60-SECOND INTERVIEW
Paul Wheeler talks to a prolific prank caller
‘I REGULARLY PRANK CALL MY DAD, PRETENDING TO BE A SALES PERSON! IT DRIVES HIM MAD!’ Nathan Wheatley
When and why you started boxing:
I was in high school when I started. There was a lad a couple of years above me who was an amateur boxer. Everyone made a fuss of him, so I thought, ‘I want some of that.’
Favourite all-time fighter:
Gennady Golovkin. Every fight he has is exciting.
Best fight you’ve seen:
Anthony Joshua-wladimir Klitschko.
Personal career highlight:
Winning all seven of my pro fights so far and performing well in sparring against some top boxers.
Toughest opponent:
Christian Hoskin Gomez [w pts 4 – April 2016]. He was always coming forward.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My best attribute is my power. That’s thanks to my strength coach, Martin Cullen. My weakness is my defence, but it’s improved since joining [trainer] Matthew Hatton.
Training tip:
Listen to your trainer. They can see things you can’t!
Favourite meal/restaurant:
I’ve been going to a Turkish restaurant lately called Antep to have a mixed grill. Normally I have most of my meals at Eat Clean Cuisine in Warrington.
Best friends in boxing:
I changed gyms last year, so it’s been good getting to know Matthew Hatton and the lads.
Other sportsman you would like to be:
A rugby league player. I follow Warrington Wolves.
Last film/tv show you saw:
I reluctantly watch Coronation Street because the missus forces me to! I always watch Homes Under the Hammer, as I’m currently renovating my house and get some good ideas from the show.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
The missus would want Tom Hardy to play me. She has a thing for cockneys!
Have you ever been starstruck:
When I first turned pro and saw Martin Murray and all the lads in the gym, like Navid Mansouri, Rocky Fielding, Matthew Hatton and Jamie Moore.
Last time you cried:
Probably when I was a kid.
Best advice received:
Martin Murray said to me: ‘Don’t let the highs get you too high and the lows get you too low.’
Worst rumour about yourself:
Someone made a Plentyoffish account about me. That was a bloody nightmare! The missus nearly left me!
Something not many people know about you:
I regularly prank call my dad, pretending to be a sales person! It drives him mad!
Age: 29 Twitter: @0401_nathan Nickname: ‘The Wire’ Height: 5ft 11ins Nationality: English From: Warrington Stance: Orthodox Record: 7-0 Division: Middleweight Titles: n/a Next fight: Wheatley faces Scott Hillman over four rounds in Preston next Saturday (March 31).
‘THE MISSUS WOULD WANT TOM HARDY TO PLAY ME!’