Elite athletes face immense psychological pressure from multiple sources including their own minds, coaches, clubs, and family, and many are not taught how to manage this pressure or deal with the identity crisis that occurs after retirement. Athletes need support systems that address mental health, provide proper training in media interaction, and help them transition to life after their competitive careers. The best athletes often demonstrate vulnerability and respect, and creating positive coach-athlete relationships is crucial for both performance and long-term wellbeing.
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The Working Class Podcast #085 - From Olympic Medalist to Boxing Mentality with Aidan WalshHinzugefügt:
Surprise, [ __ ] >> Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another special episode of your favorite podcast, the workingclass podcast. We're proudly sponsored by Boutique Infinity Tan and Salon at the top of the White Rock Road, the best sunbear facility in God's country. We're also sponsored by the best competition page in the universe, Arcane Competitions. Get on, look at their deals. We've got cars, we've got instant win prizes, we've got houses, we've got holidays, we've got gadgets. You name it, it's on there. So, get on there and get a few deals. You never know what you could win. Also, we have a special guest today. So, I hope you enjoy. God bless.
>> God bless.
>> The guy Fabio Warley was fighting last night, didn't he start off in semi pro or something as well? color was some scrap last night, wasn't it? I think the shutter probably stopped it round or two before. Like he was taking some damage, but here he's he's bigly. He's a [ __ ] warrior. Like he says there's a rematch clause or something. I think he said after too, so they might do a rematch.
Like I stayed up to watch that [ __ ] UFC too about half 4 in the morning last night.
>> Did you got a hangover?
>> Did you see Did you see the Strickland beat him? He's a Pokemon man is hard to beat. Like do you watch >> are we bit of a D but your man comes at he's an animal like isn't he seem pro fights the proper H they're professional boxers like look I know someone or and he's he's a team sponsor and he's I swear to [ __ ] he's a team sponsor by everyone and it's a semi pro I don't even know I just think he's just putting sponsors up for them like they ain't getting nothing so do they get paid as well on top of that like so say they sell tickets do they get paid as well >> and some of them just do it for nothing >> I think that they're fighting basically for free then whatever tickets they sell they make but they still have to give a cut to like say they get a f of it or get a five or something. So you're are you are you pro or >> no no I was amateur and then I retired.
>> Did you did you retire?
>> I retired.
>> What age is you when you retired?
>> 20 Oh 28. That's I'm 29. I have 28 when I retired last year.
>> You're same age. Are you same age as us?
>> Oh I'm same age. Yeah.
>> I the same as John.
>> John. That's right. Jesus. That's right.
town.
>> Did you go to Lasal?
>> I went to Lasal as well.
>> There's [ __ ] loads of fighters come out come out of the [ __ ] west, hasn't it?
>> West Belfast is like a we hub for just [ __ ] fighters.
>> Yes. I don't know what it is. Especially cuz there's so many boxing clubs as well. Like but like even like even when we were Tokyo Olympics like four out of the seven boxers were like from up in the north. Like it's it's like I don't know.
>> That's on the whole country of Ireland.
>> Yeah. What What do you think it is? Like is it >> must I don't know. I I just think of like the boxing clubs. I don't know. I don't know. There must be something to do with the coaching or the talent or I don't know like even the Holy Family where I was boxing out of like they had like Patty Barnes, Ram Bernett and then Car would have trained there. So a lot of clubs I think are close. So like people that are successful are close to other people that are successful. Do you know what I mean?
>> Rub off. He only kind of thing% >> I know what you're saying.
>> I was talking to we Connor Carney was saying about he box for the holy family.
>> So he did. Yeah.
>> Did Jason fighter there too? Jason Mcc.
>> No, he fought in Lisbon.
Them two were the ones who got me into [ __ ] boxing. I never really done it and until I got older I kind of got a we bit of interest in it. They brought me up to Canal up in Lisburn. I trained out there for a while. It was good good out good experience. Like I done a done a charity boxing had got one fight and then that was that was me.
>> But nah it was it's good to do something like that if you've never done it. Like >> I would advise any fell to try and give it a go at least once in your life just to to test yourself and see what the [ __ ] you've got. You know what I mean?
>> Ranch Jenkins. It's [ __ ] tough. Like >> three I do we done three 90 second rounds and I sort of you thought I claimed my divers like [ __ ] hard going. I don't what we in the Olympics.
What do you think of that?
>> Three threes. Three threes. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Three heavyweights like main event they're fighting three 12s aren't they?
>> Yeah. Yeah. What what would you say is harder cuz do you have to do five fives or free 12s? What would be more?
>> I would say the five fives like if you get to do the five fives be tough like I think see all that not that I know much about it but all that grappling and all like for the boxing you know there's three minutes it's coming to an end you know but like five minutes it's like there's three and then two. So I epit going like >> see in that game too you're say the first 30 seconds you're wrecked allled on the ground someone's holding you on you're trying for the next four minutes to try and get up off the ground somebody's pin you down before you even throw >> you know what I mean it's it's mad different sport like >> but uh do do you be in still be in the gym like >> no so I do a bit of work with Irish boxing so do I do a bit of athlete support and welfare and then I do a bit of coaching just a we tiny bit yeah just a we small bit like with my sister and another fella that I know D we bit of coaching small amount out like but >> I it's hard for I just initially trying to get away from the boxing but it's to be honest now like I try to use it in a positive way of like I'd love to do it in terms of like supporting men's mental health like as an intervention to actually help not so much about performances and about you know you get coaches be like oh I want my boxer win all Irelands or where I would love to do it as in like something where like >> males particularly like especially where we're from West Belfast and like suicide rates mental health like I would love to get something up and running that so that's what I would love to use for in the future like soers you're the right right person for the job. Like it's especially in this place, people could do a bit of something extra or you know what it's like. There's youth club loads of youth clubs now. Used to be way more kids going when you were younger. It's kind of come to not a name but like the numbers have kind of dropped when you when you see it. I get invited to a couple youth clubs and talk to the kids and stuff and it's going [ __ ] me.
Remember in the summer scheme when I would have went you had about 100 people in the same club and there's maybe about 20 people. Do you know what I mean?
>> It's it's sad too like as well isn't it when you think about it? I suppose like now like PlayStation, phones and all that type of stuff that's everyone's everyone's on on that. But I I think like if you can use things in a positive way like you know what I mean like cuz look look at boxing clubs when we were probably younger even if you didn't box like and you went into somewhere they used to be thriving you know like and everybody was like oh go down here you know. So >> isn't that not the case now?
>> I don't think as much like not not as much. I don't think so. I I don't think so. But then I think as well like maybe because boxing in Belfast best Belfast is so like there's so many good boxers from it like kids are pressured then some kids don't even want to fight. They just want to go there for a bit of support and stuff. So I would love to get it back to something like that. You don't need to go to a boxing club to fight, but you can go and actually learn how to fight.
>> Learn how to fight and actually >> be able to protect yourself and [ __ ] like that.
>> See, uh you would probably know is there any kids that like right now you're looking at going he could be the next world champ. Is there any kids you have seen at any competitions from from about here that you think could go on to be something big like Yeah. Well, see to be honest there's like the pathway in Belfast is hard because like you could get a really good boxer like one of the best boxers that I has ever come out of Belfast is James McGiver. I don't know if you like it.
>> James McGovern was absolutely top class like honestly. But then like even going to Dublin with the national team. A lot of people don't like going down there to the national program staying on that for four, five, six years to get the Olympics and then they just walk away from boxing. So there's loads of boxers in Belfast that I could say the exact same for but they just don't have potential but then when it comes to like certain factors and it could put people off and they don't want to know or you've seen as well like especially Belfast it's m so many people who might have grown up you've watched them they were brilliant at a certain sport and certain things come into play and distractions or whatever and then they're not the same you're going [ __ ] it could have been this it could have been that whereas it's That simple. It just goes down to small decision and then >> you did you do one Olympics? Is that two Olympics? Yeah.
>> So what's the process to get into the Olympics or do you just have to be good enough or and someone will see or have you do you have to like apply for that [ __ ] and like is is it a big process to get into the Olympics?
>> Yeah. So it's actually like even I was younger because I always seen like Polly Barnes you know like MC they were all going to Olympics. So I was always like want to go to Olympics but they I always remember them and saying to qualify for the Olympics is even harder than to win a medal. and used to be like no way it is to qualify it's no that's easy enough to qualify is so hard because to get out of Ireland is so so difficult the level of boxing in Ireland is just crazy so to get out of Ireland and then you have to go to like European qualifier but then in Europe we have the likes of Russia you have England Germany you have all the top countries and then if you don't qualify that you go into the world qualifier but then you go to world qualifier to fight the Kazix the bags Cubans know so it's so hard and even just qualif my last qualifier in uh Thailand for Paris Like I had five or six fights in seven days and I fought world champions. I fought a Cuban. I fought Puerto Rican. I fought Ukrainian world champion. Like >> it's all elite level. Everyone you're coming up against.
>> Yeah. It's it's really difficult.
>> It's not allowed that many fights in such a short whatever way it was. There was like a few fights and it breaking it or something. I can't imag Like if you're fighting you fight and someone goes out, you go for the next round. Isn't that the way it works?
>> Fighting two days later again sort of thing. So like even yeah like you be fighting like some of them competitions you go to like in the space of a week you could get four fights like five fights just depends see my weight was one of the like one of the popular weights.
>> What weight were you?
>> I was 71 in those Olympics the Olympics before that I was 69.
>> Your arms have you seem very long that's good that's good for isn't it? So I in my style would have always been sort of moving about running away and stuff like but yeah I would never really been in sort of tough like no I never like that like I wish I had it like know sort of small stocky like but I like sort of just hitting running in and out try not to get hit >> you need this for later but I think that's important and that's why like even now like I would love anytime that I'm sort of doing anything in the boxing club I always try to emphasize that style of love trying to teach people at le if you teach them one thing I think it's the move because if you're ever in trouble in a in a boxing fight if you know how to get out of trouble, not to stand around. You can at least protect yourself some way.
>> You're not going to take as many shots% of worse comes to worse. Like if you're fighting someone, you're like, "Right, I'm not going to win this, but at least I know how to move and get away."
>> I think that's an important thing. Like, >> did you fight any anyone now who's went on to be like >> really like what's happening?
>> Pat McCormack, he would have he would have been one of the probably he was he's mum and stuff now. He would be I fought him a few times for the Olympics before the Olympics. He would have been one that went on to do has done well in the pros and then a few Yeah. Like a few a lot of the amateurs see a lot of the Eastern European countries even over the last like they wouldn't really go pro after you know like they would just stay on amateur for a long time >> like and even >> like Lachenko >> Lachenko like stay on amateur for years and years and years and then they just fade off but now you're starting to see a few more like you know countries like even them Pakistan and stuff and Russians they're all going pro now years ago they didn't really go pro but um yeah you would have thought a lot of people like went pro and say for instance you're watching like the other night there the fights someone on you fought or sparred and they're pro people like you're not raising it. You wish that was you and stuff.
>> Yeah. You can't look at it that way.
>> No, you can't. Did you just you just fall in love? Did you or Yeah. So I I and after I won the medal I I was struggling big time and then I reached out and got a bit of help and stuff and then I retired. So >> that was a bit of a shock to everybody when you retired too to be fair. Like I don't think people were expecting it because you're still young too. Do you know what I mean?
>> Yeah. See before the I had retired already. I didn't announce it, but I was retired and had stepped away. And then a few months before the qualifiers, I got a phone call to say we would have come back for the Olympics. And I hadn't trained in about a year. So I was out of the ring for over 12 months.
>> Seriously?
>> And someone phon me. It was it was the deadline of the they to enter the championships for the Irish elites and someone phoned me like 40 minutes before it was like would you not enter? And got back and all like all right. And then I ended up I went back then and uh and qualified then for Olympics. But then I always looking back I was like you know what I should have came back and it was because it was so hard. But then after the Olympics, I knew that was me then.
And then that's when I announced the full retirement. Look, >> it would have been hard, especially after a year not doing anything and then going straight back to you cuz you're actually at a disadvantage for the Olympics cuz you've been out out of training for a year and everyone else has been training their bic. See the Olympics do like do you get paid do they pay or is it you just do it for the love of >> sponsors and all you say?
>> No. So we like once you go on to the national team, you're on a thing like you can get card. So say for instance you win certain medals at certain competitions, you can then put yourself on card. So the it's like the funding is like 20 or 18 25 and 40,000 that's the the criteria and regardless of the medals that you win you go up and down that then and then if you don't win it.
So like say for instance I went to competition I won the bronze medal I would qualify for like say 25,000 euro a year but I wouldn't get that again then next year and then you're on that card for a year and then if you don't do nothing next year the following year then the card's uh away you know the way it works based on your it's all performance driven like you know you have to make sure you're performing and stuff. Can I you I don't know if you might want to answer this one, but have you ever experienced or ever seen a bit of like corruption going on? Because people always say about boxing is probably one of the most corrupt sports, but have you ever had any experiences where you've either seen it or noticed it or been like what the [ __ ] that was?
>> M in the Olympics was that was >> corrupt. We currently I was talking to he was saying about one he had to go down I think it was for the Irelands or something and he went down to weigh in.
Yeah. And they told him at 10 to go down way in and he went down and they said it was late or something and in the got like a walk over.
>> I remember it straight up to the islands or something.
>> Yeah. Just like we things that can go on as you say with Mick and stuff like that like have you ever seen anything or or experienced any?
>> No. See to be honest not really. Like people always say like going to Belfast like when you're in Belfast going places you get dodgy decisions and stuff but >> I think no not really. like to be honest like I know you hear obviously the stuff about the Olympics and stuff and all that type of stuff but I've actually not >> no no not really I think there's been things like a lot there was a few things around me being selected for to go to Paris after my retirement stuff people sort of way saying things but outside of that like no like you always see bit of favoritism stuff >> people like maybe complain because you got the call it because probably you hadn't trained or something in a year and then you're in but realistically you've proved that you're at that level because >> we won it and our limit you know what I mean I could I don't know understand people would like if they did have a problem that I I don't I don't see why do you know what I mean cuz you you've earned your right to do it like >> I know well that's true but like you're right but I wouldn't really you do I'm sure there's certain things but no see like there suppose like any sports are all politics and stuff behind the scenes but see when I was in sport like I was always just like try to stay out of the politic just do what you have to do just if you get to an event then great and if not then just go for the next one. I was always driven like that, you know, just >> trying not to focus too much cuz sometimes even in competition zone, you're certain people get bats, you start focusing other things. That's why I used to always be like right >> tunnel vision tunnel vision 100%.
>> See see Olympics see your so you you were with the full box the full Iron box team you all like does teams be all different hotels and like so you par was or >> so would all like the iron team being a hotel and then the Spanish team will probably be is that the way it is or you all I'm sure one big hotel everyone who's competing in the Olympics. So you go into it and you have to get all like security and all to go into it. Like so nobody can just go in. You have to get searched and all and it's really like really strict and then when you go in it's just like a big open village in terms of like big apartment blocks and then say there's apartment block like two or three countries might be in one apartment block, two or three may be in the next but it's all like just they're it's all purpose built for the Olympics.
>> Yeah. They're built like we we like not like a village but like kind of something like that where all the like people who are taking part in the Olympics won't stay. So you're fed and watered, everything's just all free. So like there's a big food hall and it's just literally 24 like hours a day it's open. You can just go and eat. And then all around the village there's like we like say for instance Costa sponsored the last ones. So like the last few ones. So you'll be able to go down and say free coffee and they different spots where you can go down and eat like say we burgers and different things or else say like magnums and stuff like all sitting around. You just grab them and then you have a we key card and then you go to the vending machines and just tap it and it's like coke and hard. What if you're if you're in your fight and you have to watch your weight, it' be hard.
You'd be tempted to [ __ ] just grab a wee magnum or something like wouldn't you?
>> You would. But see, even it's classic.
See you even walking away the village like one of the days we were in the canteen and rough and the doll just came walking in and we were like, "What?"
>> And then your man, we got food for your man, the other guy, the younger fell tennis player. Was it >> the tennis Spanish one?
>> Yeah. Yeah. Him and them two were together and all. So you're seeing people like >> it's crazy. And then that girl, we were walking one of that girl Simone Bales from the gymnast gymnastics like she was just walking down. I was like going, "Wow."
>> Was AJ or was he was he was Olympics?
Was he or was he before you?
>> 2012. He was in >> Katy Taylor. She was Olympics. Did he was she Olympics?
>> She won the Olympics in 2012 and then went back in 2016.
>> Have you ever met her?
>> Yeah. Yeah. She's the OG. She >> she getting C Park.
She deserves it. Like >> I seen Keen H maybe getting on the undercard of it.
That be a good fight.
>> He deserves it. Like >> I know because that last fight he got [ __ ] about there. There's something happened. His bone fainted or something.
I think it was in Vegas.
>> Wait the weight cut out. That's tough.
Hey, what do you do? Like do you not get paid or nothing? That's what >> about all the people who flew over to [ __ ] go wy and stuff like that. Then it's it's like it's a kicking the balls for the feder who's who's who's missed out on getting the opportunity. Do you know what I mean? But that's all a part of it. Like do you know what I I'm sure something like that's happened to you before where you've meant to fight someone that's pulled out last minute or something like >> Yeah. But see that's and that's why one of the thing I like favor amateur boxing because like like when you're one the Irish team like everything's all paid for so you're not actually losing out anything if that did happen to you know like we're professionals you have to pay your own nutritionist your own physio psychologist trainer like the amateur boxing that's all provided. So that's why I always like >> I stay long stay.
Yeah, because pro's tough like but if you're suited to it and that's what but that's why I would always like advise people at least stay and get a taste of the amateur boxing. No, cuz you do have support. You do have some type of structure within the Irish team and there is good support there. Like so >> once you go pro, you're kind of on your own.
>> You're on your own 100% and that's it.
And then you're like if you're not say you're going to somewhere and you're changing trainers and then it's hard business like so you have to give it the respect pro. There's a lot of pressure on everyone too like in that sport like cuz >> it's all like not only your own pressure in your own mind then your trainers your coaches everyone your club your friends your family and your this is all in your mind before you're walking out the fade it's it's a lot to have in you like you know what I mean >> see Olympics do you come out to your song >> you come out but I think they pick it they pick it yeah so you don't you don't really get to No you wouldn't get to pick like an individ No like under like a pros you get to pick the song No. Say you need to fight four times in one week. Do you have to weigh in before every fight or do you weigh in to start a week and that that covers you for no the morning of every fight?
>> Do they?
>> Yeah. You're always on top of your weight.
>> So if you like say and a big challenge is always it's hard and this is always the catch too. So you could weigh in really early, right? So say the weigh in like 7 or 8 and the fight start at say 10 or 11. So like you're you're trying to refuel straight away. You can't get back to sleep if you've had a bad sleep and then you're fighting or else you could be on the later session. But then you're sitting in the hotel room all day when you're going, "Oh, like I'm fighting tonight." And you may not be fighting the six or seven o'clock at night >> cuz you're stuck in that we room. You're just thoughts are in your [ __ ] mind the whole time. Like >> and that's one of the biggest things like that's why like I'm so interested in psychology because the psychology is absolutely massive. Like and the best athletes know how to manage that period the best like >> the mental side of it is probably the main thing more than anything like >> Yeah. But even now like in sport mental health is a massive thing and I and I'm a big sort advocate for that because the pressure not not only in boxing but sports the amount of pressure people's under is crazy like and then especially nowadays a lot of people don't know like you're not taught how to manage pressure you're not taught how to deal with pressure and like the area where we come from like it's it's hard like you know what I mean like you grow up in a hard environment hard society fast >> yeah it is that's why I think the the best boxers stuff come out of here cuz the cuz the [ __ ] they haven't had it easy you know what I success. That's what they say.
>> Absolutely agree. But I think then how do you support athletes in the way you doing after the success? Cuz you see many athletes that do really well. Ricky hadn't. He was one, wasn't he? What did he do after? Did he kill himself?
>> There's not a lot of support for people afterwards after boxing even footballers. I've heard a lot of people come out and speak about that too after that that once you retire and what do you do? It's like your life's over in a way like >> 100%. And so it's a massive thing cuz everybody loves you on the way up which is great and which is is understandable but it's like for athletes when their career is over like that whole identity piece is massive like who are you when you step away from sport when nobody wants a photo with you anymore. Nobody cared you know trying to adapt to what the [ __ ] do I do cuz you can't go back to a [ __ ] normal job like going from being like yeah but one of them who done well but like for every one that does well there's 100 that didn't do you know what I mean?
>> Yeah. If you started working say in the mirror, you could be like, "Fuck." You'd be getting tortured every single person.
It wouldn't be like you couldn't go into a job like that after you on such a high, you need to you need to find something that's still in your kind of niche, what you work as or what your interest.
>> I think Big Rob, I think he's taxing now.
>> Big he fought [ __ ] he fought Tyson Fury for [ __ ] sake. He was he was massive like but everyone I think all those boxers to just to get respect from from well most people will if they remember him 100%. I think a lot of people even when they see boxers from here like if they go and get a job people automatically think you're a millionaire. They're like what are you doing working at the back and your mind's going are you not a millionaire yet the [ __ ] bread line here?
>> Yeah. See and that's and that's the thing but again and then it goes back to social media because social it's all so everything's which is great like social media driven but then it's like everything's on social media so all the pressure comes with it. Everybody thinks you're doing really well all the time when actually you might not be. Do you know and it's for everybody like hard like Instagram's a big thing too their highlights all like you're going to on your Instagram pages it's never going to be something of you [ __ ] struggling. It's all hangs of you doing good or doing well and no then people are only saying that side of you. So then when you bump into them in real life and you might be having an off day and you still have to be like all right what's crack to still keep not put on a front but you you might not be feeling a certain way but you still have to just get on mate. Do you know what I And that's hard, but like you think of it like no, you're not really taught how to deal with all that stuff. No. Like even like even in school like there's a lot of things like and I'm I'm big now like on putting an arm around the shoulder of somebody and actually because if you look back at school like would you not have much rather a teacher ask you come ask you what's wrong with your kid or instead of shooting at you and cuz you don't know what kids were going through at home or breakups or do you know what I 100% you don't like even get back to school days we all probably want to be messers in school and like me personally speaking I didn't I didn't like the way teachers spoke to me it get it made you just instantly not like them and then when you I went to CBS in six year and all the teachers talk to you as if you're a normal person I loved it I was going I wish I had came here in first year but there is there's a way adults or teachers speak to you you're going there's a 50-y old man beefing with a [ __ ] a 12y old kid like what what are you actually doing m you know what I mean there's there's ways to deal with things and the kids and I I feel like a lot of teachers don't haven't mastered that we bit yet. Do you know what I mean?
>> And that's the same in sport as well.
Like if you look like I I love the area of coaching relationships. If you look at if you have a good positive relationship with your coach and it's the same with a teacher as well, >> surely you're going to get the best out of somebody when you have a good relationship with them.
>> If you're going to shoot at someone and tell them what they're doing wrong and tell them what rubbish at who really who likes that?
>> You're not going to take anything positive from it 100%.
>> And it's even related to say in in work, your manager in work. If you have a bad manager in work, it's going to make you not you're not going to want to go into work. If you have your manager's worker, but if you have a good manager and they look after you, Freddy, just take a half day here. You're going to go a he's a legend and you'll not complain about it.
Yeah. But you're not f like life's hard enough. You should be there like environment is everything. Life especially this podcast like you look at this podcast working class podcast. We all come from working class areas. I think relationships are everything especially in workplace sports. If you can create good relationships with people, people want to come and actually do well for you. It's a no. It's a no-brainer. But again, it just comes down to a we bit of respect.
>> Some people are just ballbacks, but aren't there? Like some people there's just it's just not in them to be nice.
But you can be taught. See, if you're still at a young age, you can be taught.
You can be >> like your man can change to being a nice person or being a good person. You know what I mean?
>> I'm sure we all didn't start off as absolute [ __ ] >> angels.
Pressure makes diamonds, mate. You know what I mean?
>> Pressure for cars. Like I would do actually a lot of like one of the like I talk recently like about that whole thing and elite sport and a lot of people like pressure creates damage and there's certain people but if you look longterm pressure creates anxiety, pressure creates depression, pressure creates addiction.
>> Yeah.
>> Over a long period of time like that's true >> because if you think of it some people th pressure for like a season or if you're an athlete but then what's the next how can you sustain that?
goals for every single season.
>> That's what I'm big on. Like people say like sport helps you deal with this or but you actually look at most sports club you actually you're not taught it.
You're expected to know how to do it.
>> Yeah.
>> But if you're if you're actually go there and you're not taught and yet sport will say our sport taught teaches you this this and this but it actually doesn't. It expects you to know and if you don't know you're pushed to the side or like especially boxing you go in a first night in boxing club and you start crying like I've seen it in numerous clubs. You're pushed to the side. A he's he's scared of everything. Yeah, >> he's no good. like why not sit down actually what ask ask what's wrong or what do you need help with or you know so you're so many things you're >> I can relate to what you're saying there because there's times even clubs years ago when I would have trained up and maybe I started training the club at the start of a month off and you've been there for about 3 months and then there's our boys there and they're getting took up to spar every single day and you're sitting hitting the bags and then >> doesn't take till about 3 months in and maybe that fell's not there that day or he's off then go right come on y we'll take you on the pods blah blah blah you can sp day and you're going [ __ ] that's only cuz here not Do you know that kind of way? But kids aren't taught that they'd be all we mention, but you would get sort of like talks and stuff, but you wouldn't actually get any like you wouldn't go into like classes and stuff, but you would get sort of like courses around awareness of like what not to say, what to say.
>> I would say the double down on that after fingers media training, all the IR stuff. I think it's hard because like especially when you come out after an event like your adrenaline's pumping through you. I actually don't think it's right for the media to then put a camera in anybody's face >> straight away straight away you know because like we're all human you're going to say something that's like you might you might regret later. So, >> but because you're on the buzz and you're in that moment, it's like it's like being black. you just you'll just >> I don't think that's for like I don't like I really think especially and I think that's why it's important to have good people around you to say hold on a minute like you know maybe just no just >> see me in the back after I'm done >> after cuz you know yourself once you get time to calm down and there's nothing worse when you watch a b you go oh freak I don't mean that and then you have to apologize and stuff like but I think yeah like but that's what they would do like you would get a bit of awareness around what to say what not to say and >> you think about it this is going to be the say one of the best moments of your life you get the army there's no better feeling getting the win, you're jumping about, you're ecstatic, all mad, and then they're straight over talking. You don't know what's going to come out of your [ __ ] mouth like you know >> and that's it 100%. So it's it's hard like it's hard but and I think a lot of like even like a lot of say boxers you come from a working class area so you're not going to be taught how to speak proper you know like in terms you are just going to say how you feel which is is normal too but I definitely think a we bit awareness is always good around obviously just being able to present yourself in a decent way like don't be able to say just talk okay to the camera stuff but like when you you're not you're not really taught like even younger like >> even before say you go like you're amateur boxer or athlete you're training you're competing all of a sudden you're doing the Olympics now all of a sudden all this is like come off all this lingo that you've never even had to do before like >> and it's hard like it's hard. So again going back to expectations like you're just expected to deal with it. So >> yeah, >> but it's something that it's something I think people should just get an awareness on because it is always good just to be able to present and be able to >> I'll stand by it.
>> Press conferences and all like I I don't think I can sit and do this for a living. I don't think I can sit in a press conference and talk.
>> I don't know. I don't think so. I think when there's an audience is different.
Yeah, I'm I like you made him and you sitting here, but I think whenever whenever you're talking to the [ __ ] a room of 200 people and they're throwing questions at you and if if I didn't know what to say back, I'd be overthinking going past in the balmor. It was we bit >> and I had about [ __ ] 20 minutes. [ __ ] you.
>> That's how we do.
>> He's good public speaker like I'm not as good as him.
>> But I've seen you improve, man. And I've seen you getting better over time. See from the first we done our first one to now you're [ __ ] up to get there. What was I going to say? I've seen you out and about all the schools now too and going and visiting this. Was it last hour or something? Seen our week or two?
>> Yeah.
>> Fair playmate. The kids need somebody like yourself to go and talk to now while they're still at this early age to [ __ ] just give them this awareness.
Do you know what I mean?
>> Yeah. I think it's always good like I always like people always think like when you go into school or something they're like oh what are you going to talk about? And they think it's going to be like no mental resilience and toughness where like I always try to approach it the opposite way of like about obviously real people who are strong and show strength and and actually do really well in sports are the people are actually a we bit softer and a we bit more you know they wouldn't be in your face or do you know it's about being respectful because that's what I found in my journey. The best athletes the best people actually really respectful they're actually really doing the earth and actually you know when they're struggling they actually say I'm struggling. So a lot of >> it takes a stronger person to actually come out and say that there always says to me listen if you're going to cry cry let the [ __ ] tears out. Takes real men a real man to cry on you go.
>> But she's right and I think it's it's so so true. And I think and one of the things I always say is like I've been all across the world fought Russians Kazix every like everybody. And I can tell you now it's more courageous to put your hand up and say I'm struggling and actually get a bit of help than it is to step into the ring with any type of opponent. And that's that's the truth.
And I would I'll say it to the cows come home. Like I think that's so so important.
>> But it's hard as well like in this day and age too. It's hard because everything's social media based and everything. Do you know what I mean? And some people don't like being a we bit vulnerable. So it's hard to especially younger in a vulnerable state out there on social media because you can also you get you deal with a lot of trolls and people are scared to face any backlash and that sort of way. Whereas actually just having the set of balls to come out and do that you may get slayed by one person but you could have helped about four different people who may be feeling the exact same way. But until you put up the video and they seen it, now you've changed their whole way of thinking. So it's just one of them.
>> Even the kids like we like they get picked on for [ __ ] like that in this day and age. We cry about all the we take advant advantage of it.
>> That's hard like and that's sad. So we see like a lot of times when I go I would always try to sort of say that about obviously good athletes are good people. They look after their their teammates. They look after their friends. They look after people. Do you know what I mean? And it's about creating that environment because sometimes people get the wrong idea of what actually strong is. In my opinion, strong is actually being a bit vulnerable and actually saying I am struggling because I think it's so it's important to get a bit >> 100% 100%.
>> Thron's brilliant throne's funny. So >> yeah, >> but I think we need more of that as well. Like not to say like cuz everybody like going back to that millionaire thing, everybody thinks you are a millionaire or else you're super strong like you're invincible too. to have a certain image painted of all like people who are fighters or that have been successful and they don't see the the other side yet where we're all from the [ __ ] same place. We all grow up in the same area and we deal with the same struggles like >> 100%.
>> Yeah. So, what do you think about influencer boxing style? Do you like >> what's that? Like the misfits like Jake Paul like well he's actually probably considered a boxer nowadays like but like there's loads of them like >> there Tommy Tommy Tommy Fury's fighting Eddie Hall who's like Eddie Hall is the strongest man in the world next week. Do you do you agree with that?
>> Jordan McCann's fighting [ __ ] >> he's fighting the [ __ ] but but I mean like I mean real boxers fighting influencers like cuz isn't Tommy Fury a real boxer like >> Yeah. And do do you do you agree with that?
>> Yeah. But you know what I think it's I think most pro boxers I think don't like it because when which is a refer like a valid point is because like they're going to end such a big payday when there's professionals that have came through like the Irish or the Olympics dedicated their lives and yet they're struggling to get grumbles which is understandable too like but at the same time I suppose that market's coming at it from like a different angle where they want different eyes on boxing so it's >> like kickers with big names anyone that's got a big names going to sell their event and they're just happy to get [ __ ] money for their event. It's not like it's it's like to me it's like it it's a it is boxing but it's like a niche thing. It's it's not actual boxing too. Like it's an our audience to it.
Yeah. Is >> more like it's more like an entertain I know like boxing because there's like a lot of technical technical stuff where that's more like sort of entertainment in a sense isn't it like you know >> have you seen that I don't know if you remember she's probably not to remember the Vcon but years ago it was a cartoon on like it was like MTV celebrity death match. That's basically what's happening now. They're just fighting like that was a cartoon start off, but if you look at it now, they're getting all these [ __ ] celebrities to win boxy charge [ __ ] basically happen.
>> All right. There's I seen one um a foul fighting two women.
>> Your father's back.
>> Was it in the cage?
>> He just [ __ ] >> There was one There's one I seen like [ __ ] three midgets on on the one man and all. See, Russia was like it was like [ __ ] 10 women. There was five women against 10 women against five men or something. Oh, I see all the big on whack. They're killing [ __ ] women like Yeah.
>> So some of the [ __ ] the match ups.
>> No, you have you would have to hit them >> once you're in the ring and they've signed off for it. I think you're allowed to [ __ ] hit them back.
>> So did your big man Eddie Hall. He saw two like two twin brothers. I think >> that's right.
>> The strong man >> mountain the one more fought him.
>> Steve Moore. Do you know Steve? Yeah, he fought the mountain.
>> Oh, he fought Thor. I think it was Dubai or something. Was it or something?
Who won?
>> I think Steven won. I think it was an I don't know.
>> It was an exhibition. Do you think you would beat someone like that? Like do you think you would know how to get around them like you know how to survive? Like I don't know if I beat him like but I'd be able to run away for a good >> mood. Kning he's like Slender Man.
I don't know if I'm too keen on the D.
He's a bit of a [ __ ] >> He's He's entertaining, but he's [ __ ] he's goes the wrong way about [ __ ] doesn't he? Like he he does. He stays in the spotlight. No, >> there was one there was one he was arguing with KSN. They had him in like a big [ __ ] a big glass box and he was banging on the glass and all like trying to get out. There was a press conference and they were in two glass boxes.
>> Did he not headbutt somebody before something? Who was it from Fury? Was it one of us men or something?
>> I think he did. All right. He's an John Fury, >> but see you think Tyson Fury like his do you know he tried to go to the Olympics for Ireland years ago? So did Yeah. He he he came over and he went to he went to the American all with the holy family all years ago.
>> I was going to say like the travelers always originate back to Ireland like have they have Irish hurry what's the word?
>> I was in the Davies last night and some boy grabbed me up. Yo, he was another travel. Yo, where are you? What's your name? He goes, "I I'm uh was it Michael Mung or Martin?"
>> Martin goes, "I fought Tommy McCarthy.
Where is he? Is he down here now?" He's going, "I haven't seen him, mate." He's going, "I fought him. Ring him. Get him on the phone and tell you I fought him years back." I was going to believe he like, but them boys said they they live for too. Did you ever watch the thing?
Uh, wasn't Knuckle, but it was another TV show about the travelers fighting, and there was they have the two kids.
They're about eight and they're both fighting each other with gloves on and then it goes right 45 minutes later and they're still there slloing it out [ __ ] 8-year-old kids like them boys would be condition once they're 18 they're well conditioned to [ __ ] go travelers can fight like they can fight like [ __ ] even whenever >> I snatch >> you like dogs >> who is who's the the big fighter the big traveler from is it Patty Donovan >> Donovan and there's an or with Dennis there's an there's an or boxer called Dennis They're they're too they're two good boxers. Like >> I I I don't know enough about boxing.
Like >> I like watching it. Like >> that's fair.
>> Do you watch much of it? Do you? I would watch a we bit of it. Like I would watch some of like a bit of the professionals but be more so amateur. Like but I like the professionals too. Like but you're just cuz you're still involved the amateur stuff. You're always keeping an eye on the world championships and all that type of stuff.
>> What's coming up? What's the next big thing coming up?
>> Would it be when is the Olympics next year? Is it >> 2028? LA it's in. But yeah. pretty good.
But the Conwell games are this year. So they are. They're in Glasgow. So I'll be one of the biggest.
>> Did you ever go to Comwalth?
>> I went to three comes. Yeah.
>> Did you? How did you do?
>> I got two gold at the youth and then I got gold at the the main ones as well.
Gold and silver.
>> So you're you're [ __ ] you're trophy [ __ ] Kevin must be class.
>> What do you think Ael was your your hardest opponent you've ever fought? Did you say >> probably the Cuban to qualify when I was allowed to qualify for the Olympics?
>> Yeah.
>> Because before that fight because I get beat the day before. So when I had all them fights to qualify, I got beat. But then that was my fourth fight. So then I get put into like a group of like where another four get beat. You know what I mean? So we had to box off. So after that there I because I had retired and came back. I had no energy left. So I told the coaches like I wasn't fighting and stuff and I was retiring. I was walking away. I wasn't going to the Olympics. This was the night before the the fight. And I told the coach phone ma all my family girlfriend I told him I wasn't fighting like yes 100% no problem. I grew up the morning of the fight and the coach from the boxing team, Deian Kennedy, he knocked the door and all. He came in with the video of the Cuban and I was like, "Come on, I promise you can beat this guy and all beat this guy." I like I don't know. I don't know. And then I ended up I went in and fought and I done it's it's mad because I went in I was like Cuba's like I I always watch the Cubans and always love watching Cuba >> and then went in and fought and within the first 30 seconds your man caught me and I was like I'm never going to win this and then I don't know what happened. something just happened and I just it was one of the best performances of my life but I sparred the guy before that before that competition and he sort of gave me a hard time so I was like oh jeez there's no chance here again >> so I was expecting the same and then it went on to win so even after when when I told when I got a phone home my daddy was like what I thought you weren't fighting is it no one knew so that would have been the best and Cuba was always yeah >> are they tough they're just really good there's a photo it's always it's class after uh the Cuban coaches because I as I say like I always love and praise the Cubans the Cuban coaches. There's a photo of me shaking the Cuban coach's hands and the coaches are like out there. No.
And someone wrote under I get a coach that looks at you the way the Cuban coaches look at Welch, you know, like and that was I I saved that photo cuz I was like what they always think like I always just love the Cubans and to be able to fight a Cuban and then win. It's very rare you hear like an Irish boxer beating a Cuban. So >> that's bucket list. Like you know what I mean?
>> That was good. That was good. see in a boxing fight like how how many minutes will like how soon into a fight can you know like I'm going to beat I'm going to win this fight here.
>> Yeah. Like there's been fights like you definitely lose before you even step in the ring like so there is oh definitely like that's why psychology is massive but again like you would sort of know to sort of the first minute or so you'd sort of get a sense of like what to do.
I never watched any of my opponents when I fought because I always like I was always over still I'm an overthinker always over analyzing panic and I always hated the fights the more I sort of overthought I went in and if it didn't work I panicked it so I never watched in the scene the coaches knew I never analyzed anybody so I just let the coaches do it and then I when I get into the ring I just was always better you know just going off instinct >> that worked for your better >> yeah so I you always know within the first 30 seconds but the momentum always changes like if You have a good boxer and they've lost the first round, they can change the the whole tactics completely and come out the second round completely different.
>> Punch can change the whole fight.
>> Yeah, you can't. I can't. And then there's now because there's no head gear. You get cut. Is there not?
>> No, there's no head butts and all but I I'd never actually get cut in my life until the last this is before I said I should have retired earlier the last year 2020. I I hadn't got cut my whole career and cut twice in the same year. I was like the signs are get out. Get out.
Yeah. See how much see your like see your coaches. Yeah. Like how much would they play a part in your performance like >> massively like massively like that's see now like I and I always go back to the coach had the relationship. I think the main thing every coach should have is a good relationship with their athlete.
Like regardless of boxing honestly see see the best performances I've ever had in my life. It's been when I've had a good relationship with a coach. See if I I fell out with a coach during a certain period I would go in and I wouldn't perform. It would just almost be like >> if you lose a head a we bit >> you know like if you get back to the corner and someone's telling you to do something you have to have 100% trust in that person. If there's any doubt at all, you're not going to listen to them.
Like, >> yeah, even if there are talking sensation, I know what you mean, >> you know? So, I think that's one of the key areas. There's a professor Sophia J who does a lot of good work on coach relationships and I love that whole area because it's like how can you get the best because you don't even need to be a good technical coach, but you can get the best out of someone and this goes co coaching across the whole board. You can get the best out of somebody by supporting them and being a good person arm around the shoulder getting the best out of them. Do you know what I mean? So I think like if coaches nowadays aren't building good relationships with their athletes.
>> Yeah.
>> I think like >> man Andy Lee he's good is he great coach >> and class but he's big one on coach at the relationships stays together and you know builds up a relationship eats with them you know stays in the camp with them builds rapport. It's massive like it is. watch fights were even last night in the box and I think a commentator said they've been getting more out of their fighters when they're telling them they're getting bait here and they need to do something about it rather than going right this go just just put just tell them straight right you're getting paid here you need to go out and do this now it's all over it >> yeah yeah trick you like to try and get you to do do stuff >> but me and him have to do two corner men for a full night of boxing fights we've never done anyone's corner in our life he's sitting telling everybody in his corner you're winning you're bing them you're bing coach's getting bothered over.
>> But I mean like in a real professional [ __ ] scenario like but a coach is is it wrong of a coach to go here? Like even though if they think you're winning, you're losing here. You need to step it up. Would that knock your confidence going here?
>> He knows he can get back the best journey by saying that then it's a good thing. But if it's not if if you it can go one or two ways.
>> It goes down to relationship. Like if you know how to do that with your athlete, you have a good relation. Do you know what I mean? That coach has put the work in with that person to know what works for them. where if you don't know that person and you're telling them you're losing the fight and yet they're winning and then they're going to try to do something and they get knocked out and then they blame you, you know. So, it's it's if you if you know the relationship and what works for them, >> it's like trying to understand each other as mo as much as possible so you get the best out of each other. Is that right?
>> I I think so research says it but it makes sense.
>> It makes sense. It does. But that goes for any sport. Like even there's loads of sports now a year coaches shooting the kids and all for me I'm like >> what what what food's that going because if I know if I was a kid I'd be saying I'm not listening to you or if someone comes around put John in their shoulder says you don't do it there what do you need you're going to be like >> it's all about the approach your approach to them like% and that goes back to school we talk like the teacher comes over and says I go to my we lad's [ __ ] football match on the Saturdays 8 I see parents shouting on the pitch not the kids slam like [ __ ] me [ __ ] me the kids [ __ ] play a game of football like it's so big deal. Like relax some parents you would think like this is family >> the way they're getting >> it's mad the way people >> it's like some big fat in their [ __ ] lives you know what I mean or whatever like >> do you have do you have kids >> no no no I wouldn't get my kids in the box if it is >> I was going to say if you had kids would you put them in the boxing >> no again like people think like boxing teaches you discipline and stuff but if you look at across the board how many kids if if kids and this go on research and sports teams if you look at kids that do well they'll favor that sport and say Yes. But if you look at many kids that haven't been treated well and they didn't achieve, they've just slipped away.
>> Yeah.
>> If you can get their account of what the sport's done, that's a true account. And if you look because a lot of athletes are successful, say, "Oh, boxing taught me to be disciplined." But how many people weren't successful and were treated very very badly and give away their give up sport, you know, >> because of it. There's a bigger amount of them than there is of the success stories came from it.
>> 100%. And that's what I'm sort of like.
It's like >> and who's there for them people? So that's the avenue you're going down to.
That's what's next. 100% >> Brian Garcia or Conor Bren who you think wins that one?
>> I like both to be honest and probably being diplomatic or but I I like both like know seriously I think Conor B's really driven you know and like you have to give him credit because where he came from to actually get to where he is is amazing and the same as Rang Garcia too as well like everybody thought Rar was done and then he came back.
I love Garcia just I think he's more entertaining like when you watch his >> interview people thought his head was aware or was it away he was he was saying all he was saying all mad [ __ ] like he's saying the beef babies and all >> about the Hollywood elites and all I suppose I had loads of people say that is true like but he I thought he was having a mental breakdown live like on TV but I know cuz probably is some truth to that [ __ ] cuz Hollywood's mad but um I I seen I didn't even know who Conor B was until he cuz I'm not big into boxing but until he fought Chris Eubank and then I was like I like the we story about him and his D. I was like, you know what for him and I think he saying he was a bit of a snake but controversy.
He just Eddie Hearn he g he gone like l the money off and then whenever he started to make it just jump shipped to you know I think Dana White we were talking about yesterday in the press conference that he's going to is Tyson Fury is fighting um or is it Tyson Fury I think Dana White's getting behind one of them I don't know enough of them but he's a they were talking about he's getting >> Joshua the last time he was >> is that is that not sad is that not happening >> I don't know if it's 100% but I think They're trying to because they're like they're trying to turn it into almost like [ __ ] WWE the way they get on now and they're they're calling them out and the person just by chance the person who they're looking in their next fight front row are watching it you're like right you know what like it's it's a we bit set up and then anyways like but it it does >> what McGregor fighting again like he's going to fight again he will I was watching the press conference or Sean Strickland and who was it and Kasma yesterday and someone asked What's happening with McGregor? He's like, well, Dana White said he's more he's more like [ __ ] certain he's going to fight nine more than ever. So, you probably he's not on the White House card. Like, but it would be stupid to put him on that because a White House card is going to do [ __ ] numbers with or without him. So, it may as well.
>> Yeah. You get him on the next one and you're just going to hit the numbers again. Everyone's life to God. I see he's he's very holy now or he's now. But see, I think I think like the way I don't know see when he see when he was coming up he was far more light and he was he's like now he's just couldn't do that no more. It's a different and I think they're looking him to fight someone like is it like [ __ ] >> what do you call him? Max Hay looking to fight. There's no point fighting him.
>> He's already fought him and but it's they're two completely different fighters now than what they were when they first fought. M >> should have let him fight. What do you call him?
>> Justin Gi wasn't it?
>> No. What do you call our [ __ ] They done they done the UFC 10 contenders.
He's know like the coach >> Mike Chandler Chandler I think it be Chandler like >> I think >> I know it's all said I I was staying up to watch it last night going I I wouldn't watch the UFC and stay up to watch this McGregor's fighting or I'm [ __ ] sitting on a bit >> it's hard to stay up and watch it like but you see you're better off getting on the drink and watching it because see if you wake up next day you still feel hung over from the tiredness you're like why did I [ __ ] stay up to watch that you know what I mean like every single time I >> even when like even when there's like like py Patty Pit's from England. You'd think when he fights it should be on our time like cuz well UK time but um 3 in the morning as well.
>> The Dubai ones are coming over a bit early. They're on during the day but they're not >> what what they should do to fix it for us all. Have it on in America but have it on like 4:00 in the day. So they can watch it during the day and we can watch it normal time. You know what I mean?
Solve all the problems.
Politics more [ __ ] pay-per-view. It's cuz it's cuz it obviously suits better to be on like like night sort of night time 10 cuz when everyone's at home they can watch it but it would need to be time where they're in work and like about 3 or 4:00 in the day which most people be that's I would mean it's on 9:00 our time.
>> Yeah.
>> But it's this Americ half an hour somewhere else it's like [ __ ] 4 hours >> soon as Australia you fly one bit and it's [ __ ] early hours you fly over it's during the day it's mad.
I've seen it advertised. I haven't watched the >> You watched it.
>> Is that the one your man sings and dances and you get let your woman away?
>> That's Have you ever watched Creek?
>> Wolf Creek. She put you off Australia.
That's pretty about it. But here what's what's next for you big man? Any anything you want to shout out or anything you want to say to people before we we'll wrap up?
>> Um no just thank you lads for having me on. I know like compare like I just when he's asked me I was like Jesus the lady can always watch your stuff. So thank you and again it's an absolute honor because working classes represent the working class and it's absolutely class.
So thank you very much. I hope some people can take some things from it and I would say so.
>> So no thank you very much. God bless you. Thanks for your time bro.
Appreciate you mate. You're a legend.
Love you all. Thanks for watching people. God bless. Be early done. The sun's still out boys. on B.
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