When and why you started boxing:
I started boxing at 11 years old. I grew up around it my entire childhood. I had my first amateur fight just two months after stepping in the gym.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Sugar Ray Leonard had it all in terms of speed, power, ability, showmanship and a huge engine. A class act inside and outside the ring.
Best fight you’ve seen:
“Prince” Naseem Hamed against Kevin Kelley.
Personal career highlight:
As an amateur, I won multiple London, Ulster and Nine Counties titles, as well as a few Box Cups. However, I feel very unlucky not to have a national title to my name after reaching a few finals.
Toughest opponent:
Top amateur Gabriel Dossen. I boxed him twice at the All-Irelands. He’s a great fighter and a friend of mine.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My strengths are my hand speed and variety, as I can fight orthodox or southpaw. A weakness of mine would be my power at the moment, but I’m only 20 and have a lot of maturing to do.
Training tip:
Train hard and smart, and don’t neglect recovery.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
The steaks at Miller & Carter are unbelievable!
Best friends in boxing:
I’ve made so many great friends through boxing. Honestly there are too many to mention.
Other sportsman you would like to be:
I admire and respect a lot of sportsmen, but I’m determined to enjoy my own journey through my own experiences.
Last film/TV show you saw:
Rambo: Last Blood. I love action films!
Who would play you in a film of your life:
Finn Shelby from Peaky Blinders!
Have you ever been starstruck:
Yes, when I was in Monaco and I saw Oleksandr Usyk casually strolling around the hotel.
Last time you cried:
After my majority draw [against Farhad Hazratzada] out in Saudi Arabia [in July last year]. It was against a dangerous opponent who I was advised not to take on, but I know I won that fight. I can’t control what goes on outside the ring though.
Best advice received:
You can’t listen when your mouth is open.
Worst rumour about yourself:
There have been some insulting comments on YouTube interviews that I’ve done. My mates got a good kick out of it on the WhatsApp group chat!
Something not many people know about you:
I’m currently learning French and Spanish.
