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Are you in contact with Rob Newbiggin, a former sparring partner of yours, who is undergoing a sex-change operation? He trained in my gym for a short period about four years ago. I did read the story in the paper. He was a pleasant guy, whatever he does in the future I wish him all the best.
Who's the hardest puncher you've ever fought? I would probably say Manny Pacquiao, but having said that I don't think I was in the best condition.
Who would win between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather? I'd like to think Manny would win. I'd hope he'd win because he's a gentleman, really nice guy, family man. Everything about him I really admire. But as much as I don't like Mayweather, he's one hell of a fighter. Mayweather would probably pip him.
Why don't you like Mayweather? Mayweather's got bad attitude. He said to me after the fight "good fight, you had me worried on a couple of occasions", so I thought well maybe he's redeemed himself after the bravado before our fight. But I keep picking up articles where he's still slagging me off.
Given your losses to Pacquiao and Mayweather, how do you rate yourself as a boxer? I beat Kostya Tszyu, the No2 pound for pound in the world at the time. I think the one thing that will probably eat away at me is I couldn't quite get to that No1 spot. I'm not saying I'm going to be remembered as the greatest British fighter of all time but I'd like to think I'm up there in that bracket. No-one has had a fan following like me. I set the record for British fans going to Las Vegas. It was 10000 when Frank Bruno fought Mike Tyson - and I took 35000 over for Mayweather, and 25000 for Pacquiao. I feel proud to have been loved by so many people.
You're known for putting on weight between fights. How much are you now? The most I've ever picked up was 46 pounds (20kg), but I reckon I have to lose 15kg at least for every fight.
What was it like growing up on a council estate? It was great. It wasn't a rich family, I had good parents and we never wanted for anything. It didn't feel like we were poor. I still live 10 minutes from the council estate where I was born. I live in a nice area now, but the friends I went to school with, they're still the same friends. If I go for a beer, it's still on the council estate. Things have changed for me in a big way, but I'd like to think I've not changed.
Have your tried any SA beer? Castle, is it? Yeah, I've tried a few of them. It's nice, I mean lager's lager wherever you go. I'm really enjoying it here - it's the second time I've come out. I went on a family holiday to Sun City. This is the first time I've been to Johannesburg. Emperors Palace reminds me of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. I'd like to get to Cape Town, maybe when the World Cup's on. I'm working on coming out here then. Normally I box round about June - if I decide to fight again - so if the fight ends up being just before the World Cup, it'll fit in nicely.
Which SA boxers stand out for you? I boxed on the undercard of Sugarboy Malinga when he fought Richie Woodhall. That was my fifth fight. Brian Mitchell, and Baby Jake Matlala boxed a friend of mine, Mickey Cantwell.
How do you rate your brother Matthew, who will fight Lovemore Ndou in November? Matthew always gets labelled with being my brother. Anyone who gets a world title shot doesn't need his big brother to sing his praises. I think he's got a great chance, but he's an underdog and rightly so.
What's your most embarrassing moment? One is getting knocked out. I had a phobia I thought no-one knew about and I picked up the paper one morning and it was in there - I was scared of cats. I got scratched down my face when I was about one year old and now they scare the life out of me, I can't go anywhere near them. Somehow it ended up in the paper. There was a (picture of a) cat with boxing gloves on.
Who's the hardest puncher you've ever fought? I would probably say Manny Pacquiao, but having said that I don't think I was in the best condition.
Who would win between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather? I'd like to think Manny would win. I'd hope he'd win because he's a gentleman, really nice guy, family man. Everything about him I really admire. But as much as I don't like Mayweather, he's one hell of a fighter. Mayweather would probably pip him.
Why don't you like Mayweather? Mayweather's got bad attitude. He said to me after the fight "good fight, you had me worried on a couple of occasions", so I thought well maybe he's redeemed himself after the bravado before our fight. But I keep picking up articles where he's still slagging me off.
Given your losses to Pacquiao and Mayweather, how do you rate yourself as a boxer? I beat Kostya Tszyu, the No2 pound for pound in the world at the time. I think the one thing that will probably eat away at me is I couldn't quite get to that No1 spot. I'm not saying I'm going to be remembered as the greatest British fighter of all time but I'd like to think I'm up there in that bracket. No-one has had a fan following like me. I set the record for British fans going to Las Vegas. It was 10000 when Frank Bruno fought Mike Tyson - and I took 35000 over for Mayweather, and 25000 for Pacquiao. I feel proud to have been loved by so many people.
You're known for putting on weight between fights. How much are you now? The most I've ever picked up was 46 pounds (20kg), but I reckon I have to lose 15kg at least for every fight.
What was it like growing up on a council estate? It was great. It wasn't a rich family, I had good parents and we never wanted for anything. It didn't feel like we were poor. I still live 10 minutes from the council estate where I was born. I live in a nice area now, but the friends I went to school with, they're still the same friends. If I go for a beer, it's still on the council estate. Things have changed for me in a big way, but I'd like to think I've not changed.
Have your tried any SA beer? Castle, is it? Yeah, I've tried a few of them. It's nice, I mean lager's lager wherever you go. I'm really enjoying it here - it's the second time I've come out. I went on a family holiday to Sun City. This is the first time I've been to Johannesburg. Emperors Palace reminds me of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. I'd like to get to Cape Town, maybe when the World Cup's on. I'm working on coming out here then. Normally I box round about June - if I decide to fight again - so if the fight ends up being just before the World Cup, it'll fit in nicely.
Which SA boxers stand out for you? I boxed on the undercard of Sugarboy Malinga when he fought Richie Woodhall. That was my fifth fight. Brian Mitchell, and Baby Jake Matlala boxed a friend of mine, Mickey Cantwell.
How do you rate your brother Matthew, who will fight Lovemore Ndou in November? Matthew always gets labelled with being my brother. Anyone who gets a world title shot doesn't need his big brother to sing his praises. I think he's got a great chance, but he's an underdog and rightly so.
What's your most embarrassing moment? One is getting knocked out. I had a phobia I thought no-one knew about and I picked up the paper one morning and it was in there - I was scared of cats. I got scratched down my face when I was about one year old and now they scare the life out of me, I can't go anywhere near them. Somehow it ended up in the paper. There was a (picture of a) cat with boxing gloves on.
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