“Where did your boxing career start?” - “My dad had always been a big fan of the sport and I remember sitting with him while he watched it. I was only young, maybe 4 or 5, and didn’t really know what was going on, however it amazed me. I forgot about it for a bit as I got older, and my attention mainly began to revolve around football similar to my younger brother although he was younger than me, he was miles ahead and I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. We moved to the UK when I was 7 and I loved it. After about 2 years living here my dad got cancer and was very unwell, he sadly died 6 months after his diagnosis which was a massive shock to the family and my mum was a bit lost without him. I was about 10 when I decided Id have to step up and help my mum look after my siblings, as I was the oldest a lot of responsibilities were left on me, and it definitely made me mature for my age. Around that time was when I decided to join the local boxing club not only because I loved the sport, but I felt like my dad would have wanted me too. I joined a club called Spire Boxing Academy and I loved it, I'd go nearly every day after school, and it almost became an addiction. After about a year I had my first match and I still remember how terrified I was, I walked out to ‘A change is gonna come’ by Sam Cooke as it was dad's favorite song and to my surprise I won easily, after that I just knew pro boxing is what I wanted to pursue.”
“Have you had setbacks during your career?” - “yes, Of Course there's been some downs you can't avoid them, but I like to think it's all part of the process and growing as an athlete, that is of course only true to a certain extent as there's lots of variables to what your ‘setback’ is, for me I've had multiple smaller setbacks like small injuries and losing matches I should have won etc., just the normal setbacks every athlete normally faces, however recently I've had a setback which has really put a roadblock on my career as a boxer, last year due to head trauma I began to struggle with short term memory loss and I had to weigh up my options and decide if I still wanted to pursue my lifelong dream or priorities my health, the moral of the story is, As much as you want to become a pro-boxer or fighter, realize that the ultimate price to pay in the end is your life or your health. The potential money you could earn and the fame you could gain is not worth losing your memory and health for. Choose wisely and do not let your emotions dictate your decisions.”
“What have you taken from the last 6 years of boxing?” “The past 6 years, what a roller coaster, the catalyst was losing our dad and for me it was the unrelenting desire to take a U-turn and chase the boxing dream. I did it. It was hard, but I have come away with lifelong friends and memories that no one can take from me. Boxing saved my life at a time when me and my family had lost so much. Few can say that. We had no blueprint. Just straight into the deep end. I did the best with what I had, and I can only thank my coach Ronan carter for guiding me through the pro ranks.”
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