My boxing dream first began when I was 18 years of age and working in a local bar as a supervisor. As you tend to do at that age, I was indulging in late night drinking and fast food a bit too much and my life was desperately in need of some routine or structure. Soon I was promoted into a management position and, by this time, I'd gained over two stone in weight and was tipping the scales in excess of eighteen stone.
Nevertheless, while doing my duties, meeting and greeting on the door, I ended up chatting to a gentleman (a man I wish I could meet again) who suggested I had a good frame for boxing. The only issue, he said, was that I'd need to shed what he called “puppy fat”. Rather than curse him for pointing out a minor weight issue, I let the idea marinate for a while and thanked him for his advice. Then, in time, the idea grew on me.
Shortly after, I approached a friend, Dion, who attended one of Swindon's local boxing gyms. We agreed to go one Wednesday night, but, for some strange reason, when we got there the owner said the gym was too full and that I'd have to come back in a few weeks. Frustrated, I then turned to another friend, Marcel, who attended a different gym. His gym was called The Boxing Academy, now better known as Fitzpatrick's Boxing Gym, and this is where it all began for me. The year was 2007 and my life was about to change for good.
As I began my boxing journey, I had to work several jobs alongside this passion. These included bar work and temp work for Thames Water. After my contract ended there, I took on a job as an insulation technician (cavity wall and loft insulator). In truth, despite the bitter, cold winters, there was no better job for me.
Still, I wanted to box and I wanted to do it properly. I didn't just want it to be a hobby, something I did for fun. I wanted to make a real go of it. Therefore, after a lengthy conversation with my parents, I decided to grab it by the horns and give it everything I had. I stopped working full-time and instead agreed to work at Paddy's gym and teach boxing at 24HR Gym.
My main passions now are online gaming (PS4), motor-cross and my dog Louie. I'm a sucker for his puppy dog eyes. If I'm not in the gym, which is rare, you can normally find me relaxing on the PS4 or out with the dog. When given proper time off, however, you might catch me taking Nan to church on a Sunday morning, followed by a ride (motor-cross) on my bike – me, not her.
Throughout my childhood I was always participating in sports, but my first ever sporting milestone occurred when I represented Swindon in the Millennium Youth Games and we won gold. From there, I went on to represent Swindon and Wiltshire for several years and also had trials for the south-west and national team. I also briefly played football for Salisbury City, but the travelling – two games a week and two training sessions – was too much for a 15-year-old. Basketball was another favourite sport of mine, and I used to train with friends at the Swindon basketball team.
Before football and basketball, though, there was ice hockey, something I still love to this day. Ice hockey was a sport I played for several years and, during that time, I represented Swindon at Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 level and also trained with the south-west England team and Great Britain.
I ended my ice hockey career at around the age of eighteen, but then had a final dabble while boxing at 21. I strongly believe that had it not been for ice hockey and, to a lesser extent, those other sports, I would not have fallen for boxing the way I have, nor would I have taken to the sport so quickly. They all seemed to be leading me to this point. It almost feels like it was meant to be. Everything for a reason.
I've now been boxing for seven-and-a-half years and it's still only just the beginning for me. In the end, when my journey is over and I hopefully have a world title or two to my name, I want people to remember me as 'The Duke' from Swindon and I want them to say, “Yeah, he was a great fighter!”