AHMED HATIM
Andrew Fairley speaks to a former plane spotter
When and why you started boxing:
I started boxing because I always liked fighting. I was around 16 when I walked into a gym. I got humbled real quick but fell in love even quicker.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Julio César Chávez Snr for his sheer grit and resilience.
Best fight you’ve seen:
Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward - all of them!
Personal career highlight:
My consistency and determination.
Toughest opponent:
I would say it’s my alarm for my morning runs. I always lose and end up doing it. That thing won’t shut up!
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My strength is my resilience and being willing to take it to wherever it needs to go. My weakness is sometimes I take it too far.
Training tip:
My advice is you have the right to anything in life, but you do not have the right to feel entitled.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
A good old steak and chips with mouth-watering peppercorn sauce, I say this with teary eyes as I’m currently making weight.
Best friends in boxing:
I don’t have any but I’ve met a lot of good people and I’m open for a laugh with anybody.
Other sportsperson you would like to be:
Lewis Hamilton, who wouldn’t want to race an F1 car!
Last film/tv show you saw:
Breaking Bad. Although I’ve seen the show around five times now, it never gets old.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
Zach Galifianakis. Completely won’t relate to my life but I’m sure whatever he makes will be funny.
Have you ever been starstruck:
Never been star struck but if I meet Julio César Chávez Snr I just might be, the man is a legend.
Last time you cried:
I find it hard to cry. Last time the passing of a family member got me there.
Best advice received:
A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.
Worst rumour about yourself:
A rumour once spread that I eat burned orange skin. I don’t know how that came about but I can assure you I don’t!
Something not many people know about you:
I used to go plane spotting.
‘A RUMOUR ONCE SPREAD THAT I EAT BURNED ORANGE SKIN... I CAN ASSURE YOU I DON’T!’