Ringnews24.com: What age did you start boxing?
I started boxing when I was 14 my three brothers all went to the boxing gym (Kirkdale ABC) so I just followed suit. I didn’t want to box I was more into football but two of my mates boxed for the rival amateur club in our area and I thought if I go to the gym and train I can fight you, but without realising at the time one was 70 kilos and the other lad was 90 kilos. I was only 48 kilos so it wouldn’t have ended well if it happened, I had my first amateur fight after 3months at the gym. Other boys that were in the gym also turned pro the likes of Tony Bellew and Joe Selkirk aswell as me and my three brothers.
Ringnews24.com: Who in your eyes is the best opponent you’ve faced to date in your pro career?
I’d say Steve O’Meara he was on a good winning streak at the time of our fight but I proved I was the better man with a comfortable win.
Ringnews24.com: Do you enjoy working with Joe Gallagher?
Yeah I think he’s one of the best trainers around I feel it’s only now he’s getting the recognition for it.
Ringnews24.com: Is the training in the gym competitive because your brothers are there?
Yeah it’s competitive but it’s a good competitiveness but outside the gym we are a very close family. We always have a joke and a laugh together go out and play pool etc, but we all support each other as best we can.
Ringnews24.com: You train alongside Scott Quigg do you feel he’s improving?
He’s improved massively under Joe he didn’t have many amateur fights so I think that’s why he’s had quite a few pro fights already, but since he’s been with Joe it speaks volumes his next fight is for a world title.
Ringnews24.com: How would you feel if you win on Saturday knowing there would be 3 British champions in the family at the same time?
It would be great some achievement if I do win it will go down in history it’s never been done before and if Callum wins on Saturday he will be the English champion so we will all hold titles. I, Paul and Stephen all British and Callum English it would be fantastic.
Ringnews24.com: What’s your gameplan going into Saturday?
I and Joe have got a few game plans up our sleeve but it’s just how the fight works out I’m not gonna worry about what he’s doing. I’m gonna be worrying what I’m gonna do if my plan A is working then I won’t change things, Ochieng is a lazy boxer but he’s awkward aswell but once I go a few rounds hopefully I can get him out of there late.
Ringnews24.com: What did you make of the Mayweather fight at the weekend?
Floyd is brilliant you get all your doubters saying Canelo will be too big etc or even when he fought Guerrero or Mosley people still doubted the man. He is sheer class I only gave Canelo two rounds and one even the rest for Floyd if he steps up to middleweight to fight Golovkin I would not write Mayweather off. People will say Golovkin is too big but people have said that before about Floyds opponents and look what’s happened to them.
