ARE you 100 per cent retired?
I’m doing a lot of commentating for DAZN, and I really enjoy that and working the fights and seeing young talent coming up. It’s hard not to get that urge and get back in that ring, especially when your body starts to recover [laughs] and it’s a little easier to jump out of bed in the morning. There are times when I do spar with guys at [the] Wild Card [gym]. I live half the time in Puerto Rico, so I spar with guys out there as well. It’s a lifestyle. I was talking to Bernard Hopkins and Bernard says: “I see you in the gym. It’s a lifestyle, you can’t stop this.” Which is true, it really is a lifestyle. The moment you start throwing those shots or try to stop the shots coming at you, it just doesn’t feel right.
You have described Bernard Hopkins as a mentor. How important has he been to you?
I got to see somebody that came from my neighbourhood and make something out of himself from the sport of boxing. He spoke about discipline and dedication to me from the very beginning. I met Bernard when I was 18 and I was actually his sparring partner for the Joe Calzaghe fight. Ever since [then], he always had me under his wing. He took me to camp with him. If the camp
