60-SECOND INTERVIEW

Paul Wheeler talks to a man who has fought in six different countries in just nine fights

‘SOMETIMES I GIVE MY OPPONENT A CHANCE WHEN I COULD JUST KNOCK THEM OUT QUICKLY’ Malik Zinad

When and why you started boxing:

My father started to teach me how to box when I was five years old.

Favourite all-time fighter:

Muhammad Ali. I’ve loved to watch how he moved since I was young.

Best fight you’ve seen:

Muhammad Ali-george Foreman.

Personal career highlight:

When I won against Attila Palko [via sixth-round stoppage in September last year].

Toughest opponent:

Claudio Kraiem [w ud 6 – June 2016]. He’s the only one who’s gone the distance with me so far. That could’ve been because I was on Ramadan at the time, and therefore not at my best physically. That’s the last time I’ll fight during Ramadan.

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:

My weakness is that sometimes I give my opponent a chance when I could just knock them out quickly. My strength is my right hand. If it gets you, you’re out.

Training tip:

Stay focused and consistently give your all.

Favourite meal/restaurant:

Spaghetti frutti di mare from a really good Italian restaurant in Sicily.

Best friends in boxing:

Everyone who loves boxing is my friend.

Other sportsman you would like to be:

I love all kinds of sports, so it’s hard to choose. Maybe a gymnast or a footballer. I did gymnastics when I was younger.

Last film/tv show you saw:

Game of Thrones with my wife.

Who would play you in a film of your life:

I don’t know. Someone who looks like me I guess, and can interpret my character.

Have you ever been starstruck:

No, not really.

Last time you cried:

When my grandmother died in August. I wasn’t able to see her for over three years before she passed away.

Best advice received:

Never give up and you will get there.

Worst rumour about yourself:

I haven’t heard anything about me yet.

Something not many people know about you:

I don’t like flying, yet I still travel to many different places all of the time.

‘MY STRENGTH IS MY RIGHT HAND. IF IT GETS YOU, YOU’RE OUT’

‘I DON’T LIKE FLYING, YET I STILL TRAVEL TO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES’