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**RichCCFC** · 08-22-2008, 07:11 PM

David Haye

Bermondsey�s world cruiserweight champion

Age started boxing: 10.
First boxing memory: Hitting a plastic punchball I got as a Christmas present when I was four and breaking it. I remember being really upset.
Inspiration: Cold, hard cash.
Favourite all-time fighter: Roy Jones.
Best fight you have seen: Nigel Benn-Gerald McClellan [February 1995] � it was so full of drama and the only fight to move me to tears.
Pre-fight meal: Whatever�s on the hotel menu.
What do you do to relax: Sleep.
Pre-fight superstition: I always put my left glove on before my right.
What training (if any) do you do between fights: Sex.
Typical breakfast: Porridge with honey.
Toughest part of being a boxer: Having to exercise.
Favourite music: Soul.
Last book you read: The Art of War.
Favourite film: Pulp Fiction.
What car do you drive: Range Rover Vogue.
Where do you train: The Third Space in Piccadilly [London] and Miami Fight in the US.
Training routine: For a fight in training camp in Miami I�ll run 45 minutes on the beach in the morning followed by a 15-minute swim in the sea. In the afternoon I�ll do about two-and-a-half hours in the gym. I don�t do a lot of sparring � 30 rounds maximum per fight. I weight-train three times each week, do Pilates once and also Ashtanga yoga once.
Toughest man faced: Carl Thompson.
What supplements do you take: Vitamins and minerals � my supplements vary depending on what sort of training I�m doing.
Job outside of boxing: I�m a full-time pro.
Last place you went on holiday: Barbados.
Best boxer in the sport today: Anthony Small [stablemate].
Favourite football team: Chelsea.

Glen Johnson

Miami�s former light-heavyweight champion

Age started boxing: 20 years old
First boxing memory: That this sport was tough. It�s very difficult and it takes some getting used to. It�s something you develop over time
Inspiration: Not having what I used to � my belt
Favourite all-time fighter: I don�t have one
Best fight you�ve seen: The first one between [Diego] Corrales and [Jose Luis] Castillo. There are bigger name fighters but they were both at their peak and so evenly matched
Pre-fight meal: I eat whatever�s available. I don�t have a set meal
What do you do to relax: I�m a low-key guy. I just watch TV, sleep and chill out
Pre-fight superstition: Superstitions are for fools
What training (if any) do you do between fights: I�m always fighting, so I always keep busy [in the gym]. I�m not a young man � I started boxing late and ever since I�ve been in a hurry
Typical breakfast: Nothing on a regular basis
Toughest part of being a boxer: Getting robbed. You go out and do the work and beat the guy down only for them to give the decision to the next guy
Favourite music: Reggae
Last book you read: The Bible
Favourite film: There�s Something About Mary
What car do you drive: A Hummer
Where do you train: At a few different places. I train in Miami � at Fightclub and at a gym called Knockout
Training routine: I hit the heavy bag, speed bag, jump rope, do sit-ups and do roadwork. I do a lot of sparring as well
Toughest man faced: Bernard Hopkins
What supplements do you take: Just regular vitamins and GNC
What would you be if you weren�t a boxer: What I wanted to be, I can�t be, because I�m not a good singer. That dream was shortlived!
Last place you went on holiday: Barbados
Best boxer in the sport today: Either myself or Floyd Mayweather
Favourite football team: The Miami Dolphins, because that�s where I live, and the Reggae Boys of Jamaica, because that�s where I�m from

Jermain Taylor

Little Rock�s former world middleweight champ

Age started boxing: 12.
First boxing memory: I boxed my coach�s son [smiles]. And I beat him for the first time.
Inspiration: I don�t really have one. I never watched boxing growing up. The first boxer I really liked was Floyd Mayweather.
Favourite all-time fighter: I love the way Mayweather goes in there and does his little thang. That�s about it.
Best fight seen: Been a lot of great fights � I couldn�t even tell you. I don�t watch boxing that much.
Pre-fight meal: Some spaghetti and meatballs.
What do you do to relax: Just go up to my room, man, listen to country music and just think.
Pre-fight superstition: Don�t have any.
What training do you do between fights (if any):I run. I swim. That�s about it.
Typical breakfast: Bagel, omelette.
Toughest part of being a boxer: All the interviews [smiles].
Favourite music: Country. Right now my favourite is Travis Tritt.
Last book read: It was something about Iraq. It was a great book. I can�t remember the title, but it was telling you about the war. I got it out in the car.
Favourite film: Denzel Washington was in it. It was a war movie � Glory [made in 1989 about the US Civil War].
What car do you drive: I have a lot of cars. I got about seven cars.
Where do you train: I will train in Las Vegas for the Kelly Pavlik rematch [exact location was not known at the time of this interview].
Training routine: Very intense. In the morning get up and run. By one o�clock � to the gym, hit the bag. By six o�clock we�ll take a nice little walk, ride the bike or something. That�s every day.
Toughest man you faced: I�ll give it to Pavlik [who stopped Taylor in Atlantic City in our Fight of the Year for 2007].
What supplements do you take: I take Mega Man, the little sports thing.
If you weren�t a boxer what would you be: A mechanic.
Last place you went on holiday: To Disney World [Orlando, Florida].
Favourite football team: I don�t have a favourite soccer team. Football � I�d say the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Best boxer in the sport today:Mayweather.

**RichCCFC** · 08-22-2008, 07:14 PM

Joe Calzaghe

Newbridge�s 36-year-old world super-middleweight champion, 44-0 (32)

Age started boxing: Nine.
First boxing memory: Probably first walking into the Newbridge amateur gym and hearing the thump of the bigger kids hitting the bags. Pretty scary, to be honest.
Inspiration: My dad and kids [sons Joe and Connor].
Motivation: Fear of losing, love of winning.
Favourite all time fighter: A tie between Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler. My loyalties were split when they fought. I�d say Hagler. He was a southpaw like me. I liked his aggression and determination in breaking people down.
Best fight seen: Hagler-Tommy Hearns. Awesome.
Pre-fight meal: I eat light. High carbs. A little pasta... and Jaffa Cakes!
What do you do to relax: Spend time with my kids, doing regular things.
Pre-fight superstitions: I never do my laces all the way up. Something I�ve done since the amateurs. Can�t remember why.
What training do you do between fights: Go for a jog a couple of times a week. Maybe a little game of footy with the boys.
Typical breakfast: I hardly ever eat breakfast. If I�m in training, Weetabix or porridge, and maybe toast.
Toughest part of being a boxer: The dedication and losing the weight.
Last book read: My own [autobiography No Ordinary Joe]. It was excellent!
Favourite film: The Godfather I or II, or Goodfellas.
What car do you drive: An Audi RS4 and a Range Rover Sport.
Where do you train: The Calzaghe gym, Cwmcarn.
Training routine: I train twice a day. I start with a five or six mile hill run, then gym work. Twelve to 15 rounds of speed ball, pads, bags and sparring, all fast and intense. Then my exercises. I haven�t skipped for years.
Toughest man faced: Probably Chris Eubank. Mikkel Kessler would have beaten Eubank but that was the first time I did 12 rounds and I was knackered after four. I was running on empty for the last five.
What supplements do you take: Multi-vitamins but I forget to take them half the time.
If you weren�t a boxer what would you be: I never liked working nine to five before I turned pro, so probably a musician, a drummer... or a chef.
Last place you went on holiday: Dubai.
Favourite football team: Juventus and Italy.
Best boxer in the sport today: Except for myself... [Floyd] Mayweather.

Antonio Tarver

America�s former world light-heavyweight champ America�s 39-year-old former world light-heavyweight champ, 26-4 (19)

Age started boxing: 10. Jimmy Williams laid the foundation.
First boxing memory: My first fight, a 30-second knockout at Eddie Graham Sports Stadium in 1979. That was my first great memory and I was on my way after that.
Inspiration: Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard were my idols.
Favourite all-time fighter: I have to say the �Marvelous� one [Marvin Hagler]. He looked like me, he shined like me and was a beast in that ring.
Best fight seen: Diego Corrales � God Bless his soul � and Jose Luis Castillo. When he came back after being down and out, that was tremendous.
Pre-fight meal: A lot of pasta, the stuff that gives you that energy.
What do you do to relax: Play golf and travel with my baby. I enjoy my daughter and family.
Pre-fight superstition: None.
What training do you do between fights (if any): I take two-three weeks off just to enjoy my victory. Take my wife on vacation, enjoy good cooking and all that stuff. I splurge a little.
Typical breakfast: Egg whites. Oatmeal. Some fruit. Tea and coffee sometimes, but not much.
Toughest part of being a boxer: The work you have to do for that level of success. I have people to support me, but if it don�t come from within, you can�t get it. You don�t ever play boxing.
Favourite music: R&B, hip-hop, Mary J [Blige], R Kelly, Jay Z.
Last book read: I don�t ever finish books.
Favourite film: Scarface.
What car do you drive: Depends on what day. I have nice cars. I got a Range Rover.
Where do you train: Calta�s Health & Fitness in Tampa, Florida and also at the University of Tampa.
Training routine: Monday, Wednesday and Friday I get up at 4.45, meet Rafael Ruiz at the University of Tampa for my strength and conditioning. I go home, take a nap, eat a light breakfast and lunch. Go to the gym at 2-4.30pm, try to make it home. Then at night we shake loose at about 10pm in the garage. And then, if need be, we go on like a three-mile sprint. Interval running. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go with Dudley Pierce early in the morning on a nice, long run. And on Saturday we spar. Once we start, we spar every other day.
Toughest man you faced: Eric Harding was one. I would have to say Glen Johnson. Harding was just a southpaw that was very crafty and slick. Johnson just applies enormous pressure.
What supplements do you take: Amino Acids and multi-mineral vitamins.
If you weren�t a boxer what would you be: A golfer. I played with [Michael] Jordan in the Ba*****. I won about a grand from him.
Last place you went on holiday: Ba*****.
Favourite football team: The Bucs and the Cowboys.
Best boxer in the sport today: You have to say Floyd Mayweather. He�s making the most money.

James Toney

Ann Arbor�s former three-weight world champion

Age you started boxing: Eight.
First boxing memory: My first match. And I got my butt whupped [smiles]. I was 11 years old. I got beat, I got stopped in the third round.
Inspiration: All the old-timers.
Favourite all-time fighter: Ah man, see, that�s a trick question with me, because I got six of �em � Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano, Ray Robinson, Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
Best fight seen: Marvin Hagler-Tommy Hearns [Las Vegas 1985].
Pre-fight meal: Chicken and pasta.
What do you do to relax: I just walk around, go shopping, hang with the fellas.
Pre-fight superstition: I don�t have none.
What kind of training do you do between fights (if any): Mess a little with the kids.
Typical breakfast: Cereal.
Toughest part of being a boxer: Staying focused.
Favourite music: Not rap. I like hip-hop, R&B.
Last book read: The Greatest [Ali story]
Favourite film: I got a lot of them, but Scarface is up there.
What car do you drive: I�ve got six. A Bentley, Mercedes, BMW, Hummer, Range Rover and Escalade.
Where do you train: In Los Angeles � [Freddie Roach�s] Wildcard Gym.
Training routine: Weights, running and sparring.
Toughest man faced: Mike McCallum. He�s a strong fighter who kept you on the ropes.
What supplements do you take: Nothin�.
If you weren�t a boxer what would you be: [American] Football player.
Last place you went on holiday: Hawaii.
Favourite football team: That�s a tricky question. They suck right now. The [St Louis] Rams.
Best boxer in the sport today: myself.

Bernard Hopkins

Philadelphia�s former undisputed middleweight champion

Age started boxing: Seven. Then I went to Graterford [prison] for five years and I picked it back up in there. But I started as a pro in �88. [Nephew] Demetrius started at five.
First boxing memory: Winning the Philadelphia Golden Gloves aged nine
Inspiration: Marvin Hagler and Muhammad Ali because I didn�t know Ray Robinson back then
Favourite all-time fighter: Sugar Ray Robinson and Hagler
Best fight seen: John �The Beast� Mugabi against Hagler [Las Vegas March 1986]
Pre-fight meal: Pasta
What do you do to relax: Count money [smiles]
Pre-fight superstition: None
What training (if any) do you do between fights: Stay in the gym and do cardio
Typical breakfast: Eggs
Toughest part of being a boxer: It�s not even tough � for me. I�m only speaking for me. Once I sign on the dotted line, I�m just a strange animal, man � there�s nothing tough. I like training. I like workin� out. Hey, I told everybody I retired, but [trainer] Nazzim Richardson said I hadn�t been out of the gym since June 10 [date of his last fight]. And I haven�t. I�m 179lbs right now [March 2007]
Favourite music: Rap, R&B and jazz
Last book you read: The last book... I�ve read a lot of magazines, but the last boxing book would be Bert Sugar�s 100 Greatest Fighters of All Time
Favourite film: Scarface
What car do you drive: Range Rover [grey]
Where do you train: Upper Darby Boxing Club, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
Training routine: Just regular stuff, like what I�ve always been doing
Toughest man faced: Quito, Ecuador, Segundo Mercado. It was about the whole process � the country, the flight, the fight. Mike Marley [DKP�s former PR man who is with us during this interview] was there, he knows. The whole surrounding was adverse. Mytoughest fight? I had a lot of tough fights, but [Antwun] Echols, that was vicious.
What supplements do you take: Whey protein
What would you be if you weren�t a boxer: A promoter
Last place you went on holiday: If you want to add in doing the promotion in Miami [Chad Dawson v Tomasz Adamek], the NBA All-Star weekend in Las Vegas, a media tour of three cities when I went to the Super Bowl in Miami and the All-Star game, well, I�ve had some good holidays already this year
Best boxer in the sport today: Manny Pacquiao
Favourite football team: Philadelphia Eagles

**RichCCFC** · 08-22-2008, 07:16 PM

Antonio Margarito

Mexico�s former WBO welterweight champion

Age started boxing: Eight, and I turned pro at 15.
First boxing memory: Meeting Julio Cesar Chavez and Jorge Paez on the same night. My father took me and my brother to our very first boxing event and I didn�t know who they were. But I noticed how excited my father was as we had our photo taken with them.
Inspiration: I noticed how Chavez and Paez were surrounded by people. I told my father I wanted to be a fighter and someday be famous like them.
Favourite all-time fighter: Chavez. He was Mexico�s pride. He had the heart of a lion and the punch of heavyweight. I loved the way he took his opponents apart.
Best fight seen: Chavez v Meldrick Taylor I.
Pre-fight meal: After the weigh-in, I eat chicken and pasta, with three or four milkshakes. I love ice cream. Before the fight I have a breakfast that consists of fruits, yoghurt and cereal. For lunch I�ll have a sandwich, steak, burger, or pasta � something that will be just enough to keep me comfortable. After lunch I�ll snack on protein bars.
What do you do to relax: Watch television, listen to music, and talk on the cell [mobile phone].
Pre-fight superstition: None.
What training do you do between fights (if any): I try to run every day. I go to the boxing gym three times a week and I�ll do the basics � shadowbox, hit the bags and sometime pads. I go to a regular gym twice a week and do weight-training with a personal trainer.
Typical breakfast: I�m not big on breakfasts, but when I�m not training my wife cooks me the best traditional Mexican breakfast. While I�m training, I�ll have fruits, cereals, oatmeal, yoghurts...
Toughest part of being a boxer: Not giving in to your cravings.
Favourite music: Norteno [Spanish country] and Spanish rock.
Last book you read: The Ring magazine.
What car do you drive: A silver Jeep Cherokee.
Favourite film: Scarface.
Where do you train: El Monte Youth Center in Tijuana.
Training routine: I run in the mornings. The first week at a park, then the next 10 days in the mountains, then 10 days at the beach and finish off at the park until we leave. I get to the gym around 1pm and begin stretching and warm-ups. Once I finish, I get into the ring and spar anywhere from four to 12 rounds, depending on where we�re at in our training. I�ll do mitts, hit the bags and end with my sit-ups.
Toughest man faced: Daniel Santos and Joshua Clottey.
What supplements do you take: I have a special ****tail consisting of multi-vitamins and vitamin B, which are injected after each workout, and I take a lot of protein.
If you weren�t a boxer what would you be: This was no option. I really don�t know. All kids have dreams, unfortunately that is all they have. The opportunity to make that dream real is given only to a few.
Last place you went on holiday: Puerto Vallarta [Mexican resort].
Best boxer in the sport today: Oscar De La Hoya.
Favourite football team: Sorry, I�m no soccer fan.

Ricardo Mayorga

Nicaragua�s former welter & light-middle world champion

Age started boxing: 12
First boxing memory: 112 fights
Inspiration: When I saw Sugar Ray Leonard fight Tommy Hearns (September 1981)
Favourite all-time fighter: Leonard
Best fight you�ve seen: Leonard when he beat Hearns (first fight)
Pre-fight meal: Spaghetti
What do you do to relax: Enjoy life
Pre-fight superstition: None
What training (if any) do you do between fights: Everything I do normally
Typical breakfast: Bread, eggs, OJ
Toughest part of being a boxer: Making weight
Favourite music: All of them. Salsa. Celia Cruz � she was great
Last book you read: A new one that just came out on me, in Nicaragua. The History Of A Crazy Guy [smiles]
Favourite film: James Bond movies
What car do you drive: Honda Prelude (red)
Where do you train: In Miami at whichever gym I find suitable
Training routine: Go run in the morning and then do some calisthenics. And in the afternoon I go back to the gym and do two, two-and-a-half hours of boxing work
Toughest man you faced: Cory Spinks because he was very slippery southpaw
What supplements do you take: None. Rice and beans [smiles]
What would you be if you were not a boxer: I don�t know but Al Capone would be a huge hit [laughter]
Last place you went on holiday: Honduras
Best boxer in the sport today: I would have to say Floyd Mayweather � I thought his luck would end against De La Hoya
Favourite football team: Brazil
Translation by Tony Gonzalez

Joshua Clottey

Brooklyn�s welterweight contender

Age started boxing: Six
First boxing memory: Fighting the local favourite back in Bukom, Ghana. He beat me, but I got revenge over him!
Inspiration: Ike Quartey. I followed his career, he was a great fighter.
Favourite all-time fighter: Roy Jones. I love his speed and his energy. I like the way he trains.
Best fight you�ve seen: Oscar De La Hoya-Ike Quartey. It was a split decision after 12 exciting rounds, and the win went to Oscar. It was a very close fight though.
Pre-fight meal: I like home-cooking [African food]. I have a locally made soup.
How do you relax: I watch TV or go on my computer and read my e-mails. People send me lots of things via e-mail.
Pre-fight superstition: I don�t do any of that.
What training (if any) do you do between fights: I always train hard, all the time. But when I don�t have a fight coming up I like to do a lot of jogging.
Typical breakfast: Oatmeal.
Toughest part of being a boxer: Making weight. I�m a big welterweight and it�s hard work making 147.
Favourite music: I like traditional African music. I play it when I enter the ring for a fight and I dance to it on my ring walk.
Last book you read: My sister loaned it to me. It was an African book but I can�t remember the title. I like to read articles on boxing web sites mostly.
Favourite film: Troy.
What car do you drive: I don�t drive over here [USA]. I cannot get a licence here.
Where do you train: John�s gym, Brownsville, USA.
Training routine: I run in the morning on Monday and Tuesday, rest Wednesday, and run again Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I rest on Sundays. I spar a lot when a fight is coming up � sometimes 15 rounds a day. Also I do lots of skipping � 40 minutes at a time.
Toughest man faced: Richard Gutierrez. That was a very tough fight.
What supplements do you take: None.
If you were not a boxer: I�d be a football player. I am a very good player actually.
Last place you went on holiday: Back home to Accra.
Favourite football team: Manchester United.
Best boxer in the sport today: Miguel Cotto. I admire him because he is willing to face any opponent.

**RichCCFC** · 08-22-2008, 07:19 PM

Ricky Hatton

Manchester�s former light-welter & welterweight champion

Age you started boxing: 11
First boxing memory: Probably the first time I won the Schoolboy championships. That was my first national title. That�s what made me take boxing seriously.
Inspiration: My family and Nigel Benn. The Benn and [Chris] Eubank fights were when I was 12 or 13. I used to love Benn. I used to think how ferocious he was and what a fighter he was.
Motivation: My son, Campbell, who is six. Every fight, I want to provide the best life I can for my future family.
Favourite all-time fighter: Roberto Duran. I love him. I�ve met him a few times and they�re some of the proudest moments of my life. He�s like me � a man of the people, a bit of a character. He put weight on like me and never used to take a backward step like me. He fought the best, so we have so much in common inside and outside the ring.
Best fight you�ve seen: Barrera-Morales I and Corrales-Castillo I.
Pre-fight meal: Porridge.
What do you do to relax: Spend time with my son, go and watch [Manchester] City or go for a pint and a game of darts.
Pre-fight superstitions: Don�t have any.
Training in between fights: After a fight I have two-three weeks when I don�t go near the gym, then come back slowly, three days a week, just tick over, a bit of light training to keep on top of it.
Typical breakfast: Fry-up or porridge, it depends if I�m in training.
Toughest part of being a fighter: The sacrifices. I love my food, I love a pint and just the hard work: running every day, training every day; the sacrifices to achieve your goals.
Last book you read: The Roberto Duran one [Hands of Stone].
Favourite film: I quite like Stir Crazy. And Scarface.
What car do you drive: An [BMW] X5 and a Mercedes SLK.
Where do you train: Betta Bodies and Billy Graham�s Phoenix camp in the Betta Bodies Gym.
Typical training routine: Over 12 weeks. First month, I go on treadmills, steppers, shadow box, hit the bag. Next month, I start jumping the bar, build up to 10 rounds then start the body-belt. We do four rounds, then six, then eight then 10 then 12, up to 15. Three weeks to go is the hardest: we do two solid, hard weeks. 12 rounds every day; it may be a mixture of six spar, six body-belt or eight spar, four body-belt and I run every day.
Toughest opponent faced: Ben Tackie. Every time I hit him he snarled at me, which upset me. Every time I hit him, I think I hurt my hands more than his jaw. I hit him with everything but he kept coming. He was saying, �Come on p****, come on�. I thought �Wow�, because I can punch a bit.
Supplements: CNP products.
What would you do if you weren�t a boxer: ****o star!
Last place you went on holiday: Puerto Banus, Marbella.
Best boxer in the sport today: Floyd Mayweather, but he�s keeping it warm.
Favourite football team: Manchester City.

Vassiliy Jirov

Kazakhstan�s former IBF cruiserweight champion

Age started boxing: 12.
First boxing memory: A Russian coach putting me in with someone better to see if I was strong enough to be in the ring.
Inspiration: My mother. She had six kids and took care of them alone. She was always happy and very strong no matter what.
Favourite all-time fighter: Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano.
Best fight you�ve seen: I enjoy every fight. I look for tactics and don�t watch for entertainment.
Pre-fight meal: It all depends how I feel. My meal is never the same.
How do you relax: Listening to music, swimming.
Pre-fight superstition: None.
What training did you do between fights (if any): Running, swimming, hitting the punchbag. I never have the same routine.
Typical breakfast: Usually grains like sprouted buckwheat, rice, honey mixed with ****es, nuts and seeds.
Toughest part of being a boxer: Being away from my family.
Favourite music: None. I listen to what my body feels is right.
Last book you read: I read all the time. My favourite book is Ringing Cedar of Russia.
Favourite film: What Dreams May Come with Robin Williams.
What car do you drive: Toyota Prius.
Where do you train: Barry�s Gym, Las Vegas.
Training routine: Never the same.
Toughest man faced: Life�s a game. None of my fights were tough. It�s all in the mind. I�ve had hard fights [bodywise], like against James Toney and Joe Mesi, but they were not tough.
What supplements do you take: None.
If you were not a boxer: I�d be involved in something health-related � not a doctor, but more a lifestyle coach.
Last place you went on holiday: It�s not necessary for me to be somewhere to be on vacation.
Favourite football team: I�m not a football fan.
Best boxer in the sport today: Myself.

Miguel Cotto

Puerto Rico�s WBA welterweight champion

Age started boxing: 11. My weight was 156lbs [11st 2lbs] and I tried to lose weight with boxing. My [older] brothers were already boxing and I tried to do the same. I started at Gymnasio Bairoa in Caguas. I lost weight but started to feel something for boxing. In the beginning it was just for fun. But then I started to feel a love for boxing.
Inspiration: My family, but I compete in the sport for me.
Favourite all-time fighter: Wilfredo Gomez.
Best fight seen: Gomez-Carlos Zarate.
Pre-fight meal: Pasta.
What do you do to relax: See some movies, TV shows, spend time at home with my wife and three kids.
Pre-fight superstition: None.
What kind of training do you do between fights (if any): Run a little bit. And try to play something with my kids.
Typical breakfast: Sometimes oatmeal, sometimes eggs.
Toughest part of being a boxer: I enjoy every part.
Favourite music: I like everything.
Last book read: One from Paulo Coelho, the Brazilian author. I can�t remember the title.
Favourite film: Men of Honor.
What car do you drive: I have a Mercedes [black].
Where do you train: Gymnasio Bairoa, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Training routine: Warming up, do some things in the gym. Jump rope. Sparring if I have to spar. Those things.
Toughest man faced: Ricardo Torres. I didn�t expect it to be so tough. And to go back and forth like it did. I�m glad people saw that I can take a punch and fight back. All the time I was thinking I had to win, no matter what. I didn�t care how I won � I had to win. This was the first time I�ve been knocked down. We lived all the things a boxer can live. Now I�ve been through all that a great fighter must go through � all the adversity inside the ring. And I still won.
What supplements do you take: Vitamins, proteins, some Creatine.
If you weren�t a boxer what would you be: I don�t know. I never think about other things.
Last place you went on holiday: Two weeks after my last fight (v Oktay Urkal) in Puerto Rico.
Favourite football team: It�s River Plate in Argentina.
Best boxer in sport today: Me.

**Mr. Ryan** · 08-22-2008, 07:20 PM

Those were interesting reads. Maybe I'll get a fighter to answer something like that, maybe Nonito Donaire or someone like that.

**RichCCFC** · 08-22-2008, 07:24 PM

Edison Miranda

Colombia�s super-middleweight contender

Age first started boxing: 14
First boxing memory: I had a dream about punching a bag. I didn�t even know what boxing was, really. Then I learned about Mike Tyson and saw one of his fights.
Inspiration: Tyson � he was the fighter that first made me learn all about the sport, and I wanted to be like him.
Motivation: I motivate myself. I want to be a world champion and the very best in my weight class.
Favourite all-time fighter: Muhammad Ali. He was The Greatest. No-one else was ever like him.
Best fight you�ve seen: The first between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo.
Pre-fight meal: Pasta.
What do you do to relax: I play dominoes or read my bible.
Pre-fight superstitions: I am a Christian and do not believe in superstitions.
Training in between fights: I stay in shape by running and hitting the punching bags.
Typical breakfast: I�m not big into breakfast. Maybe some fruit.
Toughest part of being a boxer: Definitely making weight.
Last book you read: My bible.
Favourite film: All Wesley Snipes movies.
What car do you drive: I don�t have a car of my own, so I drive my friends� cars.
Where do you train: School of Sports gym, Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Typical training routine: Wake up before sunrise, run for one hour. Rest until early afternoon, then do 12 or more rounds in the gym � sparring, punching the bags, jumping rope, or shadowboxing.
Toughest opponent faced: Howard Eastman. I have a lot of respect for Howard, because he came to the US to fight me, and he never ran from me in the fight.
Supplements: None.
What would you be doing if not a boxer: I do not know. Boxing saved me, and I honestly feel it is my destiny to become world champion.
Last place you went on holiday: Colombia.
Best boxer in the world today: Floyd Mayweather Jnr. My trainer disagrees with me, and says Manny Pacquiao.
Favourite football team: For soccer, it�s Brazil. For American football, Dallas Cowboys.

Michael Katsidis

Australia�s WBO Interim lightweight champion

Age started boxing: Eleven and soon after I had my first international experience under trainer Brendon Smith when I flew to New Zealand and won the junior championships, stopping an opponent for the first time.
First boxing memory: The Rocky movies, particularly Rocky IV when I was seven. At such a young age most things are very influential to a kid�s mind. When I watched Rocky IV I decided I wanted to be world champion.
Inspiration: I love the way Filipino boxers show no fear. When they battle it is until the end. Lovely people, true warriors.
Best fight seen: My recent fight against Czar Amonsot. I was happy to hear he recovered well from the fight. I hope he has a great future ahead of him.
Pre-fight meal: I like to stay hungry. My pre-fight meal is always light but varies.
What do you do to relax: I find talking to my family very relaxing. I believe that is where I get my inner strength, They are the link to my past.
Pre-fight superstition: Why be superstitious when you have already done all the hard work and know your own ability?
What training (if any) do you do between fights: Each time when I�m not training I�m preparing myself mentally and physically for what is ahead. Generally, the work I do during this period is on base fitness and deciding the pattern of my next training camp.
Typical breakfast: Each meal varies according to where I�m at in my preparation. What I eat depends on how in tune I am in with my body.
Toughest part of being a boxer: The toughest part is accepting you are what you are. Once you reach this stage you learn to love the pain.
Favourite music: Once again it varies for me; what stage of life I�m at. I love all kinds of music.
Last book you read: I enjoy books by James Patterson and last read False Impressions.
Favourite film: Braveheart.
What car do you drive: That of whichever car company is willing to sponsor me. Hint, hint.
Where do you train: I�ve been training since I was 11 with Brendon Smith in an old rusty iron shed without a proper roof. The camp was on the outskirts of a small country town, Charlton, near Toowoomba, tough, rugged and hard � a real fighters� gym.
Training routine: My training routine consists of a lot of traditional training methods. An old saying goes �If something ain�t broke, don�t fix it.�
Toughest man faced: James Swann, who I beat over 12 rounds in my second professional fight.
What supplements do you take: The supplement I believe in is the raw power of food in its most natural form. I help this along with natural supplements provided by a naturopath.
If you were not a boxer: I believe that doing two things at once is like doing nothing at all.
Last place you went on holiday: I haven�t taken a holiday since I was a child. I�ve learned to love what I do and I won�t stop until I achieve what I set out to achieve.
Best boxer in the sport today: Joe Calzaghe.
Favourite football team: The Brisbane Broncos. rugby league team.

David Tua

New Zealand�s former heavyweight title challenger

Age started boxing: Eight
First boxing memory: I used to box the other youngsters from my neighbourhood. I could never understand why my dad was so tough. He would give lollypops to the other kids when they beat me and I would get the belt.
Inspiration: My father. I realise now how wise a man he is. He made me the man I am today.
Favourite all-time fighter: Rocky Marciano. There was nothing fancy about him. He was just so tough. I like his life story, too, where his parents came over from Italy.
Best fight you�ve seen: That would have to be Joe Louis� fights. I could sit all day and watch his fights. He was so precise with his punches.
Pre-fight meal: As long as I eat clean, that�s the main thing. I have something that won�t set in the stomach, like an omelette.
What do you do to relax: Listen to music or read my bible, or I might watch a comedy movie.
Pre-fight superstition: I don�t have any at all now. I used to, though � like wearing the same pair of socks the whole week, or always putting one shoe on before the other. But not any more.
What training (if any) do you do between fights: To keep my weight down, I do roadwork mostly.
Typical breakfast: Organic oatmeal and milk.
Toughest part of being a boxer: Definitely the mental side of it. Mental preparation, mental toughness.
Favourite music: Gospel. I like peaceful music, too.
Last book you read: My bible.
Favourite film: Nacho Libre. There�s nothing like having a good laugh.
What car do you drive: A 1974 Mini Cooper
Where do you train: Right now I�m training at Scottsdale, Arizona. Usually I train in Los Angeles.
Training routine: Get up in the morning, go to the gym for an hour-and-a-half and do conditioning work and sparring. Then we either go back to the gym in the afternoon or sometimes we go to the field and run. I do three or four miles roadwork and I also do sprints. I spar for about four or five weeks for a fight.
Toughest man faced: Other than my mother! I�d have to say all my opponents. In particular Ike Ibeabuchi was a good fight, and David Izon, Oleg Maskaev, Hasim Rahman. They were good character-building fights.
What supplements do you take: None.
What would you do if you weren�t a boxer: I�d work with troubled kids as a counsellor. I do a lot of that now anyway. I like helping to straighten out troubled kids while they�re at a young age.
Last place you went on holiday: I took my father to San Maur. He wanted to go there for a meal! Then we flew all the way back to New Zealand.
Best boxer in the sport today: I�m really impressed with Joe Calzaghe. I saw his fight with Jeff Lacy and he impressed me a lot.
Favourite football team: I support any American football team that has a Samoan brother playing for them, like the Pittsburgh Steelers.

**Clegg** · 08-22-2008, 07:37 PM

Most surprising answer? For me it would be:

Glenn Johnson

Favourite film: There’s Something About Mary

**RichCCFC** · 08-26-2008, 06:27 AM

Originally posted by Clegg View Post

Most surprising answer? For me it would be:

Agreed

**Flawless** · 08-26-2008, 06:33 AM

Originally posted by Kessler

Best boxer in the sport today: Floyd Mayweather Jnr and myself.

No wonder Calzaghe thinks he is great, he thinks that himself. Look at how many answered Mayweather, you can't deny he is the best.

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