My dad just wanted me to find something to do to keep me out of trouble. Boxing was the great escape.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
When I was 17 or 18, I realised I could do something with boxing.
Boxing was just another one to keep me going as a child.
I took up boxing out of sheer interest and to help my parents financially.
Boxing gave me the opportunities to grow into the person that I am today.
Boxing has kept me off the streets, stops me smoking and drinking and gives me something to do.
When I was a little kid I wanted to be an artist or a painter. But once I got into boxing, all I wanted was to box.
My father was an army champion boxer... in the British army. And so he loved boxing and talked it up as a sport. But then when my brother and I were beating the crap out of each other, he was always trying to tone it down. But I am a fan of boxing.
I've always loved boxing. It's something I've always been extremely excited about.
Boxing gave me a path in life. Because of boxing, I learned what I'm capable of achieving if I put my mind to it and how hard work can and will pay off in the end. It gave me confidence and taught me to face fear straight on and dig down deep when times get tough.
Everything in our family was always boxing. It was the life my father chose for me.