Terry Flanagan reveals all about his upbringing, what he was like at school, and what he misses about scaffolding

Terry Flanagan on…

His upbringing
It was a madhouse. It was only a small three-bedroom council house so it was tough; as soon as I was old enough to move out I was out of there. Me dadโ€™s just a painter and decorator, a hard worker. My mum was a housewife. We didnโ€™t have much growing up but we got enough, everything we wanted. Having a close family is more important than money.

Iโ€™ve always been like a respectable kid, I never really got into trouble. I wouldnโ€™t say I was the cleverest at school, but I got me head down, worked hard and I always said I was gonna be a boxer. The teachers used to say you need something to fall back on.

Giving up scaffolding
Iโ€™ve been full-time since I won the English title. I just miss the craic with the lads, having a laugh but I still go to the yard to see them or on the sites near me house. I donโ€™t miss it in this weather but in the summer time you can have a laugh. But it gives me chance to concentrate more on me boxing โ€“ I can train in the mornings, come home, get in bed and get meself ready for the evening session.

His family
He was two last week, Frankie. I get to see more of him but I come home and get in bed and he cries coz he wants to play with me, so itโ€™s hard. Me missus knows the score, sheโ€™s been with me from the start, she knows what I go through.
I like it here in Ancoats, Iโ€™m happy, Wit all me family. Me mum lives two minutes away, her mum lives a few minutes the other way.

On trainer Steve Maylett
Heโ€™s drilled in a winning mentality. Skills-wise and teaching, weโ€™re always learning. He trains me hard, I never miss a session. Iโ€™ve always had good footwork but I just needed to mature and heโ€™s seen that and brought it out of me. Weโ€™re good friends but I know heโ€™s the boss. He tells me what to eat, when to sleep, what not to do, when to be in the gym, when to leave and I do it 100 per cent, whatever he says goes. I know he wants the best for me so I do what he says.

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