60-SECOND INTERVIEW
Paul Wheeler talks to a man who watches documentaries about milk
‘I’M A DOCUMENTARY NERD. I’VE EVEN WATCHED TWO SEPARATE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT MILK’ Steven Ward
When and why you started boxing:
My grandad hung an old bag up in the garage when I was eight, so I was always whacking that. I started properly at Monkstown Boxing Club when I was 11.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Teófilo Stevenson. I love watching how he boxed – textbook perfect. The guy hit like a horse, too.
Best fight you’ve seen:
When Evander Holyfield fought Dwight Muhammad Qawi the first time. It was a great fight. Holyfield’s movement for a big lad was class.
Personal career highlight:
Winning a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Toughest opponent:
Probably back in the amateurs when I fought a Chinese fella who was the world No. 3 at the time – Wang Xuanxuan. He was so tricky – I just couldn’t catch him.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
I’m always fit, which is good, but sometimes I can overtrain. I’m only just really starting to understand how important it is to have a balance with training and resting.
Training tip:
Don’t get hit!
Favourite meal/restaurant:
There’s a place near where I’m from in Newtownabbey called Sozo. All the food in there is great.
Best friends in boxing:
[Fellow Northern Irish pro] Conrad Cummings is a great guy! In Belfast everyone in boxing are mates.
Other sportsman you would like to be:
Possibly a footballer because of the money those lads get, but I played rugby at school and that was a good laugh.