WEBVTT
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Me personally, I think boxing should be in schools.
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I think because a hell of a lot of kids will benefit from it massively.
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I've done my whole life around.
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From what I was doing to where I am now, like it's it's two different people.
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Realised it's either I quit now and call it a day, or I give it everything I've got and do whatever there is possible.
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Ed, do you know Ed threw the towel in?
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And I hated him.
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I looked at him and I was fuming.
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I hate it.
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First year, that still haunts me to this day.
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I gave it away.
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Gave it away to her.
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Yeah, he was a father figure for a very long time.
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Anyway, started sparring again, and then I got the bug back for it.
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And I thought, right, hang on a minute, I'm enjoying it.
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Keep my nose out of trouble.
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I'm working, I'm helping out with the kids, I'm coaching, I'm training myself, I'm proving that I want to be in boxing.
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And I personally I feel like I'm not getting a fair chance.
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England best in that.
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And they was like, right, we've got Team England captain for the tournament and called me up, and I was like, go out, I get to hold the flag and that.
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I was only young then, I must have been 13, 14.
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So that when you're a kid, that's a big thing, isn't it?
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It was all in the papers and that.
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I come home.
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I was still in school at this time.
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I'd gone back to school and it was in the newspaper, they got it up.
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Everyone's like, oh my god.
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And welcome back to the Be First Podcast.
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Today's guest, we've got former amateur, now professional boxer, Miss Brookeaton.
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How are we doing?
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I'm good, mate.
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How are you?
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Yeah, all good.
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Thanks for taking your time out, your busy schedule to come on a podcast.
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I appreciate it.
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No worries, thank you for having me on.
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You're welcome, it's a pleasure.
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Um before we start, um I introduced you today, professional boxer.
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You've got a fight coming up.
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You're in fighting camp at the moment.
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Yep.
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When is it?
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Where is it?
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19th December in Baswoden, nice and local.
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Um, third professional fight.
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Hopefully the same outcome as uh as the other two.
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December.
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No, September.
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I thought you said December.
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I might have done.
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My brain's away with the fairies.
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Yeah, yeah, that's true.
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Well, you're off.
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You are in Fight Camp and we come across a lot of fighters in Fire Camp that have done mad things.
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Too many punches to the head, mate.
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That's what it is.
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Too many punches in the head.
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Nah, that's good.
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So yeah, not far.
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Yep, not far away.
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And that's why I said I appreciate you coming on, being a stressing to him.
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Come and tell your story.
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So if you can, take us back to the start where you grew up and how you gone into sport you love.
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Right.
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So I've grown up in Harold Hill ever since I was a baby, even now, still in and around it.
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Um I walked into Five Star when I was nine years old.
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I didn't want to, I had no intention of boxing, never, never even thought about it.
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I used to play football.
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And uh any goods?
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I was alright, I got scouted.
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They would had me on uh I can't remember if it was Arsenal or West Ham, like baby squads.
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This was I was nine.
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Um but I loved it, I've always been sporty and that.
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But yeah, so I was being a little shit at school.
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Like I was being bad, I was fighting all the time.
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Like I had a little bit of shit going on at home, and for me, going in school, having a tear-up, that made me feel better.
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So I was one of them, you know, when certain kids have like a mentor, I'd like a timeout card.
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If I was misbehaving, I'd go sit in a special room.
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I was an arse.
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And uh, my mum, she took me down there more of a punishment.
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Like, you know, you go down there, you wanna you wanna fight, you do it properly.
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I went down there, I loved it.
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Obviously, I was there for a little while.
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Some punishment then.
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Yeah, I loved it though.
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She was like, what the fuck?
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But no, so I was there for three months before I actually got carded.
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So when I walked in there, a five-star hadn't had a girl before.
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I think they had one senior woman that was like in and out, but I don't know if she ever boxed, but I was the first girl, so for them, I don't think they knew what to do with me.
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So they I think for them it was more trying to scare me out, get me out of it, and they could just keep their boys.
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So they got me carded, had my first skills after three months.
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Again, got out of the ring, I cried my eyes out.
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Mum was like, What's the matter?
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What's the matter?
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I wasn't hurt, I think it was just adrenaline, but yeah, I loved it, kept coming back, coming back, and over time I got really close with Ed.
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Ed took me on for a good few years of my life when I was younger as well, took me everywhere with him, and yeah, just started gang on winning titles, things like that.
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Was he was he your first coach?
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Was it him and his brother, John?
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Well they were they the coaches?
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Yeah, so at the time Lenny's always been there, obviously, since I've been there.
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Ed was m my only ever coach, but there was obviously other coaches down there.
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You had a geezer called Barry, he was good stuff.
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I was I was quite close with him, but obviously, as you grow up, sort of people leave and stuff.
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John's always been down there, and it's always it's always been the same faces.
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Do you know what I mean?
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It's always the same sort of people.
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So well, it's a community gym, isn't it?
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It's family.
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No, definitely.
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Lads who live in that area grew up in that area.
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That's it.
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They all boxed there.
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Yep.
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You grow up, have kids, and their kids come up there.
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Yeah, you've got to even like down to little TJ.
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TJ was this big when I come down there.
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He's a he's a big winner, he's nearly 18, he's he's out winning things, working.
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It's mad.
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Yeah, literally is mad.
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Because I remember this brother boxing for five stars.
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That's what I meant.
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Red was boxing when I boxed.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, it's mental.
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It makes me feel old.
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It makes me feel old, yeah.
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And you're a lot younger than me, so yeah, it definitely makes me feel old.
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So when you went to hands up Firestar, you just loved it in that nine years old, got cards.
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Where was you where was your first amateur box?
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In Five Star.
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Oh, was it in one of their famous shows?
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So I had literally just turned n just turned ten, so it must have been February, March, about May time that I boxed, and uh oh, it was unreal.
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I loved it.
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I got uh everyone was like that.
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Do you know that that was when I first felt like part of the team?
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So before that, I was always I never really spoke to no one.
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There was a couple of boys there that I knew from school, yeah, and I'd sort of drift towards them.
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But once I had that first fight, that's when I thought everyone's everyone spoke to me, and I was like, oh, this is sick.
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I loved it, it was good.
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Yeah, so they got the not their respect, but yeah, a bit of approval, you get more included, isn't it?
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You've had your first conference, yeah.
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But yeah, that was five-star home show, yeah.
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And then I was out active from there.
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And I think I must have had three or four skills before I had a pro I lost my first fight, actually, thinking about it.
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Yeah, I was all I boxed in a nightclub in Kent.
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Yeah, I still remember the girl that beat me, she was from St.
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Mary's.
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I've always wanted to get my vengeance.
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I was meant to have a rematch with her a few years later, but they never took the fight.
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They agreed to it, we got there, and they they pulled out.
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We went like missions for that as well, but it never happened.
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That was the one girl I always wanted to get back.
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But yeah, I lost my first one, and then after that, I had a good old winning streak, and I even though I lost, I still enjoyed it.
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Even going back in the gym, that's the one thing I can say with Five Star.
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Like, there's even when you lose, you come back in the gym.
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Like we had a few boys out the weekend in bar room.
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Some of them didn't box their best, some of them just didn't get the decision.
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Like it's boxing, but you still come in, everyone gets their medals out, and you still get gassed up because at the end of the day, you're in the gym training and everyone looks after everyone.
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So that's one thing they've always been good in that sense.
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Like win, lose, or drink, don't matter, they're they're there for you anyway.
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So it's always been like that.
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I like that.
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Yeah, no.
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Yeah, it's good.
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No, that is nice because, like you said, some gyms that might not happen or whatever.
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Well, I know boys that have come from other gyms, and even like bad spas and that, and it's oh you just brushed aside, sort of thing.
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In our in our gym, you've you've got the kids that ain't at that level, you've got kids that are at that level.
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Some gyms it'll be like, oh, we'll mix this kid with this kid, chuck them in, sink or swim.
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And you've got some kids beating the shit out of kids that shouldn't be in the ring with them just for a confidence boost.
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In our gym, it ain't like that.
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You've got boys that willingly go, yep, I'll help you out.
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I think.
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Listen, don't get wrong, some gyms are like that, but you do get the odd gym.
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I'm not gonna name them, but they're my uh they're my enemies, we don't like them.
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You tell me you can tell me off camera.
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Yeah, I will, I will.
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I'm looking forward to that.
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Um they probably know who they are, they're probably gonna watch this and think, you fucking bitch.
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Yeah, she's talking about they'll comment.
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Yeah, that's it.
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Nah, perfect, and and just touching on your like your family a little bit, is boxing in your family and your blood or so are you the only one?
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No, well, my granddad, I never actually got to meet him, but he was a boxer, and no one else boxed in my family.
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So I think for me, it was mad for me to do it without knowing my granddad was actually a boxer and love it as much as I did.
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So for my mum, I think that was special to her because obviously it was something that her dad done that she could sort of carry on.
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I've tried to get all my siblings in it.
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My brother, he was a good boxer, he's 17, 18 now.
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He when he was a kid, he was wicked, but I think I pushed him too hard.
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He sort of got to that age where he thought, I ain't doing it.
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I could say no, I ain't doing it.
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But if he would have stayed on, he would have like done good at it.
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But yeah, no one in my family really does it.
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They're all my sisters are all like girly girls, they don't want to be involved in it.
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Yeah, my brothers like football.
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I'm the only hard night in the family, the rest of them are scared.
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Just you flying the flag.
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That's it, that's it.
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And going going back to your mum and she took you to five stars of punishment.
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What what was their reaction to you not taking as a punishment?
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To like, I fucking love this.
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Do you know what?
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I don't think she took it in a bad way because even then, me loving it, it didn't change the support system.
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Like from my first fight even through till now, she's always been there.
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She's gone with that stuff for herself to make sure I've got the kit I need, make sure I'm at the tournaments I need to be at, everything like that.
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So it probably pissed her off at first.
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She probably thought, oh shit, that is gonna cost me a lot of money.
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But yeah, it's it's not worked out too bad, has it?
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Nah, exactly.
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He's doing alright so far.
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Yeah, she must be my Pradia for where you are now.
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Getting there, getting back, yeah.
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Getting back there, shall we say?
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Yeah, or have you been in there bad box at times?
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No, not mum's in boxing senses.
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Oh, in boxing senses, sorry.
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Um and school you said there, you're like a bit naughty in school as we as we all can be.
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Did boxing certainly when you moved into secondary school, did boxing sort of not mellow yeah, but because you get that discipline.
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Did you transfer it into school or was it See when I started boxing, I would have been year five, year six, so I was still in primary school.
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Going into year seven, I was I don't want to say a lot more humble because I don't think you could be humble as a kid of that age, but I I respected people like older people more.
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Kids, I didn't care.
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If you said something to me, I've got a temper problem.
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Like as a kid, I was awful.
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I'd lose my temper, I'd hit them.
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That's the one way I knew how to deal with it.
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So, but I've never been like me in school, we never got on.
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I left school when I was 14.
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I could see pen and paper, I ain't I ain't built for it.
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I've always been like hands-on, I think that's why boxing works.
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But I just never got on with school.
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I think teachers, they a lot of teachers don't understand.
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I get they're there to do a job, but I think they don't understand kids come from different backgrounds.
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Some kids don't manage things the same way that other kids do.
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And that's for me personally, I think boxing should be in schools.
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I think because a hell of a lot of kids will benefit from it massively, especially the kids that do struggle and ain't got shit at home.
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Do you know what I mean?
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It's yeah, I think it would play a very, very good role to be able to do that.
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Yeah, man, it it definitely it definitely would, you know.
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Football's recognised as our national sports, and you know, some might people might say like the show.
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It is, yeah.
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Some people need to learn to think on their own.
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Do you know what I mean?
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It's you and your opponent in there, and some people depend on other people because of not this in sports like football and that, but I think a lot of kids would progress a lot more if they had things like boxing.
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Yeah, because you've got to think for yourself, it ain't just a case of oh, depend on other people.
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Do you know what I mean?
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I think with like boxing, these government bodies, like talking schools, they just see it as well, it's aggression with teaching our kids to be aggressive.
00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:04.799
Yeah, but that's the way they see it.
00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:06.080
Yeah, they don't even know the sports.
00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.080
How many of them have walked into a boxing gym?
00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:08.720
Do you know what I mean?
00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:11.840
You like I say, I walk into a boxing gym, that's my that's my second home.
00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.559
Like I walk in there and I feel like I'm at home, that's my family.
00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:28.240
And you know, we all we always say in there, there's no sport like it for fitness, you know, the people you meet, and and the fact that yeah, it is different to football because football is a team sport, and it's just you in there on the on the night.
00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:45.600
Look, football's my big passion, my love, but there's nothing like boxing, and and you are right, it should be taught in schools, and the people who do have access to it, I get why they have access to it because they come from a different background and yeah, they need a discipline, but it should be taught as the part of the curriculum.
00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:47.120
It's not that it brings people together.
00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:50.799
Look at all the box cups that they do all over the country, all over the world, as a matter of fact.
00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:57.120
So many people come from different places and box and spar, and cool, you your kids getting in there and having a fight.
00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:00.960
But when they get out of that ring, they're probably gonna shake hands, they're gonna be mates with that kid.
00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:04.799
Yeah, you can't imagine you go out on the street and have a fight with someone and I can promise you they ain't gonna be friends after.
00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.279
Yeah, exactly.
00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.320
Someone end up getting stabbed.
00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:06.799
Do you know what I mean?
00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:11.360
It teaches discipline, and I think me personally, I think it should be in schools.
00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.960
Yeah, that I think not everyone will agree, but that's it is what it is.
00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:25.759
Yeah, well, like I said, it can only be these government bodies or the governments or all these other rats that probably disagree with it, but I'm sure there's many people like us that are strong advocates of the streets.
00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.919
I bet there'd be less little street rats going around thinking they're gangsters.
00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.600
I guarantee it.
00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:33.360
Maybe that's gonna be my next little mission.
00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:35.279
I was just gonna say boxing them to schools.
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:36.720
A little business venture there.
00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.679
That's it, that would do.
00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:39.039
Go home and start typing the name.
00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.639
I'll go back to the school that kicked me out.
00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.240
I've got a little business venture for you.
00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:42.960
That'll do.
00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.879
Yeah, look, yeah, 100%.
00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:47.440
Look, you know, you kick me out of school, look at me now.
00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:47.840
Mm-hmm.
00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:48.559
No, that's it.
00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.559
Yeah, I ch I still chase my dreams, still got my dreams.
00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:52.879
Yeah.
00:12:53.120 --> 00:13:01.120
If it's not people, it's bad because some people will go through school and will do so well and go to uni and listen, everyone's got a different path in life.
00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.480
Some people are gonna want to do that.
00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:07.679
The ones that don't, I know from around here, a lot of people don't get on in school.
00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:11.120
So I know kids that have come out of school, they don't know what's next for them.
00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:17.519
They've gone to selling drugs to people they shouldn't be hanging around with people, stealing shit, just because they've got nothing to do.
00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.799
And everyone goes, Oh, you need GCSEs for this, you need this, you need that.
00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.080
Cool, it makes it harder.
00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.679
I know that for myself.
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:28.559
But say boxing was there for them, it gives them something to look for.
00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.399
Even if they don't want to do boxing, do coaching.
00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.360
I've done that myself now.
00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:35.200
Obviously, I'm doing my boxing, but I know boxing ain't gonna always be there for me.
00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:40.159
So if I can do coaching, help out kids that are in a shit position, could do with the help.
00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:40.879
Do you know what I mean?
00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.320
Yeah, that's what it is.
00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:49.039
It is, but these people, like we said, they just don't they don't view it like that.
00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:53.120
No, unfortunately, which is just which is just a shame.
00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.000
But I think like you said, you can offer these kids life experience.
00:13:56.159 --> 00:14:06.399
Look, I was I did this and that at school and I've done this and that, but you know, this is what boxing can can give you, but it's sad that people don't see it like that.
00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.840
People don't see it like that.
00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:09.440
But maybe one day in the world.
00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:10.080
Maybe.
00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.960
Well, once you leave here and start typing up your email and that, you'll be.
00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.320
Oh, you chat GPT, mate.
00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.200
I I ain't all good with I told you a pen and paper ain't my thing.
00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.399
I ain't no good with it.
00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:22.320
ChatGBT, uh that's everyone's favourite that chat GPT.
00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.440
All the questions I ask that is stupid.
00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:25.919
Yeah.
00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.080
Some people's like best friends, innit?
00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.679
Some people like proper chat to it.
00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.200
I bet you do.
00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.159
You definitely do.
00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.519
Yeah, alright.
00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.679
Yeah, I type it fell out for me for work.
00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.440
If I get sent an email, I was like makes life easy, doesn't it?
00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.039
It can do sometimes.
00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.320
Sometimes.
00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.759
Not always.
00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.039
Not always.
00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:47.759
True.
00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.759
But anyway, back to your boxing.
00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.919
Back to boxing, yeah, we're getting off track here.
00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:58.399
Um what sort of things or I know you won things, but what was the first thing you won a f a five star?
00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:03.360
First thing I won was schoolgirls, school boys, as people want to call it.
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:03.679
Yeah.
00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:05.279
But it was a school boys.
00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:05.679
Yeah.
00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.639
I won that.
00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.360
Do you know what?
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.720
I didn't win it the first year round.
00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:17.679
The first year round, I boxed a girl in the London finals, beat her, but then when it came to the national levels, I never had an opponent.
00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:20.159
Obviously, girls back then was you couldn't find them.
00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:23.039
Um I had no opponent.
00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.399
So they got in contact.
00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:28.639
Like, I'm not sure if it was my coaches, their coaches, and said, look, do you wanna do you wanna take the rematch?
00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:31.279
Like, give them a fight, give her another chance, whatever.
00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:36.720
Now, in my head, I've already beat this girl, but I didn't realise how big the stage was there.
00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:40.799
Compared to five-star shows and little club shows that I've been doing before.
00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.759
You got three or four rings set up, all the chairs all around you.
00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.519
I walked in and I just froze.
00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.879
I I boxed terrible.
00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.080
There's there's no advice.
00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:50.960
I boxed terrible.
00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.879
I think it was all the pressure of the fight.
00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.960
I I gave it away, I gave it to her.
00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:00.080
So next year round, obviously, I went back into it, I won it that year.
00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.840
Then I won the nationals again as a junior as well.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:09.440
Boxer cups and that in between, but yeah, yeah, first year, that still haunts me to this day.
00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.559
I gave it away.
00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.159
Gave it away to her.
00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:22.480
So it sounds like you your your losses they they eat eat you up a little bit because you said you lost your first fight and that still eats you.
00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:26.720
Well, maybe not still each up now, but yeah, you're up at a time and then losing to that girl of first year.
00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:30.159
Everyone barring two people that I've boxed, I've had a rematch with and beaten.
00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.320
Everyone barring two.
00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.679
But for me, do you know what it is?
00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:39.600
I I know I train hard, but when it comes to fights, I'm a sore loser.
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:42.799
Like I've obviously now I'm older, I'm a bit more mature.
00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.879
As a kid, I'd never take losing well.
00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.320
I didn't want anyone near me, I'd kick off screaming and fussing, whatever.
00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.720
But I think that stems to me not being able to control my emotions.
00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:56.960
Struggle with it now, I think I probably always will, but I never took it well.
00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:59.200
So for me, it's always gonna be in the back of my head.
00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:11.519
Like I so we'll get to a bit to my pro-licence situation in a bit, but when I after my first pro fight, I had to go back to amateurs because I had a bit of ad going on.
00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:16.640
So I thought I was gonna go back into the amateurs, piss through it.
00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.640
I entered straight into a box cut.
00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:21.519
Now I hadn't I hadn't prepared myself for this fight.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:24.640
I just I expected to go in there and it to be how it was when I was a kid.
00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.200
It ain't.
00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.319
It was my first time ever doing three minutes like in a fight.
00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:33.279
I weren't fit, I was 10 and a half kilos overweight the week before the fight.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.640
But for me, I if I've got something in my head, I want to do it.
00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.759
I said I was fighting.
00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:41.680
The coaches in the gym, they was even like, check it, check your weight, check your weight.
00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.839
Now I'd slip off, I'd slip off at the end, making sure I weren't checking my weight because I knew they won't let me fight.
00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:48.720
But I in my heart I wanted to, I knew I wanted to do it.
00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.519
Worst thing I should have done, I should have listened to my coaches.
00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:55.200
Again, I got in there, that's the first time I've ever been stopped, never been stopped before.
00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:57.519
I got in there, first round, I started alright.
00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.920
Second round, there was nothing in the tank.
00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:04.319
I had nothing, my arms was gone, I got an elbow in the eye as well, which didn't help.
00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:07.839
But Ed, you know, Ed threw the towel in and I hated him.
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:10.640
I looked at him and I was fuming, I hated him after that.
00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:19.839
Obviously, we sat down after and spoke about it, but I think that for me was more of a wake-up call to me because that's I took that loss the best out of any loss I've ever took before.
00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.920
But I think because I'm a bit older now and I knew I was going into it unfit, I knew I weren't ready.
00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:30.240
But for me, proving that I could make the weight was more of a deal to me than the actual fight.
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:35.599
But yeah, I don't I don't take losing well, but as I get older, I mature a little bit better.
00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:54.079
Yeah, you you probably probably will because none I'd like to think any of us in a competitive sport, we don't take losing well, but it's some of our losses can define us in in how our it's since I've been coaching as well, to be fair, that I've noticed losses ain't the end of the world because now I look at kids and I think I see how hard some of them train.
00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:58.319
When they go out and lose, you don't care if they lose, if they put their all in, it don't matter.
00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:05.920
But now I realise that from an outside perspective it don't mean as much, but I still will have that bit of bitterness in me against the ones that beat me.
00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:14.640
Some of the girls that I've beat are on like the Olympic squad now, like GB squad, pisses me off because I should have stayed in the gym, should have stayed, should have stayed in the gym.
00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:21.599
But then like going back to there, else I always say else stands for learning, does it stand for loss, so yeah.
00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.480
It might hurt us at first, which is not all humans.
00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:30.240
If anyone lost and then was like not asked, then they've they've got yeah, they've got serious problems.
00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:37.359
We'd all hurt at first, but then we dwell on it and we think about it and go, Oh yeah, I'll learn from this, I'll learn from that.
00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:39.200
It's not like it's a wake-up call a lot of the time.
00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.079
Yeah, a wake-up call, yeah.
00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.400
It makes you realise shit, I need to up my game.
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.319
Would you say it humbled you a little bit, maybe?
00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:51.200
Because where you just said that I thought it was gonna go in, piss it, and then you get stopped because you only because of your own doing, because you went first.
00:19:51.680 --> 00:20:02.160
See, I don't want to say it necessarily humbled me, because I'll still go into any fight I go into, I could be in with someone who really and truly should be bashing me up, and I'll still go into it with a winning mindset.
00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:14.160
But again, I've gone from getting gassed up, starting my pro career, being gassed up, well, you're gonna do this, you're gonna do that, to jumping back into amateurs where I'm just a number on about.
00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.920
Like, there ain't no big lead up to it.
00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.960
You'll you weigh in on the day, you get in the ring, you have a fight.
00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.559
I jumped the gun a bit.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.880
I didn't realise how much more I needed to be training.
00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:30.319
I just I don't want to say it humbled me, it learned it broke my heart.
00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.119
That's what it done.
00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.319
It didn't humble me, it broke my heart.
00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.839
And do you know what the worst thing was?
00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.000
Having to post it.
00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.720
Because if I I'm not one of them, like I'm not gonna post it.
00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.400
If I lost, I lost, that's it, I'll post it.
00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:53.680
But writing the post, knowing full well But it said then it did humble you if you've posted it because you've you've you've owned it and said, Yeah, look, yeah, but then I still walk back in the gym the following Monday with a fuck it attitude.
00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.319
Do you know what I mean?
00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:57.119
Is that is that saying a humble person would do?
00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.640
Potentially, we'll soon find out one of these days.
00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:10.240
Who knows how Moses Atama walked into the gym this week if he's back this week after you know he'd beat Hergebitz but punched himself out.
00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.000
It humbled him probably.
00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:16.480
He might walk in the gym and go, fuck it, I'm gonna be I'm still gonna be everybody.
00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.519
Because you've still got to be that still humble though.
00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:28.079
I think I don't know what would define it, define it, because you've still got to believe in yourself, you don't.
00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.359
No, that's that's this is what I mean.
00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.279
I've still I'll still get myself beating everything.
00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:36.720
Because if Moses was like, I know we're talking about you, but I'm trying to use him because he's just happened.
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:49.279
But if he went into that gym now and was like, Oh, you know, punch myself out, you know, I don't know what's next, like you know, maybe when I when I'll fight this guy in America or that, you know, I need to maybe watch.
00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:54.079
Yeah, but people wouldn't want to watch him no more because he's gone on a on a diner and he's like, Oh, I don't really know.
00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.680
So you've got to back yourself, really.
00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.119
You're still gonna back yourself.
00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.759
So yeah, is it being humble but well yeah, because you
00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.599
I think I'm quite humble in general.
00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:04.319
I do think I'm a humble person because I know I can be beat.
00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:08.480
I like to think that I could beat everyone, but I know there's someone out there.
00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.119
Do you know what I mean?
00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.799
There's always someone bigger and stronger.
00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.319
So Yeah.
00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:12.640
Yeah.
00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:15.599
Unless you're Joe Carzagi and Rocky Marciano.
00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:15.920
Yeah.
00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.359
I'm not going to mention maybe ever.
00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.680
We ain't that level yet, mate.
00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.480
Not yet.
00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:33.279
Yeah, but it obviously did it do shutting to you because you would on a you could have not posted or you could have gone on the rant saying, oh, I was robbed or even blamed dead or or whatever.
00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.160
But you didn't, you own that.
00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.200
Oh, I took ownership.
00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.000
I fucked up.
00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.480
Yeah.
00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.559
And that's what I'm not fucked up again.
00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.519
But it's a learning curve.
00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:42.000
I can't and I know full well going into any other fight.
00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.759
I ain't gonna do the shit I done then.
00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:46.160
I ain't gonna be trying to lose ten and a half kilos in a week.
00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:49.359
I'm not gonna be skipping training sessions so I don't have to jump on the scale.
00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.200
So boxing's no different to life.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.079
We all we all make mistakes.
00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:54.960
Listen, if you cut corners, it's gonna show a hundred percent.
00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.519
Yeah.
00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:58.480
And that's the gym is one place that will show that up.
00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.960
100% being in the gym, definitely.
00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:04.960
And in that ring, because it's like we said, it's just you, footballers.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:07.680
You don't you don't put that work in, go a bit snardy.
00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:13.599
You can hide because you've got ten other players, they can back you up, but it sh it shines massive under the bright light.
00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.359
Of course it doesn't just you in there.
00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:15.920
Mm-hmm.
00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:16.799
Yes.
00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.079
But oh well, we live in we live in we live in.
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.119
We do, we do, we do.
00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.559
We go again, we go again.
00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:26.000
Yeah, and we go again, which which you did do, which you did do.
00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:32.160
So did you say you had to you went into the pros and then out because of the the license and it issue?
00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:37.119
Um so with that, I so I I'll go right back to the start.
00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.960
So I stopped boxing when I was 16.
00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.680
Yeah, wow.
00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:42.960
Uh see I could sit here and give it the normal chat.
00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.599
Oh, I went and got in with the wrong crowd and done this and that.
00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.799
I was hanging around with my friend, I still speak to them friends now.
00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:51.680
I was hanging around with my friends at the time and I made some bad decisions.
00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:56.319
I'd done shit and shouldn't have, got in trouble, was that drinking, and I got I was getting nicked.
00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.960
So I ended up stepping away from the gym.
00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:04.960
The coaches even told me to I got told you need to step out of the gym, sort yourself out, because it weren't fair bringing a shit.
00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.880
The shit I was doing, it weren't fair bringing it around the gym.
00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.119
Yeah.
00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.839
Like it's that's their represent what's it called a reputation?
00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:10.319
Yeah, it wasn't.
00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.720
That's their reputation, then they've got to keep up.
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:18.240
I left the gym, started being a little shit, thought I was invincible, thought no one could touch me.
00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:25.359
Started getting into ag and then it was only 20 end of COVID, it must have been 2021 or something.
00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.200
I thought, right, I need to get my life in order.
00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.720
I went up to 89 kilo.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.319
Now I boxed at 69.
00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.720
89 kilos is a hell of a lot of weight.
00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.319
So I was massive and fat.
00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:36.880
I just I was a fat slob, I weren't doing nothing.
00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:39.680
So in my head, I thought, right, I need to go back to the gym.
00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:50.559
So I tried getting back into five star, but they they turned around to me and said, look, if if you're not ready to commit to it 100%, don't bother coming back yet because it's all or nothing, Brooke.
00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:56.400
Like we ain't we don't want to put all our time into you for you to do what you've done, which was fair enough, and I thank them for it now.
00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:01.200
Um so I started looking around at other gyms and I found Will uh Will Jones at Edge.
00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.759
Yeah.
00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:07.359
Anyway, I messaged him, popped down there, had a training session, loved it, like just hitting the pads again.
00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.000
I loved it.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:12.319
So started going down there training regular, no intention of going pro at this point.
00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.759
I just wanted to get back in the gym.
00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:19.119
So I was in there training, keeping busy, and then he sorted out some sparring.
00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.720
So obviously he had a few girls that was pro.
00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.000
I was like, oh, do you want to some sparring?
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.359
I was like, yeah, fuck it, why not?
00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:26.319
Anyway, started sparring again, and then I got the bug back for it.
00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:29.119
And I thought, right, hang on a minute, I'm enjoying it.
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:33.039
Now for me, I could have gone back amateur then, but Will come to obviously Will dealt with the pros.
00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.279
He came to me and was like, Do you want to go pro?
00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:38.480
I was like, fuck it, why not?
00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.599
So we'd done that.
00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:42.400
So I originally applied 2023.
00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:47.519
I applied, and obviously I had to send off all these letters and all this and all that.
00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:52.559
Got to the interview, passed the interview, because I hadn't boxed for so long, they wanted to do an assessment.
00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:58.960
They sent me down to Poplar, they came down, signed everything off, signed a bit of paper, went, well done, you'll get an email from us.
00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:02.480
Um, but as far as I was aware, at that point I'd been granted my licence.
00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:05.759
They had told me, Yep, you've got it, just wait for an email.
00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:10.720
It was about two weeks later, I'd got an email from the southern area.
00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:14.480
Um, sorry to inform you, we're not granting your licence at this time.
00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.279
That was it.
00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:17.359
There was no reason behind it, whatever.
00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:22.960
So I was chasing them, chasing them, my manager was chasing them, which was Lee, and at the time, everyone was on them like, why?
00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.000
For what reason?
00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.000
And it was because of my criminal record.
00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:29.839
Obviously, when I had that four years off, I'd been uh causing a bit of shit.
00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.839
It was all to me, it's all silly shit.
00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.839
Like it's mistakes, I've learnt from it.
00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:40.480
But if I hadn't done it then, I only would have gone on and done it later on in life because I feel like at some point I would have got bored.
00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:43.920
So I'm not I as much as I regret it, I don't regret it.
00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.799
Do you know what I mean?
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.920
But so from there, they rejected my licence, they said give it a year, reapply.
00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:51.039
So alright, no problem.
00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:53.039
Stayed in the gym, stayed busy.
00:26:53.359 --> 00:27:00.400
But from there, obviously, me not having a fight date, my training slacked because I like having something to look to look forward to.
00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:05.599
Yeah, so for me, I was in the gym, I was training, but I weren't training properly.
00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:10.880
I started putting on weight again, I started getting lazy, and that was it.
00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:14.319
I was meant to have another fight date, but I was fighting on an Estonian licence.
00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.680
I was meant to have another fight date, just never ended up happening.
00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:25.519
So for me, I sort of I lost that bit of love that I just got it back for boxing, and I sort of lost it again, and I thought, oh, like, what the fuck is this?
00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:33.519
Then there was a few problems within the gym, like some boxers was leaving, the squad, the training times was a bit different, and I had to work.
00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:40.319
Obviously, at the time I was working in the printing office in the gym, but that if there was a few problems with that, and I had to go and get to work.
00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:43.519
Then training and work was clashing, and it just stopped working.
00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:49.680
So I came away from it for a little while and I messaged Ed again and I said, Ed, look, I I still want a box.
00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.720
Can I come back?
00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:52.400
And he was like, Are you ready?
00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:54.640
And I was like, I think so.
00:27:54.960 --> 00:28:03.519
Went back down there, got boxing, and then straight away he was like, Right, do you want to do this was 2024?
00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:05.279
Do you want to do whole box cup?
00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:08.240
I just walked back in the gym now, I'm very overweight, yeah.
00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:10.480
And I was like, Yeah, he went, Are you gonna be ready?
00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.680
I was like, Yeah.
00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:16.799
And in my head, I knew full well I weren't, but I didn't want to let him down because I've promised I'm coming back and I mean it.
00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:20.319
So I've gone down there, done the whole box up, that's where I got stopped.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:24.319
And yeah, obviously I come away from it and I decided amateurs ain't for me.
00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:30.319
I enjoy I enjoy the whole setup of the pros, having a certain camp, doing the build-up to it, I enjoy that more.
00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:34.400
So we came away from it and I reapplied for my licence.
00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.799
It had been a year, so I reapplied again.
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:42.640
This time went with obviously had different coach on there, there was a different manager on there, Johnny Clark.
00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:47.680
Sent it all off, and I was contacting the ball directly for updates and that.
00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:51.680
They was like, Yeah, we've got your letter, we'll contact you in a couple of days once we've got through it.
00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:59.200
Didn't hear nothing for about a week, so I was chasing them and chasing them, and Johnny Clark actually sent me the guy's number, like his own number.
00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.559
So I'm calling him, calling him.
00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:02.720
It got to the point they was going, Brooke, what do you want?
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.440
What do you want?
00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:05.440
I was like, I just want to know if there's an update.
00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.039
Anyway, they rejected it again.
00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:10.079
They turned around and said, No, we can't give you a reason at this time.
00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:21.359
Now, everyone said to me, You need to appeal it because if they need to give you a reason, because it's been a year at the time I first applied, I was still on probation, I had outstanding community service, which again is understandable.
00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:24.960
You'd you'd I'm representing them at the end of the day, they ain't gonna want me there.
00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:28.319
So I got it, but after that, I'd been back to court.
00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:36.319
The court, the judge who was in the court that day, had written a letter to the board himself saying she's trying to sort her life out, like help her out.
00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:47.440
They cleared the remaining community service I had, they they helped me right out, and I'd literally I've turned my whole life around from what I was doing to where I am now, like it's two different people.
00:29:47.680 --> 00:30:10.079
And for me, getting that second rejection that was the point I sort of realised it's either I quit now and call it a day, or I give it everything I've got and do whatever there is possible, and hence the reason I'm now fighting on I don't know what licence I'm even on at the moment, but still doing my pros, I'm still staying active.
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:12.160
Hopefully, one day I can get a British title.
00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:14.880
Not British title, that would be nice, but a British licence.
00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:19.599
Um but I can't, I can't fighting over here ain't doable.
00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:22.480
Fighting for titles ain't doable without that licence.
00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:29.440
So when you go for the licence for like you just said an installing one, yeah.
00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:31.119
How the fuck do you get that?
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:34.400
I made a phone call to my manager.
00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.440
What we doing?
00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:40.880
We're doing this, I've made a phone call, send off this, send off that, send this money, and it's sorted.
00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.640
Don't know how it works.
00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:49.279
Listen, there's always going to be corruption in the game, but you've got to think there's yeah, there's many boxers out there that wanna that want a box.
00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:55.519
I know boxers that have come out of prison and walked straight into a British licence licence, so I don't know what makes me different from other people.
00:30:55.680 --> 00:31:03.839
I would love to understand it, and that for me is the thing that I've got a bit of a grudge against because on paper you can see how much I've grown as a person.
00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:06.079
You've got when I was doing all the shit, I was 18.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.039
I'm 24 now.
00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.839
This is six years ago.
00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:11.200
I've stayed out of trouble, I'm in the gym, I'm helping out with the kids.
00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:14.640
So you're giving back to your community, that's and there's no money in it.
00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:18.240
I every all the amateur classes, it's all it's all volunteer work.
00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.759
I'm doing it because I want to give back.
00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:22.079
I'm doing everything I can to keep my nose out of trouble.
00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:27.839
I'm working, I'm helping out with the kids, I'm coaching, I'm training myself, I'm proving that I want to be in boxing.
00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:30.960
And I just personally I feel like I'm not getting a fair chance.
00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:33.759
But it's not what's the point arguing it?
00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.240
Do you know what I mean?
00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:35.680
It's it's their decision at the end of the day.
00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:39.839
It is, but can you are you not allowed to someone said appeal it?
00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:40.960
Have you done that?
00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:46.559
Like how the first shit in front of them like you do your interview, or how they've got to call you up for it.
00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:57.359
So the first one, Lee actually appealed it, and they turned round, they gave they gave us a reason, which was you've got a criminal record, you've your your sentence on there is still was it unspent or spent?
00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:59.440
I'm not sure which one it is, but there's still stuff on there.
00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:01.759
We can't pass it with for that reason.
00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.440
Fine, understandable.
00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:06.240
I'll go and train for another year and prove I want to be here.
00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:11.039
But then the second time, even now, there's no reason as to why.
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.960
All it says we can't grant it at this time.
00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:20.000
I've had so Hamza, I spoke to Hamza and his dad before I re-applied, and they said, if you don't get the licence, let me know.
00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:22.000
We'll we'll push and we'll help you.
00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:27.440
And um they passed us on to Andy, Alien, and he's he's helped out massively.
00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:31.440
Like he's been back and forth with a board trying to trying to get an answer as to why.
00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:33.119
They've still not got an answer for me.
00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:37.119
I just if they gave me an answer, I said, Look, you're not having a licence because of this reason.
00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.319
I'd go, do you know what?
00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.039
Thank you very much.
00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.480
Yeah, and I'd go and do my thing.
00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.440
But I just want to know why.
00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:44.400
You just want to know why from from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:46.000
Yeah, that's that's just a reason.
00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:46.319
Yeah.
00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:48.400
If they gave me a reason, I'd I wouldn't argue it.
00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.440
But they haven't got one.
00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:58.000
Um with the names you got behind you, you know, approaching them and saying, Look, we voted, shows that you're not mean.
00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:08.880
If I had if I had come from a shit amateur background, like I ain't really done much, I've gone out, fucked about a bit, got in trouble, come back in and for, yeah, I'm I'm just one of them, just come back.
00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.160
I want to do I want to go pro.
00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.759
Yeah, you'd get you'd get it.
00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:18.559
But I've done everything as an amateur, I've won titles, I've boxed all around the country, I've been on the England squad, I even captained the England squad in Ireland.
00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:20.000
Like, I've done everything.
00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:21.680
I'll granted, I fucked up.
00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:25.039
I was young, I was from 16 to 18, that was my worst two years.
00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.079
I was an asshole.
00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:29.519
My mum had to deal with it at home, but you grow, you learn things.
00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:33.839
I'm now this is six years ago, I'll go, I was getting in trouble.
00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.599
Six years is a hell of a long time.
00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:42.000
Like now, this this is where it bugs me as well because I'm 24 now, yeah.
00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:45.680
See, women for a man being a boxer, it's easy.
00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:49.920
Like if you if you've got a misses home, you decide you want to have a kid, you can still train, you can still fight around that.
00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.640
At some point, I'm gonna want to grow up and have a family as well.
00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:58.160
So, how long do I keep trying to get this licence to keep boxing before I go right?
00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:00.880
Do I miss the chance to have a family?
00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.480
Do I like what do I do?
00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.279
Do you know what I mean?
00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:06.880
If they gave me an answer, I said you're never gonna get one, I'd come away from boxing.
00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:09.039
I'd I'd go and do my own thing and live my life.
00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:16.079
If they say, look, apply again in another year, and I'll wait that year and do it and they reject me again like they did this time, it's just a kick in the teeth.
00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:18.880
Like this time, it they told me to reapply, which I did.
00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:21.119
Why tell me just to take my money and reject me again?
00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.599
That's what don't make sense to me.
00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.239
It really don't.
00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:28.880
And you can't like appeal it and sit in front of them and get it.
00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:34.000
It can be appealed, but it's been chased up by so many people, they've got no interest in it.
00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:36.559
I just I don't make sense.
00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.719
It does it this is the thing, it doesn't make sense.
00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:40.239
It doesn't matter who asks them.
00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:43.280
Obviously, Johnny Clark being my manager, he's asked, Is there a reason why?
00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:46.079
And he they turned around to him and went, Yeah, we'll message Brooke directly.
00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.920
Then Andy said, Is there a reason why?
00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:49.440
Oh yeah, we'll email Brooke directly.
00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.480
They haven't emailed me.
00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:52.400
I check my emails regularly scrolling first.
00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.360
Yeah, just constantly checking.
00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:58.719
It's all well and good you'd email Brooke and that, I think, but I'm representing Brooke as their manager, so fucking tell me.
00:34:58.880 --> 00:35:02.719
But it's not that surely if you've got that many people believing in me that I can do something.
00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.719
That's what I mean, surely that's got a virtue for something.
00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:06.719
Yeah, I know I could I know I could be good at it.
00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.920
I know I am good at it.
00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:24.719
And and these aren't and these aren't like I just said, these aren't just people in boxing, these these are well respected people that the board will know, they'll have put plenty of fighters and have got licenses themselves to obviously be managers, so they they're not just your average soaplocks.
00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:26.719
That's something I will never understand.
00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:34.320
But yeah, listen, one day we might sit down and have the conversation about all I can do is for now I keep myself in the channel.
00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:36.239
And I just hope they're not assholes about it.
00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:39.199
Yeah, they're like will you boxing on an Estonian licence or whatever.
00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:39.760
I just don't know.
00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:42.000
But surely that proves how much I want to do it.
00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:46.239
I'm willing to fight on a license, I don't care what licence it is, I just want to fight.
00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:48.719
Surely, yeah, I want to be fighting on a British licence.
00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:52.480
I'm a British boxer, I want to be doing it here, I want to be fighting for British titles.
00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:57.199
But if you're not gonna give me that opportunity, how else am I gonna fight?
00:35:57.360 --> 00:36:00.000
If I went to white collar, they'd be like, what are you doing that for?
00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:02.880
If I went back to amateurs, I don't want to do that.
00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:04.639
It's it's a hobby, granted.
00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:07.280
I don't want it to be a hobby, I want it to be a career.
00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:10.559
So for me, why am I gonna go to what I would call a back step?
00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:18.000
Because at this point in my life, it's gonna cost me a hell of a lot more to get myself back up to the England squad, back onto the get onto the GB squad.
00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:19.119
Now it's gonna take years.
00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:19.519
Yeah.
00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:22.719
Whereas if I could get my pros now, I could start building myself up.
00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:25.039
A boxing career for a woman ain't a long time.
00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:25.280
No.
00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:26.079
Do you know what I mean?
00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:28.480
If they granted it last year, who knows where I could be this year?
00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.199
Do you know what I mean?
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:31.280
But I just don't get it.
00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:31.840
I don't get it.
00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.039
I don't know what they want me to do.
00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:38.719
You've got someone who's proving they want to fight, I will put everything into it given the chance.
00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:43.519
You're not giving me the chance, so obviously I'm gonna look elsewhere, whatever opportunity I can get.
00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:52.719
Look, I'm not well informed of who heads up the British Box and Border Control, but maybe when they move on, you might have a look.
00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.639
You might have a bit of luck.
00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:59.360
One day they resign and get someone else in, someone who has a fair crack at the whip.
00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:01.360
Just a chance, that's it.
00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:03.840
I'm not being funny, without being rude.
00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.880
I'm one boxer.
00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:08.239
The applications they get probably weekly and daily.
00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.599
Why me?
00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.880
Why what's wrong with me?
00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:11.599
Do you know what I mean?
00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:13.679
If they gave me a reason, again, I'd accept it.
00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:19.039
But I know boys and girls that have come out of prison and walked straight into a boxing licence.
00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:22.559
They've got very, very, very bad criminal records.
00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:24.159
They've they've got a licence.
00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:26.239
My record is is minor.
00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:28.400
Compared to a hell of a lot of people, it's minor.
00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.440
I've never been to prison.
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:34.079
And the biggest thing is they don't have the amateur pedigree that you've got.
00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:37.840
There's boxes that have been on on here that have come from white collar.
00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:42.320
Been to prison and then gone forward and got it.
00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:42.719
Yeah.
00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:44.400
Do you know what I mean?
00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:45.440
It doesn't that's it doesn't make sense.
00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.039
It doesn't.
00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.320
It doesn't.
00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:49.440
But who knows?
00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.119
Maybe I'm just not a very liked person.
00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.320
Maybe they don't like me.
00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.440
Maybe.
00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:54.800
Maybe.
00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:57.039
I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut on that thing.
00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:59.199
I don't know.
00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.440
Listen, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:04.960
I'm helping out with the kids, keep training, keep pushing.
00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:06.079
If it comes, it comes.
00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:10.880
And I bet you there's some there's some idiot there, like, oh yeah, but she's only doing that to get a licence.
00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:12.719
No, you're not because you've been through it.
00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:17.760
You've someone's given you the time and effort to pull into you, and you just want to give it back to these children.
00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:20.320
You know the worst bit the worst thing they made me do.
00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:27.920
When they said about reapplying, they said, when you apply, send us a cover letter as to why you think you deserve one.
00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:30.719
Sat there and poured my heart into a piece of paper.
00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:33.119
I've done this, I've done that, I've changed my life around.
00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:34.480
Read it and it didn't mean shit.
00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:37.519
That to me was more as like a humiliation thing.
00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:40.559
You want me to sit there and tell you why I deserve one to say no anyway.
00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:42.800
That's a to me, that's a control thing.
00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:51.760
Not everyone would agree that is, but me personally, obviously, listen, my mum seen me in tears over it, Ed seen me upset about it, Will seen me upset about it.
00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:54.880
Everyone that's around me knows how much it's bothered me.
00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:57.119
They don't care.
00:38:57.679 --> 00:39:04.800
No, and yet again, it knocks on that door of the dark side to boxing, professional boxing that people don't see.
00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.880
But this is the thing, there's not even no money in it.
00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:10.079
Like, it's not like they're even sitting, oh, she wants to be a pro because it's loads of money.
00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:16.800
There ain't no money in it, and I know there ain't no money in it because I've lost loads of money just trying to box, even trying to get a licence, I've lost thousands.
00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:19.840
Yeah, you just want to box on British oil.
00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.360
That's all I want to do.
00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:25.360
I know I can be good at it, and I know I can get up there given the chance.
00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:27.599
But you just want that one chance.
00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:28.079
Yeah.
00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:29.840
Well, I hope you get it.
00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:30.400
Thank you.
00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.199
I hope you get it.
00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:31.679
One day.
00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:33.679
If not, stick to my coaching.
00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:38.719
Hopefully, one of my uh one of the young girls I got, hopefully she can go in and do it for me.
00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.280
Yeah.
00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:43.440
If not what would what will be will be as they say?
00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:44.079
No, that's it.
00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:44.480
100%.
00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:50.719
But you but you've had you've managed to box as as as a prom, what was that like?
00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:52.320
Oh, unreal.
00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.280
Do you know what?
00:39:53.360 --> 00:40:01.840
From going from like listen, there's there's boxing on like box cups and nationals and having like being in the stadium sort of vibe.
00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:15.440
But going from that to having to be in like while I boxed in um Denmark, and the size of that venue, like all the seats around you, the lighting, having being out in the back in the changing room, just you in your changing room, I don't know, it's mad.
00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:17.280
It's a different it's a whole different setting.
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:21.679
Like, and even after like the interviews, having to talk about it, that's where I struggle.
00:40:21.840 --> 00:40:23.360
Interviews and having a camera in my face.
00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:27.599
Um some of my interviews are on Insta uh what's it on YouTube?
00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.320
Terrible.
00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:30.559
I've even tried to get them taken down, they're awful.
00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:40.480
But I think that I think that to be fair has helped me grow as a person as well because knowing I can't speak and act like a chav in front of a I can't be like that.
00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:50.320
Cool, I can be myself, but I've got to grow up a bit and take a bit of accountability in how I put myself across rather than just being a div and oh I can't, I can't say that, I can't say that.
00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:50.880
Do you know what I mean?
00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:53.840
Well, yeah, and then the pros you have to sell yourself about being yourself.
00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:56.079
If and if you don't, you ain't getting nowhere.
00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:58.480
Because you still have to be yourself and not be yourself.
00:40:58.719 --> 00:41:00.880
Yeah, be a professional version of yourself, yeah.
00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:02.400
Professional version of yourself, yeah.
00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:06.880
Yeah, we're we're learning, learning on the job.
00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:08.000
There's nothing wrong with that.
00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.880
No, I've been wearing it.
00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:10.400
But listen, everyone goes for it, do you know what I mean?
00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:19.280
We all do, we all do, and even going back to you know, you're saying you're messing army, 16, 18, you're old, getting up to things, you're all due because you're the kid and you're just living your life.
00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:24.719
Bring me, bring me what at 16, you know, right now in front of us that I haven't fucked about in their life.
00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.440
Do you know what I mean?
00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.400
This is what I mean.
00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.920
It was all this silly shit.
00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:31.679
I've if I went out and killed someone, very different.
00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:35.280
Yeah, but it's getting I've gone out, had a drink, and had a scrap.
00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:35.760
Yeah.
00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:39.679
As a youngster, yeah, oh guess what I've done, I got drunk, I had a fight.
00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:40.480
It's funny, isn't it?
00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:43.599
Growing up now, I look back at it, it's fucked me up for getting certain jobs.
00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:45.199
There's certain jobs I can't go into.
00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:48.159
There's this boxing thing, it it fucks me up.
00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:53.039
I regret it more than anything, but again, if I could go back and change it, I would, but I can't.
00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:55.599
So there's no point sitting here going, oh well, I wish I'd never done it.
00:41:55.679 --> 00:41:57.119
I would I can't I can't change that.
00:41:57.280 --> 00:42:00.239
I've done it now, like I'm trying to progress and move on in my life.
00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:07.199
But you're showing that you've learned from your mistakes and you're willing to accept that they're wrong, but look, I've I've changed.
00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:09.599
Yeah, it must be so frustrating.
00:42:09.840 --> 00:42:12.719
Yeah, that's that's all it is, it's just frustrating more than anything.
00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:16.239
Because I don't know what more I can do to to prove I want to do it.
00:42:16.320 --> 00:42:16.800
Do you know what I mean?
00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:23.519
As sitting there and saying it, they're showing it, I I don't know what more anyone wants, do you know what I mean?
00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:26.159
So here we are.
00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.360
Here we are, yeah.
00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:30.639
You missed out before you just said you're captain England.
00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:32.559
Like, what was that like?
00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.239
Do you know what?
00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:41.360
Um it was good, but I I weren't sure why I got picked because I've always been a bit of a lone wolf.
00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:42.639
I've never really fitted in with people.
00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:50.400
Like I've got my friends and that around me, but when we used to go to England camps, so you'd do like you'd stay over, you'd all eat together, you'd all chill together.
00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:56.159
All the other girls, they'd all there was a thing called um what was it?
00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:57.440
Buzz something.
00:42:57.599 --> 00:43:03.039
It was like a little thing where you know, like how TikTok is today, you do videos, there's all like speeches in the background and that.
00:43:03.119 --> 00:43:05.360
There was one of them, all the girls would go off together doing that.
00:43:05.519 --> 00:43:06.400
I couldn't fit in.
00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.599
I'd always be on my own.
00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:09.360
I like being on my own.
00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:17.840
And when they called us all in to get our England vests and that, and they was like, right, we've got Team England captain for the tournament and called me up, and I was like, what?
00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:22.000
So, girls, if any of you have got a problem, go to Brooke, blah blah blah.
00:43:22.320 --> 00:43:28.000
For me, I think that was their way of trying to get me to try and mix in with other people.
00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:32.000
I just I've never I don't really like mixing in with people, but it was good.
00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:34.960
Like obviously, I we had to go out, I get to hold the flag and that.
00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:37.199
I was only young then, I must have been 13, 14.
00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:39.360
So that when you're a kid, that's a big thing, isn't it?
00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:40.480
It was all in the papers and that.
00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:46.559
I come home, I was still in school at this time, and I'd gone back to school and it was in the newspaper, they got it up, everyone's like, Oh my god.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:48.559
So that was that was a big thing for me.
00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:51.360
That was my first ever England tournament away from home as well.
00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:52.320
That was in Ireland.
00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:55.119
Ed Ed actually came over there for that as well.
00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:56.639
He's been everywhere with me.
00:43:56.719 --> 00:43:57.840
Good old Eddie Kelly.
00:43:57.920 --> 00:43:58.639
He loves it like that.
00:43:58.800 --> 00:43:59.199
Bless him, yeah.
00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:00.719
Mm-hmm.
00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:01.440
Yeah.
00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:06.639
Yeah, no, he's a nice bloke and he's done a lot for for you and for that gym.
00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:09.119
That club wouldn't be what that club is without Eddie there.
00:44:09.360 --> 00:44:10.000
A hundred percent.
00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:20.719
And it's not that you've got to think every coach down there, they've all got wives at home, they've all got a life at home, and they spend half their life around that gym or travelling around the country with the kids, just so the kids can go on and do something.
00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:29.920
And I think that's why that's why it means so much when the kids do win things, because the boys know the sacrifices that the coaches are making.
00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.360
So for them it means a lot to everyone.
00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:33.679
But look at Demiji, like Ed's had Demiji.
00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:36.000
Demidji started late in life for a boxer.
00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:38.559
Like everyone else that boxes, they're starting from young.
00:44:38.719 --> 00:44:39.440
He came in.
00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:44.239
I'd left school, I went to school with him, but I had left school by before he'd even started boxing.
00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:49.840
And he's come in and he's he's stayed with Ed the whole way through, and I think he will stay with Ed even going forward.
00:44:49.920 --> 00:44:50.559
Do you know what I mean?
00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:55.519
Which again I know will mean a hell of a lot to Ed because of the sacrifices he's had to put in.
00:44:55.679 --> 00:44:57.519
Not because he has to, but because he's wanted to.
00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:58.400
Same for me.
00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:01.199
He's he's been everywhere with me, absolutely everywhere.
00:45:01.360 --> 00:45:06.239
And even outside of boxing, there was times my mum's had to ring Ed and be like, Ed, help me out.
00:45:06.320 --> 00:45:08.159
Like, because I'm being an arsehole, do you know what I mean?
00:45:08.239 --> 00:45:09.360
And he's always been there.
00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:10.239
So that's good.
00:45:10.320 --> 00:45:10.800
It's good.
00:45:10.960 --> 00:45:15.119
When you think I've I'm even like sitting in now thinking about things I haven't thought about for a long time.
00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:15.519
Yeah.
00:45:15.679 --> 00:45:17.039
But no, it's good, it's good memories.
00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:17.440
Very good.
00:45:17.840 --> 00:45:20.800
Like the big brother you know, like have you had have you got a big brother or?
00:45:21.199 --> 00:45:25.039
Yeah, but um I'm it the big sister of my big brother.
00:45:25.199 --> 00:45:25.920
Oh, okay, whatever.
00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:28.719
Yeah, he weren't bossing me around, I was beating him up.
00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:31.119
But no, he was uh he looked after me.
00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:35.599
He's more like a brother figure now, but even growing up, I used to get in Father's Day cards and things like that.
00:45:35.679 --> 00:45:39.280
Yeah, I was like, he was uh Yeah, he was a father figure for a very long time.
00:45:40.159 --> 00:45:45.599
And I think he even growing up when there was times I could have I could have gone the other way, he kept me on track.
00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:49.760
It was only when I sort of got that bit older and there was sort of there was no telling me.
00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:50.639
I thought I knew best.
00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:52.639
It doesn't matter who you were, I thought I knew best.
00:45:52.800 --> 00:45:58.719
Looking back now, obviously, yeah, I wish I listened, but I learned my lesson, I learned the hard way.
00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:02.960
No, well Pek Brook, thanks for coming on.
00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:08.400
Telling your story, and we wish you all the best, more importantly, for the 19th.
00:46:08.719 --> 00:46:09.599
Thank you very much.
00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:16.960
And yeah, I really, really hope you get that licence one day because for the life of me, I don't know why they keep knocking knocking it back because they've got no reason.
00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:18.719
If I ever find out, I'll let you know.
00:46:18.880 --> 00:46:20.159
Yeah, please, please do.
00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:23.679
And I was thinking, because obviously I knew I had you on the podcast today.
00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:29.199
I was thinking driving to work that I need to get someone from the board to come on the podcast.
00:46:29.360 --> 00:46:32.079
Not not to like slag them off or anything like that.
00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:33.440
If you do, just ask them.
00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:41.760
Just for just for them to say, This is why this is the role I do within the British, this is how people get the licence, this is why we don't get the licence.
00:46:42.239 --> 00:46:46.880
Just just for the listeners and the viewers and of why or how people get the line.
00:46:48.480 --> 00:46:50.880
If ever if it ever had Libila, if it ever happens.
00:46:51.039 --> 00:46:54.079
Yeah, I've got something in mind, but I don't I don't know what his role is.
00:46:54.159 --> 00:46:55.440
I always see him on telly.
00:46:55.760 --> 00:46:56.559
I don't know what his role is.
00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:57.760
I think I know the guy you're talking about.
00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:58.719
I'll tell you in a second.
00:46:58.800 --> 00:46:58.880
Alright.
00:46:59.039 --> 00:46:59.840
I'll tell you in a second.
00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:05.599
But no, Brooke, thanks for coming on and all the best for you for your pro career and getting that British licence.
00:47:05.840 --> 00:47:06.719
And yeah.
00:47:07.119 --> 00:47:08.159
Thank you very much.
00:47:08.400 --> 00:47:09.199
You're welcome.
00:47:09.360 --> 00:47:09.920
Thanks again.
00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:10.880
What do we do now?
00:47:11.199 --> 00:47:11.920
What do we do now?
00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:12.800
I've got to do the Ember.
00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:13.920
I've got to do the Ember.
00:47:14.400 --> 00:47:16.000
Uh guys, thanks for listening.
00:47:16.159 --> 00:47:18.320
And I hope you enjoyed that episode just as much as I did.
00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:34.159
If you don't follow Brooke on on her social media, I'll see her hard journey and that she's putting in to be a professional and the hard work, free time that she's giving back to her community that the helped mould her and shape her into the woman that she is today.
00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:43.280
And um if you don't give us a nice rating, whatever you pick up your podcast, like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, and as always, be prepared to step into the ring and be first.
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.520
Me personally, I think boxing should be in schools.
00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:03.839
I think because a hell of a lot of kids will benefit from it massively.
00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:05.200
I've done my whole life around.
00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:09.679
From what I was doing to where I am now, like it's it's two different people.
00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:15.679
Realised it's either I quit now and call it a day, or I give it everything I've got and do whatever there is possible.
00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:17.359
Ed, do you know Ed threw the towel in?
00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:18.719
And I hated him.
00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:20.480
I looked at him and I was fuming.
00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:20.960
I hate it.
00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:22.960
First year, that still haunts me to this day.
00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:24.160
I gave it away.
00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:25.760
Gave it away to her.
00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:28.399
Yeah, he was a father figure for a very long time.
00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:31.920
Anyway, started sparring again, and then I got the bug back for it.
00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.399
And I thought, right, hang on a minute, I'm enjoying it.
00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:35.679
Keep my nose out of trouble.
00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:41.439
I'm working, I'm helping out with the kids, I'm coaching, I'm training myself, I'm proving that I want to be in boxing.
00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:43.920
And I personally I feel like I'm not getting a fair chance.
00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:44.960
England best in that.
00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:51.280
And they was like, right, we've got Team England captain for the tournament and called me up, and I was like, go out, I get to hold the flag and that.
00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:53.520
I was only young then, I must have been 13, 14.
00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:55.679
So that when you're a kid, that's a big thing, isn't it?
00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:56.799
It was all in the papers and that.
00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:57.359
I come home.
00:00:57.439 --> 00:00:58.719
I was still in school at this time.
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I'd gone back to school and it was in the newspaper, they got it up.
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Everyone's like, oh my god.
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And welcome back to the Be First Podcast.
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Today's guest, we've got former amateur, now professional boxer, Miss Brookeaton.
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How are we doing?
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I'm good, mate.
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How are you?
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Yeah, all good.
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Thanks for taking your time out, your busy schedule to come on a podcast.
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I appreciate it.
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No worries, thank you for having me on.
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You're welcome, it's a pleasure.
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Um before we start, um I introduced you today, professional boxer.
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You've got a fight coming up.
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You're in fighting camp at the moment.
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Yep.
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When is it?
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Where is it?
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19th December in Baswoden, nice and local.
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Um, third professional fight.
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Hopefully the same outcome as uh as the other two.
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December.
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No, September.
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I thought you said December.
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I might have done.
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My brain's away with the fairies.
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Yeah, yeah, that's true.
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Well, you're off.
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You are in Fight Camp and we come across a lot of fighters in Fire Camp that have done mad things.
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Too many punches to the head, mate.
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That's what it is.
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Too many punches in the head.
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Nah, that's good.
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So yeah, not far.
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Yep, not far away.
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And that's why I said I appreciate you coming on, being a stressing to him.
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Come and tell your story.
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So if you can, take us back to the start where you grew up and how you gone into sport you love.
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Right.
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So I've grown up in Harold Hill ever since I was a baby, even now, still in and around it.
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Um I walked into Five Star when I was nine years old.
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I didn't want to, I had no intention of boxing, never, never even thought about it.
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I used to play football.
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And uh any goods?
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I was alright, I got scouted.
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They would had me on uh I can't remember if it was Arsenal or West Ham, like baby squads.
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This was I was nine.
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Um but I loved it, I've always been sporty and that.
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But yeah, so I was being a little shit at school.
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Like I was being bad, I was fighting all the time.
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Like I had a little bit of shit going on at home, and for me, going in school, having a tear-up, that made me feel better.
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So I was one of them, you know, when certain kids have like a mentor, I'd like a timeout card.
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If I was misbehaving, I'd go sit in a special room.
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I was an arse.
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And uh, my mum, she took me down there more of a punishment.
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Like, you know, you go down there, you wanna you wanna fight, you do it properly.
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I went down there, I loved it.
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Obviously, I was there for a little while.
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Some punishment then.
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Yeah, I loved it though.
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She was like, what the fuck?
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But no, so I was there for three months before I actually got carded.
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So when I walked in there, a five-star hadn't had a girl before.
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I think they had one senior woman that was like in and out, but I don't know if she ever boxed, but I was the first girl, so for them, I don't think they knew what to do with me.
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So they I think for them it was more trying to scare me out, get me out of it, and they could just keep their boys.
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So they got me carded, had my first skills after three months.
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Again, got out of the ring, I cried my eyes out.
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Mum was like, What's the matter?
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What's the matter?
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I wasn't hurt, I think it was just adrenaline, but yeah, I loved it, kept coming back, coming back, and over time I got really close with Ed.
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Ed took me on for a good few years of my life when I was younger as well, took me everywhere with him, and yeah, just started gang on winning titles, things like that.
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Was he was he your first coach?
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Was it him and his brother, John?
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Well they were they the coaches?
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Yeah, so at the time Lenny's always been there, obviously, since I've been there.
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Ed was m my only ever coach, but there was obviously other coaches down there.
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You had a geezer called Barry, he was good stuff.
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I was I was quite close with him, but obviously, as you grow up, sort of people leave and stuff.
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John's always been down there, and it's always it's always been the same faces.
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Do you know what I mean?
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It's always the same sort of people.
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So well, it's a community gym, isn't it?
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It's family.
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No, definitely.
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Lads who live in that area grew up in that area.
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That's it.
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They all boxed there.
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Yep.
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You grow up, have kids, and their kids come up there.
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Yeah, you've got to even like down to little TJ.
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TJ was this big when I come down there.
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He's a he's a big winner, he's nearly 18, he's he's out winning things, working.
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It's mad.
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Yeah, literally is mad.
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Because I remember this brother boxing for five stars.
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That's what I meant.
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Red was boxing when I boxed.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, it's mental.
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It makes me feel old.
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It makes me feel old, yeah.
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And you're a lot younger than me, so yeah, it definitely makes me feel old.
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So when you went to hands up Firestar, you just loved it in that nine years old, got cards.
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Where was you where was your first amateur box?
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In Five Star.
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Oh, was it in one of their famous shows?
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So I had literally just turned n just turned ten, so it must have been February, March, about May time that I boxed, and uh oh, it was unreal.
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I loved it.
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I got uh everyone was like that.
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Do you know that that was when I first felt like part of the team?
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So before that, I was always I never really spoke to no one.
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There was a couple of boys there that I knew from school, yeah, and I'd sort of drift towards them.
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But once I had that first fight, that's when I thought everyone's everyone spoke to me, and I was like, oh, this is sick.
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I loved it, it was good.
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Yeah, so they got the not their respect, but yeah, a bit of approval, you get more included, isn't it?
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You've had your first conference, yeah.
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But yeah, that was five-star home show, yeah.
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And then I was out active from there.
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And I think I must have had three or four skills before I had a pro I lost my first fight, actually, thinking about it.
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Yeah, I was all I boxed in a nightclub in Kent.
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Yeah, I still remember the girl that beat me, she was from St.
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Mary's.
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I've always wanted to get my vengeance.
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I was meant to have a rematch with her a few years later, but they never took the fight.
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They agreed to it, we got there, and they they pulled out.
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We went like missions for that as well, but it never happened.
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That was the one girl I always wanted to get back.
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But yeah, I lost my first one, and then after that, I had a good old winning streak, and I even though I lost, I still enjoyed it.
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Even going back in the gym, that's the one thing I can say with Five Star.
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Like, there's even when you lose, you come back in the gym.
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Like we had a few boys out the weekend in bar room.
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Some of them didn't box their best, some of them just didn't get the decision.
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Like it's boxing, but you still come in, everyone gets their medals out, and you still get gassed up because at the end of the day, you're in the gym training and everyone looks after everyone.
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So that's one thing they've always been good in that sense.
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Like win, lose, or drink, don't matter, they're they're there for you anyway.
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So it's always been like that.
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I like that.
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Yeah, no.
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Yeah, it's good.
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No, that is nice because, like you said, some gyms that might not happen or whatever.
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Well, I know boys that have come from other gyms, and even like bad spas and that, and it's oh you just brushed aside, sort of thing.
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In our in our gym, you've you've got the kids that ain't at that level, you've got kids that are at that level.
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Some gyms it'll be like, oh, we'll mix this kid with this kid, chuck them in, sink or swim.
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And you've got some kids beating the shit out of kids that shouldn't be in the ring with them just for a confidence boost.
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In our gym, it ain't like that.
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You've got boys that willingly go, yep, I'll help you out.
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I think.
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Listen, don't get wrong, some gyms are like that, but you do get the odd gym.
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I'm not gonna name them, but they're my uh they're my enemies, we don't like them.
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You tell me you can tell me off camera.
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Yeah, I will, I will.
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I'm looking forward to that.
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Um they probably know who they are, they're probably gonna watch this and think, you fucking bitch.
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Yeah, she's talking about they'll comment.
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Yeah, that's it.
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Nah, perfect, and and just touching on your like your family a little bit, is boxing in your family and your blood or so are you the only one?
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No, well, my granddad, I never actually got to meet him, but he was a boxer, and no one else boxed in my family.
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So I think for me, it was mad for me to do it without knowing my granddad was actually a boxer and love it as much as I did.
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So for my mum, I think that was special to her because obviously it was something that her dad done that she could sort of carry on.
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I've tried to get all my siblings in it.
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My brother, he was a good boxer, he's 17, 18 now.
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He when he was a kid, he was wicked, but I think I pushed him too hard.
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He sort of got to that age where he thought, I ain't doing it.
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I could say no, I ain't doing it.
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But if he would have stayed on, he would have like done good at it.
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But yeah, no one in my family really does it.
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They're all my sisters are all like girly girls, they don't want to be involved in it.
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Yeah, my brothers like football.
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I'm the only hard night in the family, the rest of them are scared.
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Just you flying the flag.
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That's it, that's it.
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And going going back to your mum and she took you to five stars of punishment.
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What what was their reaction to you not taking as a punishment?
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To like, I fucking love this.
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Do you know what?
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I don't think she took it in a bad way because even then, me loving it, it didn't change the support system.
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Like from my first fight even through till now, she's always been there.
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She's gone with that stuff for herself to make sure I've got the kit I need, make sure I'm at the tournaments I need to be at, everything like that.
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So it probably pissed her off at first.
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She probably thought, oh shit, that is gonna cost me a lot of money.
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But yeah, it's it's not worked out too bad, has it?
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Nah, exactly.
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He's doing alright so far.
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Yeah, she must be my Pradia for where you are now.
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Getting there, getting back, yeah.
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Getting back there, shall we say?
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Yeah, or have you been in there bad box at times?
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No, not mum's in boxing senses.
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Oh, in boxing senses, sorry.
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Um and school you said there, you're like a bit naughty in school as we as we all can be.
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Did boxing certainly when you moved into secondary school, did boxing sort of not mellow yeah, but because you get that discipline.
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Did you transfer it into school or was it See when I started boxing, I would have been year five, year six, so I was still in primary school.
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Going into year seven, I was I don't want to say a lot more humble because I don't think you could be humble as a kid of that age, but I I respected people like older people more.
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Kids, I didn't care.
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If you said something to me, I've got a temper problem.
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Like as a kid, I was awful.
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I'd lose my temper, I'd hit them.
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That's the one way I knew how to deal with it.
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So, but I've never been like me in school, we never got on.
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I left school when I was 14.
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I could see pen and paper, I ain't I ain't built for it.
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I've always been like hands-on, I think that's why boxing works.
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But I just never got on with school.
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I think teachers, they a lot of teachers don't understand.
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I get they're there to do a job, but I think they don't understand kids come from different backgrounds.
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Some kids don't manage things the same way that other kids do.
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And that's for me personally, I think boxing should be in schools.
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I think because a hell of a lot of kids will benefit from it massively, especially the kids that do struggle and ain't got shit at home.
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Do you know what I mean?
00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:27.440
It's yeah, I think it would play a very, very good role to be able to do that.
00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:30.480
Yeah, man, it it definitely it definitely would, you know.
00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:36.320
Football's recognised as our national sports, and you know, some might people might say like the show.
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It is, yeah.
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Some people need to learn to think on their own.
00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.279
Do you know what I mean?
00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:49.279
It's you and your opponent in there, and some people depend on other people because of not this in sports like football and that, but I think a lot of kids would progress a lot more if they had things like boxing.
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Yeah, because you've got to think for yourself, it ain't just a case of oh, depend on other people.
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Do you know what I mean?
00:10:54.240 --> 00:11:03.759
I think with like boxing, these government bodies, like talking schools, they just see it as well, it's aggression with teaching our kids to be aggressive.
00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:04.799
Yeah, but that's the way they see it.
00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:06.080
Yeah, they don't even know the sports.
00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.080
How many of them have walked into a boxing gym?
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Do you know what I mean?
00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:11.840
You like I say, I walk into a boxing gym, that's my that's my second home.
00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.559
Like I walk in there and I feel like I'm at home, that's my family.
00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:28.240
And you know, we all we always say in there, there's no sport like it for fitness, you know, the people you meet, and and the fact that yeah, it is different to football because football is a team sport, and it's just you in there on the on the night.
00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:45.600
Look, football's my big passion, my love, but there's nothing like boxing, and and you are right, it should be taught in schools, and the people who do have access to it, I get why they have access to it because they come from a different background and yeah, they need a discipline, but it should be taught as the part of the curriculum.
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It's not that it brings people together.
00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:50.799
Look at all the box cups that they do all over the country, all over the world, as a matter of fact.
00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:57.120
So many people come from different places and box and spar, and cool, you your kids getting in there and having a fight.
00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:00.960
But when they get out of that ring, they're probably gonna shake hands, they're gonna be mates with that kid.
00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:04.799
Yeah, you can't imagine you go out on the street and have a fight with someone and I can promise you they ain't gonna be friends after.
00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.279
Yeah, exactly.
00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.320
Someone end up getting stabbed.
00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:06.799
Do you know what I mean?
00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:11.360
It teaches discipline, and I think me personally, I think it should be in schools.
00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.960
Yeah, that I think not everyone will agree, but that's it is what it is.
00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:25.759
Yeah, well, like I said, it can only be these government bodies or the governments or all these other rats that probably disagree with it, but I'm sure there's many people like us that are strong advocates of the streets.
00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.919
I bet there'd be less little street rats going around thinking they're gangsters.
00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.600
I guarantee it.
00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:33.360
Maybe that's gonna be my next little mission.
00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:35.279
I was just gonna say boxing them to schools.
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:36.720
A little business venture there.
00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.679
That's it, that would do.
00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:39.039
Go home and start typing the name.
00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.639
I'll go back to the school that kicked me out.
00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.240
I've got a little business venture for you.
00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:42.960
That'll do.
00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.879
Yeah, look, yeah, 100%.
00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:47.440
Look, you know, you kick me out of school, look at me now.
00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:47.840
Mm-hmm.
00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:48.559
No, that's it.
00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.559
Yeah, I ch I still chase my dreams, still got my dreams.
00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:52.879
Yeah.
00:12:53.120 --> 00:13:01.120
If it's not people, it's bad because some people will go through school and will do so well and go to uni and listen, everyone's got a different path in life.
00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.480
Some people are gonna want to do that.
00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:07.679
The ones that don't, I know from around here, a lot of people don't get on in school.
00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:11.120
So I know kids that have come out of school, they don't know what's next for them.
00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:17.519
They've gone to selling drugs to people they shouldn't be hanging around with people, stealing shit, just because they've got nothing to do.
00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.799
And everyone goes, Oh, you need GCSEs for this, you need this, you need that.
00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.080
Cool, it makes it harder.
00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.679
I know that for myself.
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:28.559
But say boxing was there for them, it gives them something to look for.
00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.399
Even if they don't want to do boxing, do coaching.
00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.360
I've done that myself now.
00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:35.200
Obviously, I'm doing my boxing, but I know boxing ain't gonna always be there for me.
00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:40.159
So if I can do coaching, help out kids that are in a shit position, could do with the help.
00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:40.879
Do you know what I mean?
00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.320
Yeah, that's what it is.
00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:49.039
It is, but these people, like we said, they just don't they don't view it like that.
00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:53.120
No, unfortunately, which is just which is just a shame.
00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.000
But I think like you said, you can offer these kids life experience.
00:13:56.159 --> 00:14:06.399
Look, I was I did this and that at school and I've done this and that, but you know, this is what boxing can can give you, but it's sad that people don't see it like that.
00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.840
People don't see it like that.
00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:09.440
But maybe one day in the world.
00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:10.080
Maybe.
00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.960
Well, once you leave here and start typing up your email and that, you'll be.
00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.320
Oh, you chat GPT, mate.
00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.200
I I ain't all good with I told you a pen and paper ain't my thing.
00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.399
I ain't no good with it.
00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:22.320
ChatGBT, uh that's everyone's favourite that chat GPT.
00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.440
All the questions I ask that is stupid.
00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:25.919
Yeah.
00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.080
Some people's like best friends, innit?
00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.679
Some people like proper chat to it.
00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.200
I bet you do.
00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.159
You definitely do.
00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.519
Yeah, alright.
00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.679
Yeah, I type it fell out for me for work.
00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.440
If I get sent an email, I was like makes life easy, doesn't it?
00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.039
It can do sometimes.
00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.320
Sometimes.
00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.759
Not always.
00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.039
Not always.
00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:47.759
True.
00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.759
But anyway, back to your boxing.
00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.919
Back to boxing, yeah, we're getting off track here.
00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:58.399
Um what sort of things or I know you won things, but what was the first thing you won a f a five star?
00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:03.360
First thing I won was schoolgirls, school boys, as people want to call it.
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:03.679
Yeah.
00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:05.279
But it was a school boys.
00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:05.679
Yeah.
00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.639
I won that.
00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.360
Do you know what?
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.720
I didn't win it the first year round.
00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:17.679
The first year round, I boxed a girl in the London finals, beat her, but then when it came to the national levels, I never had an opponent.
00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:20.159
Obviously, girls back then was you couldn't find them.
00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:23.039
Um I had no opponent.
00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.399
So they got in contact.
00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:28.639
Like, I'm not sure if it was my coaches, their coaches, and said, look, do you wanna do you wanna take the rematch?
00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:31.279
Like, give them a fight, give her another chance, whatever.
00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:36.720
Now, in my head, I've already beat this girl, but I didn't realise how big the stage was there.
00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:40.799
Compared to five-star shows and little club shows that I've been doing before.
00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.759
You got three or four rings set up, all the chairs all around you.
00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.519
I walked in and I just froze.
00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.879
I I boxed terrible.
00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.080
There's there's no advice.
00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:50.960
I boxed terrible.
00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.879
I think it was all the pressure of the fight.
00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.960
I I gave it away, I gave it to her.
00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:00.080
So next year round, obviously, I went back into it, I won it that year.
00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.840
Then I won the nationals again as a junior as well.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:09.440
Boxer cups and that in between, but yeah, yeah, first year, that still haunts me to this day.
00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.559
I gave it away.
00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.159
Gave it away to her.
00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:22.480
So it sounds like you your your losses they they eat eat you up a little bit because you said you lost your first fight and that still eats you.
00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:26.720
Well, maybe not still each up now, but yeah, you're up at a time and then losing to that girl of first year.
00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:30.159
Everyone barring two people that I've boxed, I've had a rematch with and beaten.
00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.320
Everyone barring two.
00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.679
But for me, do you know what it is?
00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:39.600
I I know I train hard, but when it comes to fights, I'm a sore loser.
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:42.799
Like I've obviously now I'm older, I'm a bit more mature.
00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.879
As a kid, I'd never take losing well.
00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.320
I didn't want anyone near me, I'd kick off screaming and fussing, whatever.
00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.720
But I think that stems to me not being able to control my emotions.
00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:56.960
Struggle with it now, I think I probably always will, but I never took it well.
00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:59.200
So for me, it's always gonna be in the back of my head.
00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:11.519
Like I so we'll get to a bit to my pro-licence situation in a bit, but when I after my first pro fight, I had to go back to amateurs because I had a bit of ad going on.
00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:16.640
So I thought I was gonna go back into the amateurs, piss through it.
00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.640
I entered straight into a box cut.
00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:21.519
Now I hadn't I hadn't prepared myself for this fight.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:24.640
I just I expected to go in there and it to be how it was when I was a kid.
00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.200
It ain't.
00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.319
It was my first time ever doing three minutes like in a fight.
00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:33.279
I weren't fit, I was 10 and a half kilos overweight the week before the fight.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.640
But for me, I if I've got something in my head, I want to do it.
00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.759
I said I was fighting.
00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:41.680
The coaches in the gym, they was even like, check it, check your weight, check your weight.
00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.839
Now I'd slip off, I'd slip off at the end, making sure I weren't checking my weight because I knew they won't let me fight.
00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:48.720
But I in my heart I wanted to, I knew I wanted to do it.
00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.519
Worst thing I should have done, I should have listened to my coaches.
00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:55.200
Again, I got in there, that's the first time I've ever been stopped, never been stopped before.
00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:57.519
I got in there, first round, I started alright.
00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.920
Second round, there was nothing in the tank.
00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:04.319
I had nothing, my arms was gone, I got an elbow in the eye as well, which didn't help.
00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:07.839
But Ed, you know, Ed threw the towel in and I hated him.
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:10.640
I looked at him and I was fuming, I hated him after that.
00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:19.839
Obviously, we sat down after and spoke about it, but I think that for me was more of a wake-up call to me because that's I took that loss the best out of any loss I've ever took before.
00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.920
But I think because I'm a bit older now and I knew I was going into it unfit, I knew I weren't ready.
00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:30.240
But for me, proving that I could make the weight was more of a deal to me than the actual fight.
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:35.599
But yeah, I don't I don't take losing well, but as I get older, I mature a little bit better.
00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:54.079
Yeah, you you probably probably will because none I'd like to think any of us in a competitive sport, we don't take losing well, but it's some of our losses can define us in in how our it's since I've been coaching as well, to be fair, that I've noticed losses ain't the end of the world because now I look at kids and I think I see how hard some of them train.
00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:58.319
When they go out and lose, you don't care if they lose, if they put their all in, it don't matter.
00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:05.920
But now I realise that from an outside perspective it don't mean as much, but I still will have that bit of bitterness in me against the ones that beat me.
00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:14.640
Some of the girls that I've beat are on like the Olympic squad now, like GB squad, pisses me off because I should have stayed in the gym, should have stayed, should have stayed in the gym.
00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:21.599
But then like going back to there, else I always say else stands for learning, does it stand for loss, so yeah.
00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.480
It might hurt us at first, which is not all humans.
00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:30.240
If anyone lost and then was like not asked, then they've they've got yeah, they've got serious problems.
00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:37.359
We'd all hurt at first, but then we dwell on it and we think about it and go, Oh yeah, I'll learn from this, I'll learn from that.
00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:39.200
It's not like it's a wake-up call a lot of the time.
00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.079
Yeah, a wake-up call, yeah.
00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.400
It makes you realise shit, I need to up my game.
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.319
Would you say it humbled you a little bit, maybe?
00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:51.200
Because where you just said that I thought it was gonna go in, piss it, and then you get stopped because you only because of your own doing, because you went first.
00:19:51.680 --> 00:20:02.160
See, I don't want to say it necessarily humbled me, because I'll still go into any fight I go into, I could be in with someone who really and truly should be bashing me up, and I'll still go into it with a winning mindset.
00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:14.160
But again, I've gone from getting gassed up, starting my pro career, being gassed up, well, you're gonna do this, you're gonna do that, to jumping back into amateurs where I'm just a number on about.
00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.920
Like, there ain't no big lead up to it.
00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.960
You'll you weigh in on the day, you get in the ring, you have a fight.
00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.559
I jumped the gun a bit.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.880
I didn't realise how much more I needed to be training.
00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:30.319
I just I don't want to say it humbled me, it learned it broke my heart.
00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.119
That's what it done.
00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.319
It didn't humble me, it broke my heart.
00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.839
And do you know what the worst thing was?
00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.000
Having to post it.
00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.720
Because if I I'm not one of them, like I'm not gonna post it.
00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.400
If I lost, I lost, that's it, I'll post it.
00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:53.680
But writing the post, knowing full well But it said then it did humble you if you've posted it because you've you've you've owned it and said, Yeah, look, yeah, but then I still walk back in the gym the following Monday with a fuck it attitude.
00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.319
Do you know what I mean?
00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:57.119
Is that is that saying a humble person would do?
00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.640
Potentially, we'll soon find out one of these days.
00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:10.240
Who knows how Moses Atama walked into the gym this week if he's back this week after you know he'd beat Hergebitz but punched himself out.
00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.000
It humbled him probably.
00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:16.480
He might walk in the gym and go, fuck it, I'm gonna be I'm still gonna be everybody.
00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.519
Because you've still got to be that still humble though.
00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:28.079
I think I don't know what would define it, define it, because you've still got to believe in yourself, you don't.
00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.359
No, that's that's this is what I mean.
00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.279
I've still I'll still get myself beating everything.
00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:36.720
Because if Moses was like, I know we're talking about you, but I'm trying to use him because he's just happened.
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:49.279
But if he went into that gym now and was like, Oh, you know, punch myself out, you know, I don't know what's next, like you know, maybe when I when I'll fight this guy in America or that, you know, I need to maybe watch.
00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:54.079
Yeah, but people wouldn't want to watch him no more because he's gone on a on a diner and he's like, Oh, I don't really know.
00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.680
So you've got to back yourself, really.
00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.119
You're still gonna back yourself.
00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.759
So yeah, is it being humble but well yeah, because you
00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.599
I think I'm quite humble in general.
00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:04.319
I do think I'm a humble person because I know I can be beat.
00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:08.480
I like to think that I could beat everyone, but I know there's someone out there.
00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.119
Do you know what I mean?
00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.799
There's always someone bigger and stronger.
00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.319
So Yeah.
00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:12.640
Yeah.
00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:15.599
Unless you're Joe Carzagi and Rocky Marciano.
00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:15.920
Yeah.
00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.359
I'm not going to mention maybe ever.
00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.680
We ain't that level yet, mate.
00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.480
Not yet.
00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:33.279
Yeah, but it obviously did it do shutting to you because you would on a you could have not posted or you could have gone on the rant saying, oh, I was robbed or even blamed dead or or whatever.
00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.160
But you didn't, you own that.
00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.200
Oh, I took ownership.
00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.000
I fucked up.
00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.480
Yeah.
00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.559
And that's what I'm not fucked up again.
00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.519
But it's a learning curve.
00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:42.000
I can't and I know full well going into any other fight.
00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.759
I ain't gonna do the shit I done then.
00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:46.160
I ain't gonna be trying to lose ten and a half kilos in a week.
00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:49.359
I'm not gonna be skipping training sessions so I don't have to jump on the scale.
00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.200
So boxing's no different to life.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.079
We all we all make mistakes.
00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:54.960
Listen, if you cut corners, it's gonna show a hundred percent.
00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.519
Yeah.
00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:58.480
And that's the gym is one place that will show that up.
00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.960
100% being in the gym, definitely.
00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:04.960
And in that ring, because it's like we said, it's just you, footballers.
00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:07.680
You don't you don't put that work in, go a bit snardy.
00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:13.599
You can hide because you've got ten other players, they can back you up, but it sh it shines massive under the bright light.
00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.359
Of course it doesn't just you in there.
00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:15.920
Mm-hmm.
00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:16.799
Yes.
00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.079
But oh well, we live in we live in we live in.
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.119
We do, we do, we do.
00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.559
We go again, we go again.
00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:26.000
Yeah, and we go again, which which you did do, which you did do.
00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:32.160
So did you say you had to you went into the pros and then out because of the the license and it issue?
00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:37.119
Um so with that, I so I I'll go right back to the start.
00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.960
So I stopped boxing when I was 16.
00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.680
Yeah, wow.
00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:42.960
Uh see I could sit here and give it the normal chat.
00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.599
Oh, I went and got in with the wrong crowd and done this and that.
00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.799
I was hanging around with my friend, I still speak to them friends now.
00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:51.680
I was hanging around with my friends at the time and I made some bad decisions.
00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:56.319
I'd done shit and shouldn't have, got in trouble, was that drinking, and I got I was getting nicked.
00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.960
So I ended up stepping away from the gym.
00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:04.960
The coaches even told me to I got told you need to step out of the gym, sort yourself out, because it weren't fair bringing a shit.
00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.880
The shit I was doing, it weren't fair bringing it around the gym.
00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.119
Yeah.
00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.839
Like it's that's their represent what's it called a reputation?
00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:10.319
Yeah, it wasn't.
00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.720
That's their reputation, then they've got to keep up.
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:18.240
I left the gym, started being a little shit, thought I was invincible, thought no one could touch me.
00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:25.359
Started getting into ag and then it was only 20 end of COVID, it must have been 2021 or something.
00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.200
I thought, right, I need to get my life in order.
00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.720
I went up to 89 kilo.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.319
Now I boxed at 69.
00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.720
89 kilos is a hell of a lot of weight.
00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.319
So I was massive and fat.
00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:36.880
I just I was a fat slob, I weren't doing nothing.
00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:39.680
So in my head, I thought, right, I need to go back to the gym.
00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:50.559
So I tried getting back into five star, but they they turned around to me and said, look, if if you're not ready to commit to it 100%, don't bother coming back yet because it's all or nothing, Brooke.
00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:56.400
Like we ain't we don't want to put all our time into you for you to do what you've done, which was fair enough, and I thank them for it now.
00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:01.200
Um so I started looking around at other gyms and I found Will uh Will Jones at Edge.
00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.759
Yeah.
00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:07.359
Anyway, I messaged him, popped down there, had a training session, loved it, like just hitting the pads again.
00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.000
I loved it.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:12.319
So started going down there training regular, no intention of going pro at this point.
00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.759
I just wanted to get back in the gym.
00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:19.119
So I was in there training, keeping busy, and then he sorted out some sparring.
00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.720
So obviously he had a few girls that was pro.
00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.000
I was like, oh, do you want to some sparring?
00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.359
I was like, yeah, fuck it, why not?
00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:26.319
Anyway, started sparring again, and then I got the bug back for it.
00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:29.119
And I thought, right, hang on a minute, I'm enjoying it.
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:33.039
Now for me, I could have gone back amateur then, but Will come to obviously Will dealt with the pros.
00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.279
He came to me and was like, Do you want to go pro?
00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:38.480
I was like, fuck it, why not?
00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.599
So we'd done that.
00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:42.400
So I originally applied 2023.
00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:47.519
I applied, and obviously I had to send off all these letters and all this and all that.
00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:52.559
Got to the interview, passed the interview, because I hadn't boxed for so long, they wanted to do an assessment.
00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:58.960
They sent me down to Poplar, they came down, signed everything off, signed a bit of paper, went, well done, you'll get an email from us.
00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:02.480
Um, but as far as I was aware, at that point I'd been granted my licence.
00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:05.759
They had told me, Yep, you've got it, just wait for an email.
00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:10.720
It was about two weeks later, I'd got an email from the southern area.
00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:14.480
Um, sorry to inform you, we're not granting your licence at this time.
00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.279
That was it.
00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:17.359
There was no reason behind it, whatever.
00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:22.960
So I was chasing them, chasing them, my manager was chasing them, which was Lee, and at the time, everyone was on them like, why?
00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.000
For what reason?
00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.000
And it was because of my criminal record.
00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:29.839
Obviously, when I had that four years off, I'd been uh causing a bit of shit.
00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.839
It was all to me, it's all silly shit.
00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.839
Like it's mistakes, I've learnt from it.
00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:40.480
But if I hadn't done it then, I only would have gone on and done it later on in life because I feel like at some point I would have got bored.
00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:43.920
So I'm not I as much as I regret it, I don't regret it.
00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.799
Do you know what I mean?
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.920
But so from there, they rejected my licence, they said give it a year, reapply.
00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:51.039
So alright, no problem.
00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:53.039
Stayed in the gym, stayed busy.
00:26:53.359 --> 00:27:00.400
But from there, obviously, me not having a fight date, my training slacked because I like having something to look to look forward to.
00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:05.599
Yeah, so for me, I was in the gym, I was training, but I weren't training properly.
00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:10.880
I started putting on weight again, I started getting lazy, and that was it.
00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:14.319
I was meant to have another fight date, but I was fighting on an Estonian licence.
00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.680
I was meant to have another fight date, just never ended up happening.
00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:25.519
So for me, I sort of I lost that bit of love that I just got it back for boxing, and I sort of lost it again, and I thought, oh, like, what the fuck is this?
00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:33.519
Then there was a few problems within the gym, like some boxers was leaving, the squad, the training times was a bit different, and I had to work.
00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:40.319
Obviously, at the time I was working in the printing office in the gym, but that if there was a few problems with that, and I had to go and get to work.
00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:43.519
Then training and work was clashing, and it just stopped working.
00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:49.680
So I came away from it for a little while and I messaged Ed again and I said, Ed, look, I I still want a box.
00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.720
Can I come back?
00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:52.400
And he was like, Are you ready?
00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:54.640
And I was like, I think so.
00:27:54.960 --> 00:28:03.519
Went back down there, got boxing, and then straight away he was like, Right, do you want to do this was 2024?
00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:05.279
Do you want to do whole box cup?
00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:08.240
I just walked back in the gym now, I'm very overweight, yeah.
00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:10.480
And I was like, Yeah, he went, Are you gonna be ready?
00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.680
I was like, Yeah.
00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:16.799
And in my head, I knew full well I weren't, but I didn't want to let him down because I've promised I'm coming back and I mean it.
00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:20.319
So I've gone down there, done the whole box up, that's where I got stopped.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:24.319
And yeah, obviously I come away from it and I decided amateurs ain't for me.
00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:30.319
I enjoy I enjoy the whole setup of the pros, having a certain camp, doing the build-up to it, I enjoy that more.
00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:34.400
So we came away from it and I reapplied for my licence.
00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.799
It had been a year, so I reapplied again.
00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:42.640
This time went with obviously had different coach on there, there was a different manager on there, Johnny Clark.
00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:47.680
Sent it all off, and I was contacting the ball directly for updates and that.
00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:51.680
They was like, Yeah, we've got your letter, we'll contact you in a couple of days once we've got through it.
00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:59.200
Didn't hear nothing for about a week, so I was chasing them and chasing them, and Johnny Clark actually sent me the guy's number, like his own number.
00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.559
So I'm calling him, calling him.
00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:02.720
It got to the point they was going, Brooke, what do you want?
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.440
What do you want?
00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:05.440
I was like, I just want to know if there's an update.
00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.039
Anyway, they rejected it again.
00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:10.079
They turned around and said, No, we can't give you a reason at this time.
00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:21.359
Now, everyone said to me, You need to appeal it because if they need to give you a reason, because it's been a year at the time I first applied, I was still on probation, I had outstanding community service, which again is understandable.
00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:24.960
You'd you'd I'm representing them at the end of the day, they ain't gonna want me there.
00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:28.319
So I got it, but after that, I'd been back to court.
00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:36.319
The court, the judge who was in the court that day, had written a letter to the board himself saying she's trying to sort her life out, like help her out.
00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:47.440
They cleared the remaining community service I had, they they helped me right out, and I'd literally I've turned my whole life around from what I was doing to where I am now, like it's two different people.
00:29:47.680 --> 00:30:10.079
And for me, getting that second rejection that was the point I sort of realised it's either I quit now and call it a day, or I give it everything I've got and do whatever there is possible, and hence the reason I'm now fighting on I don't know what licence I'm even on at the moment, but still doing my pros, I'm still staying active.
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:12.160
Hopefully, one day I can get a British title.
00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:14.880
Not British title, that would be nice, but a British licence.
00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:19.599
Um but I can't, I can't fighting over here ain't doable.
00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:22.480
Fighting for titles ain't doable without that licence.
00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:29.440
So when you go for the licence for like you just said an installing one, yeah.
00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:31.119
How the fuck do you get that?
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:34.400
I made a phone call to my manager.
00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.440
What we doing?
00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:40.880
We're doing this, I've made a phone call, send off this, send off that, send this money, and it's sorted.
00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.640
Don't know how it works.
00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:49.279
Listen, there's always going to be corruption in the game, but you've got to think there's yeah, there's many boxers out there that wanna that want a box.
00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:55.519
I know boxers that have come out of prison and walked straight into a British licence licence, so I don't know what makes me different from other people.
00:30:55.680 --> 00:31:03.839
I would love to understand it, and that for me is the thing that I've got a bit of a grudge against because on paper you can see how much I've grown as a person.
00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:06.079
You've got when I was doing all the shit, I was 18.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.039
I'm 24 now.
00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.839
This is six years ago.
00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:11.200
I've stayed out of trouble, I'm in the gym, I'm helping out with the kids.
00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:14.640
So you're giving back to your community, that's and there's no money in it.
00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:18.240
I every all the amateur classes, it's all it's all volunteer work.
00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.759
I'm doing it because I want to give back.
00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:22.079
I'm doing everything I can to keep my nose out of trouble.
00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:27.839
I'm working, I'm helping out with the kids, I'm coaching, I'm training myself, I'm proving that I want to be in boxing.
00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:30.960
And I just personally I feel like I'm not getting a fair chance.
00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:33.759
But it's not what's the point arguing it?
00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.240
Do you know what I mean?
00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:35.680
It's it's their decision at the end of the day.
00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:39.839
It is, but can you are you not allowed to someone said appeal it?
00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:40.960
Have you done that?
00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:46.559
Like how the first shit in front of them like you do your interview, or how they've got to call you up for it.
00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:57.359
So the first one, Lee actually appealed it, and they turned round, they gave they gave us a reason, which was you've got a criminal record, you've your your sentence on there is still was it unspent or spent?
00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:59.440
I'm not sure which one it is, but there's still stuff on there.
00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:01.759
We can't pass it with for that reason.
00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.440
Fine, understandable.
00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:06.240
I'll go and train for another year and prove I want to be here.
00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:11.039
But then the second time, even now, there's no reason as to why.
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.960
All it says we can't grant it at this time.
00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:20.000
I've had so Hamza, I spoke to Hamza and his dad before I re-applied, and they said, if you don't get the licence, let me know.
00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:22.000
We'll we'll push and we'll help you.
00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:27.440
And um they passed us on to Andy, Alien, and he's he's helped out massively.
00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:31.440
Like he's been back and forth with a board trying to trying to get an answer as to why.
00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:33.119
They've still not got an answer for me.
00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:37.119
I just if they gave me an answer, I said, Look, you're not having a licence because of this reason.
00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.319
I'd go, do you know what?
00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.039
Thank you very much.
00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.480
Yeah, and I'd go and do my thing.
00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.440
But I just want to know why.
00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:44.400
You just want to know why from from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:46.000
Yeah, that's that's just a reason.
00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:46.319
Yeah.
00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:48.400
If they gave me a reason, I'd I wouldn't argue it.
00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.440
But they haven't got one.
00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:58.000
Um with the names you got behind you, you know, approaching them and saying, Look, we voted, shows that you're not mean.
00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:08.880
If I had if I had come from a shit amateur background, like I ain't really done much, I've gone out, fucked about a bit, got in trouble, come back in and for, yeah, I'm I'm just one of them, just come back.
00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.160
I want to do I want to go pro.
00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.759
Yeah, you'd get you'd get it.
00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:18.559
But I've done everything as an amateur, I've won titles, I've boxed all around the country, I've been on the England squad, I even captained the England squad in Ireland.
00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:20.000
Like, I've done everything.
00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:21.680
I'll granted, I fucked up.
00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:25.039
I was young, I was from 16 to 18, that was my worst two years.
00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.079
I was an asshole.
00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:29.519
My mum had to deal with it at home, but you grow, you learn things.
00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:33.839
I'm now this is six years ago, I'll go, I was getting in trouble.
00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.599
Six years is a hell of a long time.
00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:42.000
Like now, this this is where it bugs me as well because I'm 24 now, yeah.
00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:45.680
See, women for a man being a boxer, it's easy.
00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:49.920
Like if you if you've got a misses home, you decide you want to have a kid, you can still train, you can still fight around that.
00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.640
At some point, I'm gonna want to grow up and have a family as well.
00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:58.160
So, how long do I keep trying to get this licence to keep boxing before I go right?
00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:00.880
Do I miss the chance to have a family?
00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.480
Do I like what do I do?
00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.279
Do you know what I mean?
00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:06.880
If they gave me an answer, I said you're never gonna get one, I'd come away from boxing.
00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:09.039
I'd I'd go and do my own thing and live my life.
00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:16.079
If they say, look, apply again in another year, and I'll wait that year and do it and they reject me again like they did this time, it's just a kick in the teeth.
00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:18.880
Like this time, it they told me to reapply, which I did.
00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:21.119
Why tell me just to take my money and reject me again?
00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.599
That's what don't make sense to me.
00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.239
It really don't.
00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:28.880
And you can't like appeal it and sit in front of them and get it.
00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:34.000
It can be appealed, but it's been chased up by so many people, they've got no interest in it.
00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:36.559
I just I don't make sense.
00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.719
It does it this is the thing, it doesn't make sense.
00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:40.239
It doesn't matter who asks them.
00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:43.280
Obviously, Johnny Clark being my manager, he's asked, Is there a reason why?
00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:46.079
And he they turned around to him and went, Yeah, we'll message Brooke directly.
00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.920
Then Andy said, Is there a reason why?
00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:49.440
Oh yeah, we'll email Brooke directly.
00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.480
They haven't emailed me.
00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:52.400
I check my emails regularly scrolling first.
00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.360
Yeah, just constantly checking.
00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:58.719
It's all well and good you'd email Brooke and that, I think, but I'm representing Brooke as their manager, so fucking tell me.
00:34:58.880 --> 00:35:02.719
But it's not that surely if you've got that many people believing in me that I can do something.
00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.719
That's what I mean, surely that's got a virtue for something.
00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:06.719
Yeah, I know I could I know I could be good at it.
00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.920
I know I am good at it.
00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:24.719
And and these aren't and these aren't like I just said, these aren't just people in boxing, these these are well respected people that the board will know, they'll have put plenty of fighters and have got licenses themselves to obviously be managers, so they they're not just your average soaplocks.
00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:26.719
That's something I will never understand.
00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:34.320
But yeah, listen, one day we might sit down and have the conversation about all I can do is for now I keep myself in the channel.
00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:36.239
And I just hope they're not assholes about it.
00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:39.199
Yeah, they're like will you boxing on an Estonian licence or whatever.
00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:39.760
I just don't know.
00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:42.000
But surely that proves how much I want to do it.
00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:46.239
I'm willing to fight on a license, I don't care what licence it is, I just want to fight.
00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:48.719
Surely, yeah, I want to be fighting on a British licence.
00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:52.480
I'm a British boxer, I want to be doing it here, I want to be fighting for British titles.
00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:57.199
But if you're not gonna give me that opportunity, how else am I gonna fight?
00:35:57.360 --> 00:36:00.000
If I went to white collar, they'd be like, what are you doing that for?
00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:02.880
If I went back to amateurs, I don't want to do that.
00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:04.639
It's it's a hobby, granted.
00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:07.280
I don't want it to be a hobby, I want it to be a career.
00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:10.559
So for me, why am I gonna go to what I would call a back step?
00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:18.000
Because at this point in my life, it's gonna cost me a hell of a lot more to get myself back up to the England squad, back onto the get onto the GB squad.
00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:19.119
Now it's gonna take years.
00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:19.519
Yeah.
00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:22.719
Whereas if I could get my pros now, I could start building myself up.
00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:25.039
A boxing career for a woman ain't a long time.
00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:25.280
No.
00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:26.079
Do you know what I mean?
00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:28.480
If they granted it last year, who knows where I could be this year?
00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.199
Do you know what I mean?
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:31.280
But I just don't get it.
00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:31.840
I don't get it.
00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.039
I don't know what they want me to do.
00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:38.719
You've got someone who's proving they want to fight, I will put everything into it given the chance.
00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:43.519
You're not giving me the chance, so obviously I'm gonna look elsewhere, whatever opportunity I can get.
00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:52.719
Look, I'm not well informed of who heads up the British Box and Border Control, but maybe when they move on, you might have a look.
00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.639
You might have a bit of luck.
00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:59.360
One day they resign and get someone else in, someone who has a fair crack at the whip.
00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:01.360
Just a chance, that's it.
00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:03.840
I'm not being funny, without being rude.
00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.880
I'm one boxer.
00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:08.239
The applications they get probably weekly and daily.
00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.599
Why me?
00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.880
Why what's wrong with me?
00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:11.599
Do you know what I mean?
00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:13.679
If they gave me a reason, again, I'd accept it.
00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:19.039
But I know boys and girls that have come out of prison and walked straight into a boxing licence.
00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:22.559
They've got very, very, very bad criminal records.
00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:24.159
They've they've got a licence.
00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:26.239
My record is is minor.
00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:28.400
Compared to a hell of a lot of people, it's minor.
00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.440
I've never been to prison.
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:34.079
And the biggest thing is they don't have the amateur pedigree that you've got.
00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:37.840
There's boxes that have been on on here that have come from white collar.
00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:42.320
Been to prison and then gone forward and got it.
00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:42.719
Yeah.
00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:44.400
Do you know what I mean?
00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:45.440
It doesn't that's it doesn't make sense.
00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.039
It doesn't.
00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.320
It doesn't.
00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:49.440
But who knows?
00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.119
Maybe I'm just not a very liked person.
00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.320
Maybe they don't like me.
00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.440
Maybe.
00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:54.800
Maybe.
00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:57.039
I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut on that thing.
00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:59.199
I don't know.
00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.440
Listen, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:04.960
I'm helping out with the kids, keep training, keep pushing.
00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:06.079
If it comes, it comes.
00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:10.880
And I bet you there's some there's some idiot there, like, oh yeah, but she's only doing that to get a licence.
00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:12.719
No, you're not because you've been through it.
00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:17.760
You've someone's given you the time and effort to pull into you, and you just want to give it back to these children.
00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:20.320
You know the worst bit the worst thing they made me do.
00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:27.920
When they said about reapplying, they said, when you apply, send us a cover letter as to why you think you deserve one.
00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:30.719
Sat there and poured my heart into a piece of paper.
00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:33.119
I've done this, I've done that, I've changed my life around.
00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:34.480
Read it and it didn't mean shit.
00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:37.519
That to me was more as like a humiliation thing.
00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:40.559
You want me to sit there and tell you why I deserve one to say no anyway.
00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:42.800
That's a to me, that's a control thing.
00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:51.760
Not everyone would agree that is, but me personally, obviously, listen, my mum seen me in tears over it, Ed seen me upset about it, Will seen me upset about it.
00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:54.880
Everyone that's around me knows how much it's bothered me.
00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:57.119
They don't care.
00:38:57.679 --> 00:39:04.800
No, and yet again, it knocks on that door of the dark side to boxing, professional boxing that people don't see.
00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.880
But this is the thing, there's not even no money in it.
00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:10.079
Like, it's not like they're even sitting, oh, she wants to be a pro because it's loads of money.
00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:16.800
There ain't no money in it, and I know there ain't no money in it because I've lost loads of money just trying to box, even trying to get a licence, I've lost thousands.
00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:19.840
Yeah, you just want to box on British oil.
00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.360
That's all I want to do.
00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:25.360
I know I can be good at it, and I know I can get up there given the chance.
00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:27.599
But you just want that one chance.
00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:28.079
Yeah.
00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:29.840
Well, I hope you get it.
00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:30.400
Thank you.
00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.199
I hope you get it.
00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:31.679
One day.
00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:33.679
If not, stick to my coaching.
00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:38.719
Hopefully, one of my uh one of the young girls I got, hopefully she can go in and do it for me.
00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.280
Yeah.
00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:43.440
If not what would what will be will be as they say?
00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:44.079
No, that's it.
00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:44.480
100%.
00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:50.719
But you but you've had you've managed to box as as as a prom, what was that like?
00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:52.320
Oh, unreal.
00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.280
Do you know what?
00:39:53.360 --> 00:40:01.840
From going from like listen, there's there's boxing on like box cups and nationals and having like being in the stadium sort of vibe.
00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:15.440
But going from that to having to be in like while I boxed in um Denmark, and the size of that venue, like all the seats around you, the lighting, having being out in the back in the changing room, just you in your changing room, I don't know, it's mad.
00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:17.280
It's a different it's a whole different setting.
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:21.679
Like, and even after like the interviews, having to talk about it, that's where I struggle.
00:40:21.840 --> 00:40:23.360
Interviews and having a camera in my face.
00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:27.599
Um some of my interviews are on Insta uh what's it on YouTube?
00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.320
Terrible.
00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:30.559
I've even tried to get them taken down, they're awful.
00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:40.480
But I think that I think that to be fair has helped me grow as a person as well because knowing I can't speak and act like a chav in front of a I can't be like that.
00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:50.320
Cool, I can be myself, but I've got to grow up a bit and take a bit of accountability in how I put myself across rather than just being a div and oh I can't, I can't say that, I can't say that.
00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:50.880
Do you know what I mean?
00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:53.840
Well, yeah, and then the pros you have to sell yourself about being yourself.
00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:56.079
If and if you don't, you ain't getting nowhere.
00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:58.480
Because you still have to be yourself and not be yourself.
00:40:58.719 --> 00:41:00.880
Yeah, be a professional version of yourself, yeah.
00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:02.400
Professional version of yourself, yeah.
00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:06.880
Yeah, we're we're learning, learning on the job.
00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:08.000
There's nothing wrong with that.
00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.880
No, I've been wearing it.
00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:10.400
But listen, everyone goes for it, do you know what I mean?
00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:19.280
We all do, we all do, and even going back to you know, you're saying you're messing army, 16, 18, you're old, getting up to things, you're all due because you're the kid and you're just living your life.
00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:24.719
Bring me, bring me what at 16, you know, right now in front of us that I haven't fucked about in their life.
00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.440
Do you know what I mean?
00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.400
This is what I mean.
00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.920
It was all this silly shit.
00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:31.679
I've if I went out and killed someone, very different.
00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:35.280
Yeah, but it's getting I've gone out, had a drink, and had a scrap.
00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:35.760
Yeah.
00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:39.679
As a youngster, yeah, oh guess what I've done, I got drunk, I had a fight.
00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:40.480
It's funny, isn't it?
00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:43.599
Growing up now, I look back at it, it's fucked me up for getting certain jobs.
00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:45.199
There's certain jobs I can't go into.
00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:48.159
There's this boxing thing, it it fucks me up.
00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:53.039
I regret it more than anything, but again, if I could go back and change it, I would, but I can't.
00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:55.599
So there's no point sitting here going, oh well, I wish I'd never done it.
00:41:55.679 --> 00:41:57.119
I would I can't I can't change that.
00:41:57.280 --> 00:42:00.239
I've done it now, like I'm trying to progress and move on in my life.
00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:07.199
But you're showing that you've learned from your mistakes and you're willing to accept that they're wrong, but look, I've I've changed.
00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:09.599
Yeah, it must be so frustrating.
00:42:09.840 --> 00:42:12.719
Yeah, that's that's all it is, it's just frustrating more than anything.
00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:16.239
Because I don't know what more I can do to to prove I want to do it.
00:42:16.320 --> 00:42:16.800
Do you know what I mean?
00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:23.519
As sitting there and saying it, they're showing it, I I don't know what more anyone wants, do you know what I mean?
00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:26.159
So here we are.
00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.360
Here we are, yeah.
00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:30.639
You missed out before you just said you're captain England.
00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:32.559
Like, what was that like?
00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.239
Do you know what?
00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:41.360
Um it was good, but I I weren't sure why I got picked because I've always been a bit of a lone wolf.
00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:42.639
I've never really fitted in with people.
00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:50.400
Like I've got my friends and that around me, but when we used to go to England camps, so you'd do like you'd stay over, you'd all eat together, you'd all chill together.
00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:56.159
All the other girls, they'd all there was a thing called um what was it?
00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:57.440
Buzz something.
00:42:57.599 --> 00:43:03.039
It was like a little thing where you know, like how TikTok is today, you do videos, there's all like speeches in the background and that.
00:43:03.119 --> 00:43:05.360
There was one of them, all the girls would go off together doing that.
00:43:05.519 --> 00:43:06.400
I couldn't fit in.
00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.599
I'd always be on my own.
00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:09.360
I like being on my own.
00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:17.840
And when they called us all in to get our England vests and that, and they was like, right, we've got Team England captain for the tournament and called me up, and I was like, what?
00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:22.000
So, girls, if any of you have got a problem, go to Brooke, blah blah blah.
00:43:22.320 --> 00:43:28.000
For me, I think that was their way of trying to get me to try and mix in with other people.
00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:32.000
I just I've never I don't really like mixing in with people, but it was good.
00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:34.960
Like obviously, I we had to go out, I get to hold the flag and that.
00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:37.199
I was only young then, I must have been 13, 14.
00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:39.360
So that when you're a kid, that's a big thing, isn't it?
00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:40.480
It was all in the papers and that.
00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:46.559
I come home, I was still in school at this time, and I'd gone back to school and it was in the newspaper, they got it up, everyone's like, Oh my god.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:48.559
So that was that was a big thing for me.
00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:51.360
That was my first ever England tournament away from home as well.
00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:52.320
That was in Ireland.
00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:55.119
Ed Ed actually came over there for that as well.
00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:56.639
He's been everywhere with me.
00:43:56.719 --> 00:43:57.840
Good old Eddie Kelly.
00:43:57.920 --> 00:43:58.639
He loves it like that.
00:43:58.800 --> 00:43:59.199
Bless him, yeah.
00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:00.719
Mm-hmm.
00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:01.440
Yeah.
00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:06.639
Yeah, no, he's a nice bloke and he's done a lot for for you and for that gym.
00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:09.119
That club wouldn't be what that club is without Eddie there.
00:44:09.360 --> 00:44:10.000
A hundred percent.
00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:20.719
And it's not that you've got to think every coach down there, they've all got wives at home, they've all got a life at home, and they spend half their life around that gym or travelling around the country with the kids, just so the kids can go on and do something.
00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:29.920
And I think that's why that's why it means so much when the kids do win things, because the boys know the sacrifices that the coaches are making.
00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.360
So for them it means a lot to everyone.
00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:33.679
But look at Demiji, like Ed's had Demiji.
00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:36.000
Demidji started late in life for a boxer.
00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:38.559
Like everyone else that boxes, they're starting from young.
00:44:38.719 --> 00:44:39.440
He came in.
00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:44.239
I'd left school, I went to school with him, but I had left school by before he'd even started boxing.
00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:49.840
And he's come in and he's he's stayed with Ed the whole way through, and I think he will stay with Ed even going forward.
00:44:49.920 --> 00:44:50.559
Do you know what I mean?
00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:55.519
Which again I know will mean a hell of a lot to Ed because of the sacrifices he's had to put in.
00:44:55.679 --> 00:44:57.519
Not because he has to, but because he's wanted to.
00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:58.400
Same for me.
00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:01.199
He's he's been everywhere with me, absolutely everywhere.
00:45:01.360 --> 00:45:06.239
And even outside of boxing, there was times my mum's had to ring Ed and be like, Ed, help me out.
00:45:06.320 --> 00:45:08.159
Like, because I'm being an arsehole, do you know what I mean?
00:45:08.239 --> 00:45:09.360
And he's always been there.
00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:10.239
So that's good.
00:45:10.320 --> 00:45:10.800
It's good.
00:45:10.960 --> 00:45:15.119
When you think I've I'm even like sitting in now thinking about things I haven't thought about for a long time.
00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:15.519
Yeah.
00:45:15.679 --> 00:45:17.039
But no, it's good, it's good memories.
00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:17.440
Very good.
00:45:17.840 --> 00:45:20.800
Like the big brother you know, like have you had have you got a big brother or?
00:45:21.199 --> 00:45:25.039
Yeah, but um I'm it the big sister of my big brother.
00:45:25.199 --> 00:45:25.920
Oh, okay, whatever.
00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:28.719
Yeah, he weren't bossing me around, I was beating him up.
00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:31.119
But no, he was uh he looked after me.
00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:35.599
He's more like a brother figure now, but even growing up, I used to get in Father's Day cards and things like that.
00:45:35.679 --> 00:45:39.280
Yeah, I was like, he was uh Yeah, he was a father figure for a very long time.
00:45:40.159 --> 00:45:45.599
And I think he even growing up when there was times I could have I could have gone the other way, he kept me on track.
00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:49.760
It was only when I sort of got that bit older and there was sort of there was no telling me.
00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:50.639
I thought I knew best.
00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:52.639
It doesn't matter who you were, I thought I knew best.
00:45:52.800 --> 00:45:58.719
Looking back now, obviously, yeah, I wish I listened, but I learned my lesson, I learned the hard way.
00:46:00.639 --> 00:46:02.960
No, well Pek Brook, thanks for coming on.
00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:08.400
Telling your story, and we wish you all the best, more importantly, for the 19th.
00:46:08.719 --> 00:46:09.599
Thank you very much.
00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:16.960
And yeah, I really, really hope you get that licence one day because for the life of me, I don't know why they keep knocking knocking it back because they've got no reason.
00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:18.719
If I ever find out, I'll let you know.
00:46:18.880 --> 00:46:20.159
Yeah, please, please do.
00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:23.679
And I was thinking, because obviously I knew I had you on the podcast today.
00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:29.199
I was thinking driving to work that I need to get someone from the board to come on the podcast.
00:46:29.360 --> 00:46:32.079
Not not to like slag them off or anything like that.
00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:33.440
If you do, just ask them.
00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:41.760
Just for just for them to say, This is why this is the role I do within the British, this is how people get the licence, this is why we don't get the licence.
00:46:42.239 --> 00:46:46.880
Just just for the listeners and the viewers and of why or how people get the line.
00:46:48.480 --> 00:46:50.880
If ever if it ever had Libila, if it ever happens.
00:46:51.039 --> 00:46:54.079
Yeah, I've got something in mind, but I don't I don't know what his role is.
00:46:54.159 --> 00:46:55.440
I always see him on telly.
00:46:55.760 --> 00:46:56.559
I don't know what his role is.
00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:57.760
I think I know the guy you're talking about.
00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:58.719
I'll tell you in a second.
00:46:58.800 --> 00:46:58.880
Alright.
00:46:59.039 --> 00:46:59.840
I'll tell you in a second.
00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:05.599
But no, Brooke, thanks for coming on and all the best for you for your pro career and getting that British licence.
00:47:05.840 --> 00:47:06.719
And yeah.
00:47:07.119 --> 00:47:08.159
Thank you very much.
00:47:08.400 --> 00:47:09.199
You're welcome.
00:47:09.360 --> 00:47:09.920
Thanks again.
00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:10.880
What do we do now?
00:47:11.199 --> 00:47:11.920
What do we do now?
00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:12.800
I've got to do the Ember.
00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:13.920
I've got to do the Ember.
00:47:14.400 --> 00:47:16.000
Uh guys, thanks for listening.
00:47:16.159 --> 00:47:18.320
And I hope you enjoyed that episode just as much as I did.
00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:34.159
If you don't follow Brooke on on her social media, I'll see her hard journey and that she's putting in to be a professional and the hard work, free time that she's giving back to her community that the helped mould her and shape her into the woman that she is today.
00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:43.280
And um if you don't give us a nice rating, whatever you pick up your podcast, like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, and as always, be prepared to step into the ring and be first.