Shakan Pitters: ‘Always go hard’

Shakan Pitters

When and why you started boxing:
I first started boxing at 22 years old when I was expecting my daughter. She gave me the drive to want to do well to set her on the best path in life.

Favourite all-time fighter:
Tommy Hearns for his aggression and shot selection, and Floyd Mayweather for his ability to be very adaptable and smart in the ring.

Best fight youโ€™ve seen:
I used to love watching Mike Tyson fights. You could feel the energy through the TV.

Personal career highlight:
Fighting on Amir Khanโ€™s undercard in my hometown of Birmingham and also winning my first major professional title โ€“ the English light-heavyweight title.

Toughest opponent:
Dec Spelman, who Iโ€™ve fought twice [w ud 3 โ€“ Nov 2018 & w ud 10 โ€“ Sep 2019].

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
Iโ€™ll leave my strengths and weaknesses for the critics to speculate on. I just keep working in the gym to be the best all-round fighter I can be.

Training tip:
Always go hard. Boxingโ€™s not here forever for any fighter, so itโ€™s always important to give the best account of yourself in training and in fights.

Favourite meal/restaurant:
Itโ€™s got to be Caribbean food. Jerk chicken and steamed fish with hard food and dumplings.

Best friends in boxing:
Iโ€™d class my gym-mates as my best friends, as we know each other really well.

Other sportsman you would like to be:
Iโ€™d only like to be Shakan Pitters.

Last film/TV show you saw:
The Michael Jordan documentary series on Netflix โ€“ The Last Dance.

Who would play you in a film of your life:
Myself, but if I had to choose someone else itโ€™d be Michael B. Jordan or Idris Elba.

Have you ever been starstruck:
I donโ€™t get starstruck. I appreciate everyone as a person โ€“ celebrity or not โ€“ as weโ€™re all just human beings.

Last time you cried:
Iโ€™m not really the emotional type but Iโ€™ve had my moments. People donโ€™t really see that side of me.

Best advice received:
Treat people as you wish to be treated yourself.

Worst rumour about yourself:
Iโ€™ve not heard any rumours about myself. Sadly though, thereโ€™s been a few fake social media profiles pretending to be me.

Something not many people know about you:
I passed law at college, I like to cook and I worked in a warehouse during my first two years as a professional boxer.

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