I loved the fighting aspect, but since we didnโ€™t go hands-on, I wanted to try something else. When I was 13, I asked my dad if I could try boxing. He said to me: โ€˜Yes, but if I donโ€™t see any improvement after one month, Iโ€™m taking you out, because you donโ€™t play boxing.โ€™ Iโ€™ve trained hard ever since.

Favourite all-time fighter:

A combination of Erik Morales because of his attitude in the ring, Juan Manuel Marquez because of his counter-punching and Oscar De La Hoya because of his jab.

Best fight you’ve seen:

Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales I โ€“ back-and-forth action.

Personal career highlight:

Winning the WBC Continental Americas super-featherweight title in November 2016 in Las Vegas [with a nine-round technical decision over Casey Ramos].

Toughest opponent:

Cesar Valenzuela. He was taller than me and he tested my chin, but I managed to win by fifth-round KO [in January 2015].

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:

Iโ€™m very well rounded. I can be a boxer, a counter-puncher, an aggressive fighter or an elusive mover. At this point in my career, I wonโ€™t state my weaknesses. I stay true to myself and work on them every day.

Training tip:

Work harder than everybody around you and youโ€™ll be successful.

Favourite meal/restaurant:

I like pizza with hot Buffalo wings, but not from any restaurant in particular.

Best friends in boxing:

Everyone who walks me out to the ring โ€“ my dad Sifredo Vences, my little brother Oscar Vences, my trainer Angel Cordon Snr, my trainerโ€™s son Angel Cordon Jnr, my cutman Mike Bazzel, my marketing advisor Hector Ruiz and my photographer Julio Sanchez.

Other sportsman you would like to be:

Iโ€™d only be a pro boxer.

Last film/TV show you saw:

The movie, Creed.

Who would play you in a film of your life:

Sylvester Stallone.

Have you ever been starstruck:

Not yet.

Last time you cried:

When I lost my manager, Herb Stone, in 2017. I truly miss him every day.

Best advice received:

My dad always tells me to invest my money.

Worst rumour about yourself:

That I canโ€™t fight and Iโ€™m boring.

Something not many people know about you:

Iโ€™m a very mean person in the ring, but very cool outside it.