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Magazine

Brad Strand: ‘The hardest people I’ve been in the ring with are from my own gym’

Advice from his father kept Brad Strand in the sport. Meet the amateur champion turned professional prospect

Paul Wheeler

25th November, 2019

Brad Strand: ‘The hardest people I’ve been in the ring with are from my own gym’
Simon David Photography

When and why you started boxing:
I was nine years old when I started boxing. I was a bit little at school, so my dad decided to take me to Kirkby ABC.

Favourite all-time fighter:
My favourite fighter ever is Thomas Hearns because of his big right hand.

Best fight you’ve seen:
Any of Canelo Alvarez’s fights that I’ve seen on TV.

Personal career highlight:
As an amateur, it’d be winning the England Boxing Senior National Elite Championships – formerly known as the ABAs – in April 2018. [Strand, boxing for Everton Red Triangle, beat Kings Heath’s Liam Davies in the bantamweight final].

Toughest opponent:
It’d be either [highly decorated amateur] Peter McGrail or [unbeaten professional] Andrew Cain in sparring. The hardest people I’ve been in the ring with are from my gym.

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
I’d like to think that I don’t have any weaknesses. My main strength is my speed.

Training tip:
I’d just advise you to stay dedicated and train hard.

Favourite meal/restaurant:
My favourite meal is pasta. I love eating at Casa Italia in Liverpool.

Best friends in boxing:
[Undefeated pro] Nick Ball is my best friend in the sport. We were at Kirkby ABC together.

Other sportsman you would like to be:
I’d be a professional footballer if I wasn’t a boxer.

Last film/TV show you saw:
I’ve been watching the series, Power, recently.

Who would play you in a film of your life:
I’d pick Tom Cruise to play me.

Have you ever been starstruck:
No, I don’t think I have you know.

Last time you cried:
I think it was probably at my auntie’s funeral about eight months ago.

Best advice received:
When I was about 12, I wanted to quit boxing, but my dad just told me to keep going. If I hadn’t listened to him then I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now.

Worst rumour about yourself:
I haven’t heard any bad rumours about myself yet.

Something not many people know about you:
I wear women’s deodorant! I like using the pink Sure spray.

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