60-SECOND INTERVIEW
Gaz Taylor talks to a woman who has tried practically every sport going
‘I’M QUITE A FRAGILE PERSON. I DON’T LIKE TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BOXING’ Nikita Silvera
When and why you started boxing:
At 13 my mother sent me to a local Thai boxing club to help me with my anger management issues. When I joined the army at 16, they didn’t have a Thai boxing club, so I joined the boxing club. I’ve boxed intermittently ever since.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Muhammad Ali. He was very entertaining inside and outside the ring.
Best fight you’ve seen:
Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao.
Personal career highlight:
I’m just starting out as a professional, so my highlights so far have come from my amateur career – becoming a Haringey Box Cup winner and England Development champion in the same year.
Toughest opponent:
Laura Stevens. I boxed her twice – at the Haringey Box Cup and again at the England Development Championships, both in 2015. She was the first female to catch me with a body shot that hurt.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
I’m tough but sometimes I think I’m a little too nice and polite for the sport.
Training tip:
Train hard, fight easy.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
I love chicken. I could eat it all day.
Best friends in boxing:
It’d have to be Raresh Serban Ioan. He’s a great training partner and we’ve helped each other to develop as boxers since we’ve been at the Impact Boxing gym.
Other sportsperson you would like to be:
I love sports. I’ve tried practically everything going – football, rugby, various martial arts, dancing, netball, basketball, badminton, athletics. It’d be very hard for me to narrow it down to just one.
Last film/tv show you saw:
The last film I watched was the
animated Beauty and the Beast. It’s probably my favourite film.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
Zoe Saldana. I think she’s an amazing actress.
Have you ever been starstruck:
When I was younger, there was a female in Blade who I admired. I remember thinking how much I’d love to act out a fighting scene in a film.
Last time you cried:
Last week. I had one of those moments where I just felt a little overwhelmed.
Best advice received:
Sometimes it’s just not your moment, but your time will come.
Worst rumour about yourself:
I’m not sure. As a squaddie, rumours seem to fly around like fresh air.
Something not many people know about you:
I’m quite a fragile person. I don’t like to hurt other people, with the exception of boxing.