60-SECOND INTERVIEW

Gaz Taylor talks to a man who can’t put a price on sparring

‘LEO SANTA CRUZ AND ABNER MARES LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE RING IN THEIR FIGHTS – TOE-TO-TOE ACTION’ Kaash Buttery

When and why you started boxing:

I started because I wanted a better body! I instantly took to it and was sparring in only my second lesson.

Favourite all-time fighter:

Muhammad Ali because of the words that he spoke and the punches that he threw. A true legend.

Best fight you’ve seen:

The two Leo Santa Cruz-abner Mares fights. Toe-to-toe action, with both leaving everything in the ring.

Personal career highlight:

Winning the 2016 Youth open-class national title as an amateur.

Toughest opponent:

Johnny Dunne or Aaron Fail in the amateurs. Dunne was really strong and his timing was unreal, while Fail made it very tough for me to get in close.

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:

My biggest strength is my boxing brain, as I can outsmart my opponents. A weakness of mine is that I absolutely hate dieting and I love my food!

Training tip:

Sparring, sparring, sparring!

Favourite meal/restaurant:

My uncle makes a top curried goat.

Best friends in boxing:

Before he passed, my best buddy in boxing was my role model, father figure and coach, Tom Lowe. I have to mention all of my team – we’re like a family.

‘A WEAKNESS OF MINE IS THAT I ABSOLUTELY HATE DIETING!’

‘I MET ROBERTO DURAN AND RICKY HATTON. I LOOK UP TO THEM BOTH’

Other sportsman you would like to be:

Cristiano Ronaldo. The guy is rich, successful and in unbelievable condition.

Last film/tv show you saw: I watched Friday After Next last night. No films compare to the

Friday films!

Who would play you in a film of your life:

I’m one of a kind, so I’m not sure!

Have you ever been starstruck:

Yes, when I met Roberto Duran and Ricky Hatton. I look up to them both.

Last time you cried:

A week ago…

Best advice received:

My mum once said to me, ‘With a clear mind you can do anything.’ I really believe in that saying.

Worst rumour about yourself:

I actually couldn’t tell you.

Something not many people know about you:

I used to have a spiritual healing session before every amateur contest, as well as going to church on Sundays with my mum.