TYRONE MCKENNA
Paul Wheeler talks to a man who has some vital advice for all tea-drinkers
When and why you started boxing:
My dad sent me and my brother to the gym so we could learn how to protect ourselves. I was eight years old.
Favourite all-time fighter:
I always watch videos of Michael Nunn before my fights. He was a big, tall, skinny southpaw like me who loved to mix it.
Best fight you’ve seen:
Anthony Nelson vs Jamie Conlan – what a fight! Both fighters were knocked down and it was actionpacked from the first bell. With Jamie being my mate it added something extra to it, too.
Personal career highlight:
Signing with [management company] MTK Global. Without them I wouldn’t be on the big shows or doing as well as I am now.
Toughest opponent:
Renald Garrido [w pts 10 – October 2017]. He’d beaten some good fighters before I fought him, so I knew it was going to be tough. The pace he set was crazy.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My height and accuracy are my strengths. My weakness is that I love to get involved in scraps, even when I shouldn’t.
Training tip:
Never cheat on the diet. You need to be strict.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
Every Sunday, [Belfast cruiserweight] Tommy Mccarthy cooks up some West Indian food for us. I love that.
Best friends in boxing:
Obviously all of my Team DV [Danny Vaughan] stablemates. There’s also Tommy Mccarthy and [Derry super-bantamweight] Tyrone Mccullagh. Other sportsman you would like to be:
George Best. The guy was a football legend who did what he wanted!
Last film/tv show you saw:
The Sinner. It’s an unreal show with lots of twists in it.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
I’ve heard [IFL TV’S] James Helder is a pretty decent actor, although he’d have to slim down and get a bit prettier to play me!
Have you ever been starstruck:
No. I’m not a celeb-hunter.
Last time you cried:
Probably when I lost a fight in the amateurs as a kid.
Best advice received:
Always take the teabag out before adding milk to your tea!
Worst rumour about yourself:
That I don’t train hard. It’d be difficult to find anyone who trains harder than the boys in our gym.
Something not many people know about you:
I didn’t know you were supposed to peel kiwis until I was about 18. Up until then, I used to eat the skin!
‘ALWAYS TAKE THE TEABAG OUT BEFORE ADDING THE MILK!’