When and why you started boxing:
My friend from school, John Reynolds, got me into it. He boxed for St Teresa’s and took me under his wing. I first started at that gym about a week before my 15th birthday.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Sugar Ray Leonard, Rubin Carter and Shea Neary because of certain similarities in their backgrounds to my own.
Best fight you’ve seen:
The Rumble in the Jungle [between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman] or Joe Calzaghe-Jeff Lacy.
Personal career highlight:
Winning various amateur titles in the army and being the last to represent 1 KINGS prior to it being disbanded and amalgamated.
Toughest opponent:
Stephen Tiffney [l rsf 2 – March 2017] or Louie Lynn [l rsf 2 – June 2018].
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My main strengths are that I’m aggressive and have a high work rate. I’d rather not give my weaknesses away!
Training tip:
Work hard, listen to your coaches, leave your troubles at the door and always practise.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
A good pan of Scouse [traditional Liverpool stew] or pea wack soup.
Best friends in boxing:
My pro coaches, John Smith and Billy Rice, and my amateur coach, Paul Allen. Plus all of my civilian and military teammates, past and present.
Other sportsman you would like to be:
Vasyl Lomachenko or Floyd Mayweather.
Last film/TV show you saw:
I watched some old episodes of Friends with my better half the other day.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
Either Shia LaBeouf or a young James Marshall out of the boxing film, Gladiator.
Have you ever been starstruck:
When I met Michael Buffer at the weigh-in before I fought on the Amir Khan-Phil Lo Greco bill [in April last year].
Last time you cried:
When I found out that my youngest brother had died. It was heartbreaking.
Best advice received:
Family comes first and never live beyond your means.
Worst rumour about yourself:
When I first got my regiment in the army after basic training at 17, a rumour got spread in Iraq that I was throwing my weight about. I had to explain to a whole company that I’ve just got a bit of a swagger when I walk. They were all ready to beat me up. I was bricking myself!
Something not many people know about you:
I’ve got a non-identical twin named Dean.
