STILL DREAMING BIG
EVEN as a longstanding British and Commonwealth champion, life’s been very, very hard. You’re on the breadline. Even with two successful defences, I still live in rented accommodation, here in Rhiwfawr [a hamlet of just 40 houses in the Swansea valley]. It’s very barren, very rural.
It’s so frustrating. I’ve always been an honest fighter. I turn up in shape, give of my best and I’ve been involved in several of the most exciting fights in the division over the past decade but I’m stuck out in the valleys, 20 miles from Swansea. No one talks about me, no one writes about me.
Perhaps I’m to blame cos I’m not vocal enough on Twitter and don’t be an asshole at press conferences. I’ve always respected opponents. My pride means more than money.
Around here, they’re all old miners, survivors, very humble people and I’ve never been a material person myself. Fashion-wise, I don’t care what I look like. As a kid, my parents did everything they could for us but, if the money weren’t there, we just didn’t have it. I was always Hi-Tech never Adidas! My kids and my wife are my only priority now.
Because of my commitment to the boxing [training]
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