Super Middleweight Champion of the World

Career:
I started boxing when I was 9. I had 120 amateur fights. I won 4 schoolboy ABA titles and 3 senior ABA titles at different weights. I turned professional in 1993, making my debut on the same billing as the Lennox Lewis v Frank Bruno fight. I’ve had 32 fights and won all of them; 27 were knockouts. I won the World Super Middleweight title in October 1997.

Training:
I go into full training 8 weeks before a fight. I train twice a day for 6 days a week. I go running in the morning for about 6 miles and then do 2 hours training in the gym in the afternoon. I also have to watch my diet to make the weight for a fight. I eat lots of vegetables, pasta - high carbohydrate, low fat. You have to be dedicated.

Big break:
Winning my first British ABA title at 13. My father trained me and showed me I had talent. Like all kids, I played football and enjoyed myself but, from then on, I focused and took the sport much more seriously.

Highlight:
Beating Chris Eubank and winning the World Super Middleweight title was obviously very important to me. I knocked him down in the first round but it continued and it was a hard fight. I won on points. I’ve had 9 defences at the world title and each of those is obviously a highlight!

Low:
In 1999, I only had 2 fights in a year and I had a lot of injury problems.

Tips from the top:
You need to be dedicated in this sport. You have to make a lot of sacrifices like going out with your friends. I’ve had to be disciplined from an early age. It’s a hard sport - you’re on your own in the ring! It’s natural to get psyched up before a fight. You think about all of the hard work and that tunes your body and your mind as well! You have to be focused before you get in the ring. It’s a sport and I go in to win. I think 100% positive and that’s why I’m the World Champion. I have used the talents I was blessed with. You have to give 100% respect to your opponent. I never underestimate anyone.