60-SECOND INTERVIEW
‘ME AND MY BROTHER USED TO SPAR IN THE LIVING ROOM. WE’D TRAIN AND WATCH ROCKY’ Akeem Ennis-brown
When and why you started boxing:
When I first started I was about four, but I didn’t start like your average boxer. Me and my brother just used to put on the gloves and spar in the living room. We’d train and watch Rocky. That film was a big part of getting me into boxing. I just liked everything about it.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Jack Johnson. The first-ever black heavyweight champion in history.
Best fight you’ve seen:
Floyd Mayweather vs Arturo Gatti. That was a whole new level of boxing genius from Mayweather. It was a masterclass.
Personal career highlight:
I think the one that stands out the most is my win against Chris Jenkins [td 5 – May 2018]. Headlining in my hometown of Gloucester, it was like a big announcement to my city.
Toughest opponent:
I make it look easy but they’re all tough in their own ways. Glenn Foot was a hard fight, but I made that look easy [w md 10 – July 2017]. Chris Jenkins was a hard fight, but I made that look easy.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
I can’t be hit. I think the best is that I’m just great all round. I don’t have weaknesses.
Training tip:
Always work hard. It’s a cliché but it’s true. Anything worth having takes hard work. If you hit a low, just ride it out. Good times will come.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
I like Caribbean fusion food.
Best friends in boxing:
Ohara Davies, Joe Cordina and Lee Selby. I speak to those guys regularly and they’ve helped me a lot.
Other sportsman you would like to be:
A long-distance runner, marathons, stuff like that.
Last film/tv show you saw:
[Anime TV series] Dragon Ball Z.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
They’d have to get me to do it. Only I could play that role.
Have you ever been starstruck:
No, never. I think that’s why the famous people I meet get along with me. I don’t look at people like they’re famous. I look at them like they’re human. I’m on my own mission.
Last time you cried:
A couple of years ago at my friend’s funeral.
Best advice received:
Never give up. As long as you keep working and going after what you want, you’ll get it.
Something not many people know about you: I like Eastenders. It’s the only soap I’ll watch.
Age: 24 Twitter: @Riiddyriival Nickname: ‘Riiddy’ Height: 5ft 11ins Nationality: English From: Gloucester Stance: Orthodox Record: 13-0 (1) Division: Super-lightweight Titles: English Next fight: Ennis-brown aims to dethrone Commonwealth super-lightweight champ Philip Bowes in South Kirkby on Wednesday (September 2). The vacant British 140lb title is also up for grabs.
‘IF YOU HIT A LOW, JUST RIDE IT OUT. GOOD TIMES WILL COME’