 You can now follow me and all my social media platforms to find out who my latest guest will be and Don't forget to click the subscribe button and the notifications button So you're notified for when my next podcast goes live before the fight. I'm like I want to see blood I want I want to come in the punch and Jimmy in the second round and his face just burst open My hands was felt like the dipped in oil. It was just blood everywhere. And it was like so greasy And it was there when you see that blood it just it disperses you one more and it kind of got me more aggressive I've always been allergic to treatments all the time and I never got on with any treatments I was sat on like a chemo drip for Twice I was on it and I was just having bad reactions to it. Basically. That's what it was like treatments biological treatments nothing was working really and then luckily I went in for a mission for about a year and that was the prize fighting tournament year 2019 The whole of that year I was in my remission where it was under control basically I moved to a different hospital And then yeah, I was in remission for about a year and everything was under control And then obviously the last year last lockdown is when it would just went bad again So yeah, it's it's been a mad mad journey all me fight career I've fought with colitis Just dealt with it really the same surgeries last resort and I was avoiding it for years but they did say it five years ago that There was like, you know a couple of these more treatments don't work You're gonna have to have surgery and I was just like now. I'm not having that 100% in my head I was like I'm not having surgery. I think because I avoided it for that many years It just got just kept getting worse was it the bag it put you off. Yeah, it was the bag and Obviously my fighting career I thought that was gonna be it was over and then I got rushing it in the middle of the night and There's the basic news it was like three in the morning drugged up and all these surgeons rushing in waking me up Like, you know, you need surgery now. I'm like, this is like a feels like off a movie. It was scary Do you know what I mean? Yeah, Mrs. She's she thought I was gonna die like she actually told her mom She's like I think he's gonna die like she's not so bad and then a week later I got rushing again act of emergency surgery because There's a stitch internally too tight a little bit too tight and it was causing causing some severe blockages so I was getting blocked up nothing was coming out and This I was getting severely sick and the basically said if it's not gonna come out that way It's gonna come out this way. I was gonna be sick like and those gonna be Ben marine these guests. We've got bear knuckle world champion Rico Franco. Yeah, it's good to be on mate Really good. Good to have you on Definitely. What's the couple of your fights? Yeah next level stuff that bear knuckle stuff. Are you six or no? Yeah, six and a bad BKB. Yeah, it's As a scary sport though when you see people just absolutely tearing up for you Your story as you've won world title, but just a few months after it. You had a life threatening disease Yeah, basically killed you. Yeah Which is mad to think that you're in a ring fighting Basically for your life and then outside that you're also fighting for your life, which we'll touch on first of all How are you? I'm doing really well, mate. Best I've ever felt in All my life. I think definitely you're looking great. Yeah. Thank you. Good mate I always go back to the start of my guests where you grew up and how it all began. Yeah, so I've grew up in hometown Gainsborough Just a normal kid. I was always active. I used to like Have a bit of a temper I like to fight all the time at school and I was always active playing I was swimming when I was young and I was playing a lot of football as well, but I didn't start my Boxing training till end of the years at school. I mean maybe 15 16 started doing a bit of boxing and then Yeah, I just got into boxing then It was just traveling a long time like although I didn't have a car or anything. So I Fell into MMA. There was an MMA gym in my hometown and that was it Fell in love with MMA. I just like training every day and that's how I really got into it like 13 years ago. Did you have a big family? Not really. No, I've never had Me my dad's from Portugal. So basically I'm half Portuguese so half the family's that side and We don't really got I don't have anything to do with my family this side. Really. It's just me and my brother Me one passed away Six and a half years ago now. So yeah, it's just mainly me and my brother and yeah My dad's still in Gainesbury just out and about all the time going back to Portugal and stuff. So Yeah, it's just I like I like I like to keep it small anyway, that's why yeah, it's not too much drama then Yeah, exactly less drama less hassle what we like at school. We cool. I'm thick That's why I fight bare knuckle now. No, yeah, I was I was always polite and respectful But you know, I was just always mischievous always getting into trouble fighting and getting it's like Excluded and stuff like that, but I was never really I want a horrible kid. I was always just like Always bit like just I had to do something just like bit mad I was always like just adventurous active of playing football sports and just had a bit of a temper on me I don't know whether that's from your dad's Portuguese side, but yeah It's a I was always getting into trouble to be fair and I don't really get great grades To be fair I wanted to I was gonna go in the army at first. That's what I wanted to do And I couldn't get in because I had bad Bad eczema at the time bad skin and I was on steroid creams and they won't let you in because of that So like everything happens for a reason. That's why I didn't go in. I'm glad I didn't know was it Did you have a close relationship with your dad in your younger years? Yeah, yeah in younger years. It was a We had a steady relationship. Obviously, I was really me me my brother was really close my brother like proper close and yeah, we're just stuck by each other For everything really just overcome everything. So but yeah, it's been pretty mad So you've done boxing MMA Bernaco So when you started boxing, what is did you get down to the MMA route? Probably about 16. I think I had my first fight about 10 years ago Well, I first turned 18. So yeah about 10 years ago. That was it Liverpool I was training for a good two years before two or three years I wanted to get a bit of experience first, but I can't that was kind of a last-minute fight I jumped on it in a week's notice and I was I was pretty ready, but I didn't really know what to expect and I was like Crapping it on it. Yeah, I was nervous. Honestly, I don't forget that first fight because um, I was against some like Jiu-Jitsu gold medalist and I was just nervous I didn't know what to expect and I just didn't like to control them nerves, but um, you know UFC UFC coach in his corner and I was just crapping it But then I got through three rounds and he beat me on decision But I was just I was so fuming I'd hate losing But it was it was amazing experience. I lost my first two armature fights actually And obviously that that could break a lot of people, you know They'll probably just give up but it kind of like motivated more to get that win and that Third fight when I won it was and that's feeling ever. It was amazing And obviously I hate losing. I'm competitive. So it just yeah, I made it made it better to be fair How's the training then? It was yeah, it was hard because I was I want like I Wants struggling with train. I was training every day, but I was obviously I was still at school and when I left school I was just trying to get jobs. I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I didn't really have a Planning place. I was just going with the flow. I had a few where I was working part-time at Morrison's I was at college and I was doing a bit some Bob's hustling outside. What are you doing at college? I was doing bricklaying So I'm a brickie by trade. I did I did about two years three years at college and then I just kind of Went out of it. I didn't really go for I didn't do it from it It was just just got a bit of a trade just to see what happened and I didn't really I didn't really get out from it now. So I've probably forgot how to do it now When did you realize okay? I'm gonna stick with MMA. What age would you? Yes After a few fights after after I got that first win I thought I'm gonna stick with us. I'm just gonna like see how far I can go and It first it started it was just a bit of a hobby But then I kind of got obsessed with it and I was just every day Every day I was just waking up thinking right. I'm off training later I was obviously working through the day then I had a full-time job for so many years and Then I've changed jobs like three times, but I was always just like focused on fighting And then it just clicked one day I just wanted to do fighting and it was that was it really even I was training full working full-time I was training every day, but I would just like I want to train full-time Like that is my dream to like train full-time not have to work and like somehow get an income so like Going going through that you'll have to like kind of hustle on the side and get a few Jobs and you know bits and bobs get a bit of income like try and blank some sponsors Sponsorships are massive For MMA fighters because there's no money in it. There's no money and even pro MMA. There's not much money But then when I had my first pro fight I basically I had to think right. I need to try and train full-time So I fuck I fuck the job off and I went part-time and then I slowly did that way So it's being hard like there's no money in it. So what do you do for just the love of fighting? What enjoyment do you get out of fainting? Riko, do you enjoy getting that? Yeah, I think it's that I think it's just the training like the buzz you get from just training like Even grappling like you get a just that feeling when you've finished the trailing you've let off all the mountain door things And you just feel amazing and obviously while I'm sparring I Don't know what it is like getting punched, but you just get a you get a good buzz when you People might think you're mad boy Every fighter knows what I mean and like when you get that little Trade when you're trading punches getting there you just feel amazing like you just come out of the gym You just feel like everything that's going on in the world You just forget when you're training and you just in that zone and you just feel amazing you feel free just amazing Do you ever get used to though? Do you ever get nervous now? I was there in those nerves go the more you do it Yeah, the more you do it the more experienced you get the less nerve So like my last fight there was no nerves at all it was just more excitement and I've never enjoyed a fight so much than the last one because all these years experience just adding up and I Know how to deal with them emotions now because you get mixed emotions in a fight, but Yeah, at first obviously it's scary because you don't know what you're going in for and it's There's so many nerves and emotions going on. You just you know, it's hard to deal with it When did they be key? Be coming around and probably about three years ago Basically I was fighting. I've had about 10 pro MMA fights and My coach Danny he was actually FC fighter Danny Mitchell And he's had a few illegal bare knuckles when he was a kid and he was telling me some stories and I thought Listen, I said to him I want to fight bare knuckle just to try it like even if it's illegal on the street or Just get me a fight one day and now I want to see just just to feel what it's like You know without gloves and then BKB Actually Contacted Danny because they wanted him to fight on it actually I've seen fire, but he had a few brain injuries He got knocked off a bike and he had a bit of concussion, but He put my name forward is like I know a guy that wants to do it So what do you reckon? It was like, yeah bring him down we'll come watch a show at the London O2 and We'll get you on the next show and see how it is and Yeah went down to the O2 and watching it live and that was it. I watched it live and I was like I need to get in this I I'm booking in for a fight. So that was it on the next show Liverpool Eco-Arena was there on the next show and it was pretty crazy. That was it. I just I had that first fight and Just to see what it's like and I just fell in love with it after that first one What's the hardest to go through? What's the hardest fights of boxing? You've obviously got thicker gloves MMA and then Bernocca. What's the hardest fight in those three categories for you? Yeah, I just want I'd say is glove boxing. Why is that? It's hard to explain, but It feels because obviously bare knuckle. You've got no gloves. So you feel free It's more like realistic to a street fight, but same with MMA. It's like there's all different disciplines In combat. So if you're struggling stood up, you can just take them down on the ground Or if you're struggling on the ground, you could try and get back up again But MMA is so hard. Obviously like you're getting controlled by a grappler and it's you just feel suffocated But when it's like boxing, it's just straight boxing with gloves Again, you feel suffocated because if you're against a good guy Just tagging you and your corner in the corner. Just getting tight. There's nowhere to hide. You can't run anywhere It's I don't know. I just feel you can't really get through with unboxing gloves We like bare knuckle, but I think yeah boxing is hard. I've spotted some good pro boxes and it is tough Very tough. Yeah, what how hard does it to go from boxing MMA to bare knuckle? Did you think doing all the rest of those things enhanced you for bare knuckle? Is it just totally different art technique? Yeah, it's kind of like a hybrid of both of them It's kind of like both in one It's obviously it's boxing boxing rules without gloves But then it's like it feels like your own MMA fight because four ounce pro gloves is pretty much like without yeah It feels the same So that's why I think it won a bit it won a big shot when I went to bare knuckle because I'm used to that Range with small gloves on so it won't really a massive shock It was quite it felt comfortable because I was used to better MMA most of me life. Yeah, so it just felt like yeah, I was just fighting MMA So you're a better. Do you think you're a better bare knuckle fighter than MMA fighter? I'd say so. Yeah, definitely Me I was always a good striker and MMA like Every loss was a submission. So I did work. I have got three twist of submissions pro MMA Which is pretty mad. I think that's like no one's ever got free, but you're only allowed to do that in pro because it's like a Yeah, twisting the spine so it's illegal in amateur, but yeah, it's I just find boxing bare knuckle is my kind of thing after after that first fight I thought I found my sport. I found something that's my style You know what I mean for fighting so yeah, I feel so comfortable in there With the bare knuckle fighting how hard does it to stick to tactics because when it's so brutal Yeah, and you're getting fucking yeah knockout punches, but survived him There's a tactic to go right out the window or these begin with a plan because when you watch the bare knuckle fights the ones I've seen it just looks like a free for all just both fighters swinging as their tactics involved compared to MMA and boxing Yeah, yeah, definitely you've got of a you have a good solid game plan because if you don't then You've got to kind of be smart where I like to use my range in and out Try and take less damage as possible because if you're going in like a pro boxer like gloves high trying to swing You're just going to punch elbows, you know, like if you're going to punch in the wrong places That's it. You've broke your arm straight away. So you've got to like pick your shots and be smart That's what I've tried to the first fight. I had I went in mad and I was just I think I broke me left knuckle But that's the only time I've had a hand injury out of six fights And I've kind of just adapted as every fight went on. I've kind of learned right I need to do this I need to do that and I've adapted and that last fight I finally found, you know, the perfect style against because Jimmy Sweeney he's got He's he was the best in the sport and you know, just all of his wins 25 wins. I think One loss, you know, he's got the perfect style for it. So I was kind of like watching how he does it And then kind of replica in it. So, uh, yeah, it's it's definitely a mad style What sort of injuries have you had from What sport have you had the most injuries boxing MMA or Bernaco? MMA. Yeah, 100% MMA. See if people would think probably Bernaco. Yeah Yeah, Ben, uh, MMA I've had um I've had both knees popped out twice um, I've had When I was sparring had two hematomas in the nose two blood clots I nearly died from that. So I only got a brain infection from that because You know, the blood nearly traveled to the brain, but um, I had to have surgery on my nose Um, I've had yeah, me thumb broke MMA gloves I've had a few bad injuries. Obviously you get cauliflower here but um, yeah Bare knuckle. I've not had I've only had a few I've had a few cuts, but nothing crazy I had one little injury on me left knuckle in the first fight, but other than that Uh, no injuries at all I actually had my last MMA fight. Um Was in december 2018 and yeah, and uh, obviously I had a prize fighter tournament Uh, 2019 in january So it was a month apart and I thought I'll get this MMA fight trying to get no injuries But I actually broke my hand in the MMA fight. I got really bad ligament damage And obviously I I was entered this prize fighter tournament and the winner gets to fight Jimmy Sweeney and um I broke my hand and I said Danny You know, this is this is this is my tournament. I said this is made for me It was a sign that I'm going to fight Jimmy because I've wanted to fight Jimmy as soon as I entered the sport And obviously I broke my hand. So I had to go to the uh specialist and get some injections I had an MRI scan. He said, yeah, it's knackered. It's going to take about six months So I basically had the whole prize fighter tournament with one hand I couldn't even spar or use my right hand for the whole tournament Which was pretty mad not many people knew that either only like people are trained within stuff. So that was pretty uh mad one as well So you get when you've done the prize fighter how many fights three four Yeah, so uh, you knocked a couple out your first couple of guys you put you knocked out straight away first round Yeah, the so the quarter final straight. It was an eight man tournament Quarter final semi final and the final So the first two went to plan and lucky I just got them cleaned out straight away and then the final was the tough seven rounder He was a tough bastard him. He was who is that guy? James Connolly from Birmingham. Yeah, he was he looked massive as well man He was that was that a full seven rounds. It was your full seven rounds. Yeah I had bad concussion after that fight. I tell you because We had a bit of a game plan But because it was the free fight comes back to back no rest and I after the I knocked the guy out in the semi final And because I knocked him out so quick in about 40 seconds I had About two days off and I went back to the gym and I kind of peeked too early in the camp because I didn't have no rest And I thought I'm just going to get straight back on it and I kind of over trained a little bit so it did wear your out three camps straight in a row, but um Obviously it was a big build up for the final load of pressure And it was just it was a and in the end we just both got in there and just swung down The game plans went out the window and it was just It was just a bit of a slugfest really. There was no not much technique. It was just swinging What'd you win for that 10 grand? It was 10,000. Yeah, it doesn't seem fucked to what you really go through and Blood on the face blood everywhere. Kind of concussions nearly dying brain injuries. Yeah You think people love combat sports. Why don't why do you not think people aren't taking it to Bernhard Cuffington as fast or do you think it is becoming popular? Yeah, it's definitely coming more popular now I don't really know of it about five years ago. I didn't really hear of any shows. You know what I mean? So but now it's coming so popular. There's quite a few lower shows and that going on but mine's the biggest showing like your report of you know, it's massive and uh It's it's slowly getting bigger and bigger like a big platform now But it's more for them people that have you know, I've had a good Out of fight career and they want to maybe finish off with a bit of bare knuckle because You wouldn't suggest to someone do bare knuckle straight away in the first fight career because something you need a bit of experience for You know, unless you've had like Kimbo Slice had loads of street fights, but Yeah, it's something I don't know. It's a strange one really. It's like, yeah, it's it's I kind of went in it halfway through my career, but I feel like I'm in my prime now. So Yeah, we'll see. What is the people usually fight bare knuckle till in their late fairies 40s? Yeah, I'd say I'd say like late 20s early 30s Early 40s. Yeah, what did you know 30? I'm 28 Fuck's sake man. It's still young mate. It's still young. Still got plenty. Yeah You still hit your prime in your fairies in your 40s. We've got bigger stronger Fat. I don't know if they think the last thing to go is power. So see when you've fought as a connery and the eliminator Did you the punches that you were giving him would have knocked out Anybody else? Yeah, I think yeah, it was it was a strange fight. It was an awkward fighter I'd prefer to fight a proper boxer in bare knuckle than fight like someone like james because it was in an awkward style Kept bending down a lot which was frustrating. I couldn't really get me shots going But I think he kind of knew I was going for that same left up knockout what I did in the semifinal But yeah, it was very tough tough fight and Like I say when the game plan goes out the window, you're both swinging. It's it's anyone's fight really But he just took every shot on the chin and he would just won't go down That's crazy. Yeah, I can remember one shot in the fourth round or fifth He gave me a minute. I got a quick buzz in my head. It like flash white I was like shit that it hard and I had to like reset and go again But luckily I was fit in my recovery. We were good. Yeah So when you're doing the what's the rules first of all for people who don't know bare knuckle. It's seven rounders two minute rounds Yeah, what else? What's other rules? So it starts starts off me first that was three twos nice and easy But it's like a fast pace Obviously a minute resting between everything's the same rules as boxing except you get a 20 second count if you get knocked down Um, and it's two minute rounds So that's the only difference really pretty much the same as boxing. Do you feel that a big help the extra 10 seconds? Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Yeah, because 10 seconds is obviously you just go quick like that But 20 seconds you get a bit of an extra breather, which is uh, it's good just to reset So definitely and it's just wraps round the knuckles. Does everybody have to wear those Bandages. Yeah, so, uh, yeah that the the first few shows it was round the knuckles But now it's it just comes up halfway up your arm. So the knuckles are showing now So it's just around the wrist because obviously Um, because if obviously when you're punching if your wrist starts to bend a little bit It's just a bit of support keeping it straight. Otherwise, you're gonna break. Yeah, break your wrist easy Is it better with something round your knuckles or clean? I've heard yeah, I've heard somebody saying that when there's nothing on the knuckles you can Um It dammit. It's not as is. Yeah So on Yeah, it's not as so obviously you get a bit of padding on there But I prefer it without just like it without any padding on the knuckles. Why is that? I don't know. It just feels Just feels like yeah, just free because I've spoke to many like I've had um, Richie Horsley on who was a Street fighter back in the day great guy. I've had James Quinn on the gypsy king who was undefeated in their own styles Who was it? But I can't remember who it was. I had this But it's I've says it before but it says it's like a bit of self-harm and as well Give me the pain they like the pain getting punched when they they get excited. That is kind of fucked up Do you get that where you feel Yeah, you want to feel the pain. I kind of like before the fight. I'm like I want to see blood I want to I can remember punching Jimmy in the second round And his face just burst open my hands was felt like the dipped in oil It was just blood everywhere and it was like so greasy And it was uh, when you see that blood it just it disperses you on more and it kind of got me more aggressive And I was like, yeah, this is great What did you have messy city at all? Um, yeah, she she come to your feet. Yeah, she comes to the fire. Yeah, she's really good support She sports me all the way Um, so massive fair play, but she prefers watching me doing better knuckle than MMA Because she doesn't know what's going on on the ground Do you know when it's on the ground and you know, all me losses have been submissions in MMA in MMA, but She doesn't really know what's going on on the ground grappling So she gets a bit confused like oh what's going on here, but when it's boxing she knows what's happening But then she just went when she's a bit of blood off I get knocked down, you know, she'll she'll be panicking a bit But she just gets pissed How is that? Um, when you got the Jimmy Sweeney fight who's you say is the face of Bernocco boxing? Yeah, I think he's on a lost one or two fights free weight world champion You were the underdog. Yeah young kid coming into a fight. You wouldn't eliminate her Not well, not really well known then. Yeah How much pressure was on you for that world title fight? To be honest, I didn't feel any pressure It was mad. I felt more pressure for the prize fighter final than I did for the Jimmy fight because Obviously, I was just an up and comer Challenging Jimmy for his belt I felt he had all the pressure on him and I was just happy to fight the guy Like it was just an honor to fight Jimmy in the ring and share the ring with him Because I've always looked up to him and you know since I started the sport It was like Jimmy Sweeney this he was the king of the sport and you know just Before the hot I shouldn't have done it But before the prize fight when I was in the tournament I kind of looked past everyone and I was just visualizing Jimmy every day like I'm going to win everyone just going to beat everyone and then every day I was just training for Jimmy. It was weird and when it happened It was like everything happened for a reason and When I got through it Every day when I was visualizing it everything come true in the fight and it was crazy But it was yeah, it was an honor to fight Jimmy in the share the ring with him. It was great You're a fan of the secret love attraction. Yeah, definitely. Yeah visualization Visualization it's like what McGregor says, you know Visualizing it every day the more you do it the more it's going to come true and Like I say when I was in the second round in that Jimmy fight Everything I visualized was happening and it was like I was kind of getting too confident. I was like no, this is easy. This is like sparring I started pulling some shapes pissing and messing about a little bit because in the fight camp was There's a thing called defense. I've been You know was was doing a bit of training and taking the taking the mick out of some shapes Those doing and I started doing that in the third round and that's when he knocked me down basically, but yeah Messing but you can't mess about in that game because one second you switch off. That's it. You can just get knocked out Is that your first knock down? Yeah first knock down, but you look shaking. Is that not your knock down twice that round? Yeah, it knocked me down twice I think you just wanted to get get it over and done with because I don't think you I think the you know the I shocked him a little bit with The speed and the pressure it got a lot too and obviously I cut his jaw down here as well And the second round was amazing. It went it went it couldn't have gone any better But then you know when he knocked me down in the third twice My recovery was good and it I kind of got up straight away But then Danny said, you know just get down take the count have a breather And then reset go again and then you could see Jimmy just trying to get get it finished straight away. So Yeah, that was a it was a bit of a shocker. It was kind of just a quick flash and I kind of got got back up and I knew what was going on My legs weren't really that wobbly. I felt all right to be fair even though it looked like I was a little bit I've but I did feel all right. Just everything just went too quick. Is there much Usually in the boxing when they're tired they get a rest they'll grab on can you do that? Also in Bernacol because the ref looks as if he splits it fast Yeah, yeah, he splits it fast because obviously it's it's a quick two minute rounds as soon as like as a clinch That's it. The the break it's straight away. So Yeah, that's it that It's a buzz the ref. I think yeah, you've seen him before big buzz barrington Yeah, barrington is the ref is the ref for he was the ref for the last fight He's a great guy. Shout out to big bars man having these messes Tracy two great people I'm always giving them shows and those podcast but for normal was that who the ref was? Yeah, yeah, so I haven't even noticed. Yeah. Yeah, it was the ref Big big buzz. So yeah, he was splitting it up and Yeah, so you wouldn't want to fucking go against big bars, man He is massive man I can remember when some lads are fighting once and uh, they kept grabbing hold of each other and One of the lads tried to punch him while he was on the ground. So bars grabbed him that suplexed him for the ring mate was mad He is yeah, he's had me sheen. He is. Yeah, he fought for years with one eye. I know. Yeah, he did. Yeah, it's crazy So when you were going through that fight then How hard was your camp? Did you train harder for that because I seen you were doing a lot of stuff with the breathing We went and what was that the altitude? Yeah, so I went to the altitude chamber for that camp I did a little bit for the final as well, but it was mainly for the jimmy fire I was just trying a new few things went to the altitude chamber just to Try and you know get a bit of get more see if it got me a bit more fitter But I could finally spar properly for that my hand kind of healed even out 100 percent Um, yeah, I could I could train I had a full 10 week camp for that fight. So Luckily no injuries either like first fight. I had no injuries for so everything went amazing to be fair Yeah, that would should so the when you're in that would shoot chamber It's half the the air. Yeah, so it's the shorter recovery. Yeah It's hard the recovery is longer Yeah, and it feels as if you're doing like two times a session that you're doing Oh, that's great. So you're going to get bigger fights or fights then your endurance is through the roof Yeah, it's good to sleep in them chambers as well. We was trying to get in there to sleep, but Um, yeah, we couldn't in the end we just had we had an hour once a week Just uh, see how it went and you could feel it like halfway through the session I think we was going a bit too hard in the training You was only going to go light and I think we was doing like full on sessions in there for an hour Nearly passing out because you are known for your fitness. Uh, people know you has been yeah stream Yeah, I was always I was always pretty fit. I think it's just from being active all my life Like I've had a good endurance all my life, but um, But now it's different level. Yeah, you've always been close with your mum as well who sadly passed away Was it 2014? Yeah, it was yeah How was that for you because she was a massive supporter for you always came to your face She didn't like your face of course as any mother would I imagine but when she passed away, how difficult was that for you? Oh, yeah, it's absolutely broke me like You know it took a massive chunk out of me and It did take Well, it's still it's still hard now. That's why I got to keep busy, but it took a massive Massive thing out of the way and it was it was hard to deal with I didn't know how to deal with it It was you know, me and my brother got through it together But it was it was a very weird experience. Obviously I I didn't expect it was gonna I know it was meant to have happened because she was ill for so many years But in my head I just kept I was like just visualizing there and nothing's gonna happen and then boom when it happened just hit me like a ton of bricks and Yeah, it was hard, but um, I kind of this went back training straight away just trying to keep me focused, but Yeah, it took took years and years to get Over that because that was a rare a rare disease that she had when all we're all gonna shut down. Yeah See that's difficult. I've mentioned that a few times on the podcast. My dad passed away with leukemia. Did it? Yeah, the body shuts down the kind of Everything it's just it's sad to see it. Hmm. You clearly obviously just fought through your pain But I still don't know if I'm ever over that. You don't know if you've ever got over it How to get over grief or losing someone it's fucking so hard Yeah, I think I think we just learn how to block it out. Yeah, we don't feel it anymore So when you're through that how long did the how long was that did that did your mom get told? Okay, you're going to die or was it how yeah, so she was ill for about five years What was the disease it was called? Alangahang disease at lch very rare lhc. Yeah, it's very rare. It's like it's mainly like Mainly like kids get it and stuff So it was more in kids and men more than women on their own So it was like one in a million or something. It's like, you know, there was probably one guy in the uk that really knew about it So never heard of it. I still never heard of it now. You know what I mean? So She had so many like problems going on for years and uh get going back and forth to hospital I can remember taking all the time and then uh all these different problems are happening They just didn't know what it was. They just kept going back and forth and then eventually There was like right. Yeah, she's got cancer. So it was half, you know, that's awful like was Who's trying to keep her strong going through chemo for about a year? Um, yeah, she lost her hair. She had a wig I've got a picture on my phone when she come to watch me fight going through chemo Uh, that was the last fight she went to it. Uh, local donkastadome And uh, there's a picture and it's it gets me all the time when I see it because she's got a wig on next to me dad and She's just smiling away and it's like it's the most powerless picture ever because you can see in her eyes. She's got a few tears And she she's not well at all and she's like it's just a powerful picture because she's got that much emotion But she's like so proud of me like what i'm doing. It's it's horrible Yeah, who use that picture we'll put that picture at the start of this podcast. We'll dedicate this podcast to your mom Yeah, definitely. Yeah, you're saying there's a fault over me to put that at the start. That's great. Yeah, definitely Did you feel how difficult was it to how difficult is it for a fighter to fight after A tragic loss Oh, it's horrendous because people work at fighters and think tough bastards They don't feel any emotion or pain but every fighter I've Ever interviewed they've got more emotion than anybody So how difficult was that for you to push through that very difficult? Um Like I said, I couldn't get my head around it for years and you know I was just I was literally taking fights on just a weak notice Just because I was wanting to get something just to fight a little bit of anger out But then I'd go into the fight angry but because I had uh A year before my mom passed away. I was going back and forth with colitis. I had a disease so Um, I was struggling with that as well. Like obviously I had anger But then I want I was ill as well going into fights and it was just it was all pretty mad really but um, yeah, it's Now I now I use it differently. I use it to fuel my training fuel my fights and Now I look at it different than back then but obviously back then it was you don't know how to deal with it Who knows how to deal with a loss? No one. Yeah, you just got to kind of just Do it as it comes but it's been very tough. Very tough Yeah, just in life mate. You just kind of got always kick on it's like People always let me comes to Christmases and buffies the day they died There's always something in it triggers that a smell and I'm a song There's always something that triggers it but for in life it Always say you just got to keep swimming against the tide We're all in the same sea Some people have got more waves crashing off them and others but no just got to keep fucking swimming. Yeah, definitely So you've got what was that disease there you mentioned? Oats of colitis. So what was this you've been battling with for eight years prior as well Yeah, so probably about nine ten years about ten years. I probably had it and then I was basically Having symptoms like cramping all the time going to russian to the toilet 20 times a day losing blood fatigued I was pale I just didn't know what was going on for about a year. I kept going to the doctors and they kept saying it was ibs And they just said I'll change your diet And it just kept didn't go away for about a year and I was just getting to the point where I was just getting too bad I mean, I can remember my mom was in hospital at the time and she was messaging me while she was on her deathbed saying Let me know how you get on like she was struggling to message But she kept ringing saying I make sure you go to the doctor. So she was thinking of me while she was like dying Basically, that's how what a woman she was but Yeah, I ended up going My brother took me to A&E one day and was like right Let's just go A&E because the doctors are not doing anything. They took some blood tests I had some high information and they said yeah, you need to see a specialist So I waited another six months So it just it got really bad quite quick and um I've seen a specialist He uh, I had a camera and uh, the camera just showed ulcer of colitis and it was it was horrendous Like a normal colon looks like rigid normal like color and this was like Red roll there was no ridges and it was just generally get ulcers in your mouth It was like follow them inside the colon and like When I looked at it was like that's why I'm in pain like I'm losing blood because it was horrendous It was severe colitis. I got diagnosed with And obviously I knew I knew how bad of it how bad it was because obviously I felt the pain but I didn't really I didn't take it as seriously as I should have I didn't really like look it up and I was just on so many like strong treatments all the time going through uh I was on My first lot of treatment some tablets. I had bad reaction a couple months later And uh, there was treatment for a heart attack. So I got rushed in And uh, I had information to the arcs. I was alerted to the treatment. So I've been pretty bad I'm just uh, I've always been ill all my life I've always had like illnesses. I'm just don't I just I'll just laugh it off now. But um Yeah, I've always been allergic to treatments all the time and I never got on with any treatments I was sat on like a chemo drip for Twice I was on it and I was just having bad reactions to it. Basically. That's what it was like treatments biological treatments Nothing was working really And then luckily I went in for a mission for about a year and that was the prize fighting tournament year 2019 The whole of that year I was in my remission where it was under control basically Um, I moved to a different hospital Um, and then yeah, I was in remission for about a year and everything was under control And then obviously last year last lockdown is when it just went bad again. So yeah, it's it's been a mad mad journey Oh me fight career. I've fought with colitis Just dealt with it really and it's been hard. So how do you train through that then? Do you have down days? Do you do you lie about your house and not do anything for two days? You seem like kind of the guy who's always constantly pushing. Yeah to get out to make something of the leaf yeah, I um basically Always fatigued and always like ill like because it's an autoimmune disease It makes you a whole immune system It affects your immune system and uh when you go on these biological treatments They actually lower your immune system even more to battle their disease Um, so I was always just ill basically always ill pale Always had problems like rashes everywhere. Um, just from the treatments and stuff, but I kind of just dealt with it every day. I knew I knew I was gonna have cramps gonna lose blood rushing to the toilet and I kind of just dealt with it and just I always used to put it the back of my mind and like right i'm training I used to always struggle getting up for training and stuff like that and work and stuff and um It just constantly tired all the time and You know because you you go into the toilet that many times Um, it drains you like physically drains you and I don't know how I used to train and compete at the level I did and Going through colitis like when I look back now. It's like I was really ill, but you just get used to it and live with it Like I just used to think that was normal. Yeah, it's mad. I know my friend to from weeks beckons feel to do Sponsored the show a few times My good friend ollie. Um battles with crones disease as well. Yeah, he's in the hospital all the time And they just constantly working pushing herself to just to keep being better They've got a teeth whining company to build up from nothing to one of the biggest companies in europe Which is phenomenal, but it's a mad disease. I think everybody struggles with it differently. So how do you How do you How would your training do you think be if you never had that do you think being fit Has kept you alive basically as well to help fight disease It would make your immune system stronger even not get weaker But the white blood cells would imagine would be stronger to then fight these affections and disease like how Much has fitness helped you? Yeah, massively. I think having a good having a good healthy active lifestyles definitely helped my colitis Um a little bit, but then I think when I used to over train a lot It was a lot of information inside the body Whereas colitis is information in your colon. So the more information I got the worse it got so And also diet as well like when I used to cut weight for fights I used to do extreme weight cutting like cut 10 kilo to fight and then You'd like go crazy and eat loads of food and that used to mess me stomach up bad Like salads and fruit used to mess your stomach up as well Like you couldn't really eat salads they used to mess it up So you couldn't really anything it was it was hard like I didn't really know back then I was just eating what I wanted and I think I didn't really I should have like researched it more and took it more serious But when you're young and you just want to you know, I mean just fight and go crazy But I think that's a fighter's mentality. Fuck it. I'll be fine. Definitely. Yeah. Yeah. I'll be anything Yeah fighters mentalities. No, he gets me killed. It's crazy. It is matter What about going plant-based or that you see a lot of people going plant-based and kind of reverses things and changes things Yeah, I've tried vegan. I've tried vegetarian Back eating meat again, but It's just different different technique People just don't know that I'm for everything whatever your diet is, you know What if it's such showing you're healthy and by all means do it let I know people it's My granddad lived to fucking 83 and he was smoking hash and he was eating pizzas and kebabs and he lived an okay life There's people out there dropped him down dead than heart attacks for his fuck 40 30 It's um, you just don't know in life, but it's trying to be as happy as you can be but For you to even train through all that through all that pain. It just shows you a kind of character. You're a it's phenomenal So when you win World title against jimmy. Yeah, how was that feeling for you again through those? What did he get the corner pull him out in the sixth round? Uh, no, it was the doctor. The doctor the cook was too big. It was it was squirting everywhere Do you know what I mean? It was a deep cut and that must have been hard for him though Yeah, you could see it obviously in the video how frustrated he was he didn't want to No one wants to like stop because you know, no one likes losing and but when you get a cut like that you can get dangerous can't it so you know It comes first health comes first, you know, you don't want to die in the bloody ring deer So and how was that feeling training hard for all those years to winning a world title at bernacle boxing? What was that feeling and emotionally for you? It was unbelievable. I'll never forget that moment, you know when When they called the fight off it was just crazy It was like everything I've worked for has come true and everything I've visualized has come true and it's happened I knew it was going to happen in my head There was not like when I went into that fight all I was thinking about was I'm not I'm there's no chance. I'm losing this fight. So It was kind of more of a mental battle than anything, but it was the best feeling ever Honestly, it was crazy. Did your mom come into your head at that point? 100%? Yeah Um every before every fight. I'll I've got some ashes next to me bed I'll do a little prayer or whatever. I'll go and see her in the cemetery And I always think about it before my fight But I try not I made a mistake one fight. Um, he's in the prize fighter tournament the final I put one of her funeral songs on just I don't know why I put it on But it it messed me up a little bit just before I walked out to the fight My brother looked at me And he said after the fight it was like that that messed you up, didn't it? I was like, yeah, I shouldn't have done it I thought it was going to get me going a little bit, but it didn't made it made me worse Yeah, but luckily I just kind of zoned out and went on again. But Yeah, um for the jimmy fight it just fueled me more than anything. I was like, I'm going to win this for you and When it when I won I just I fought on my mom straight away as soon as I won My brother got me on his shoulders and I just looked up and I was like that is for you. Do you know what I mean? It was amazing. I knew should have been sure with me then 100% for all my congratulations brother. This was in 2019 Yeah, but straight after this fight you nearly died because the disease you had ended up at his all-time high Was it the worst that they've ever been now you've got as a lost from my bag lost from your bag Yeah, so now the is it at the sage you've got the bag where the toilet comes out Yeah, it's just underneath the belly button It's where this it's called a stone with a small intestine is attached outside the the stomach and And the yeah, the toilet just goes straight into the bag and that's that's about it really they remove the whole large bowel So I've got no large bowel. I can't fart anymore Can't go to the toilet anymore. It's pretty mad, but I've got used to it quite quick Think to the one you'll save in toilet paper Yeah So when you fart that there's a bag ever move or there's a no as a bag going down. How does it work? Yeah, sometimes like only at night time It kind of blows up with a bit because when you lay on your back inside It kind of like your bowels move down there and they're quite active So, uh, yeah, it does look like a bit of wind out your stomach sometimes it frightens me And how is that then for a man to be going through that is for the eight years the pain Everything you were going through has it helped you get in the bag then there's no more pain as much. Yeah, it's it's weird Not not having pain every day Like it's weird not having these cramps. I feel like I'm normal again And it's like, you know, I'm not I'm not every day. I'm not fatigued and I'm not like ill and I'm not struggling every day And I feel brand new so I wish I got this like five years ago. Could you? Um, was it awful to you? No, because it wanted it wanted that stage where it was Because I'll say surgeries last resort and I was avoiding it for years But they did say it five years ago that Um, there was like, you know a couple of these more treatments don't work You're gonna have to have surgery and I was just like no, I'm not having that 100% in my head I was like I'm not having surgery I think because I had avoided it for that many years It just got just kept getting worse was it the bag it put you off Yeah, it was the bag and obviously my fighting career. I thought that was going to be it was over And uh, when they say to have it last lockdown I didn't have a choice, you know, I thought that was it my fighting career is over my life's over But obviously it won't like it was just what goes through your head here at the time You kind of because I didn't people don't really um It's not really much about it. There is obviously it's massive, but people are embarrassed and insecure about it Um, you know having having this a wash on me bag, but I didn't really know many people with it. Luckily one of my friends had one And he he opened up to me and come come and talk to me about it And he made me feel better just before I went for surgery But other than that, I didn't really have much info on it I didn't really know anything about it and it was a scary time. You know what I mean You're only 26 at that time 27. Yeah 20 Yeah, 20 Just turned 27 I think so How was that to accept that then to get that done? Were you did you have a depression after that? I was pretty bad for A couple of months because it started It started in june in the lockdown because we was in the middle of lockdown. I was doing a lot of endurance work Well, it was basically just at home. We couldn't go anywhere. So I was I was just training like a madman And every day I was just doing like long endurance. I did half an iron man I was doing 100k bike rides and all that information built up So I don't know whether it's sped it up a little bit, but I'm glad it happened in lockdown because obviously nothing's happening but um It got to a stage where Things started opening up with lockdown and I couldn't go out the house For about two three months. I was stuck in the house. I couldn't go anywhere Me and my missus we uh, we planned to go for a night away just one just to get away to get out the house and uh I've ruined the the the day away because I was just rushing to the toilet I was in I was in agony It must have been 50 times and I got rushed the day after we had the night away. I got rushed into hospital again I got admitted. I must have been in hospital 10 times For about two weeks at a time. So I spent eight weeks in hospital And they kept putting me on different treatments and they kept saying you need surgery and I said no I'm not having surgery. I kept avoiding it and obviously it got to the stage where I had I had a camera Up the back passage and they said It's either going to turn into cancer. It's going to rupture inside and you'll probably die. So I was like Just give me one more week Like I just want another week and I I was just I was in a bad place really bad place You know when you're drugged up in hostel as well. Everything just rushes through your head and You get mixed thoughts, you know, you're thinking a life's over my career's over I was I was even thinking what if me missus finishes me. I like that's a crazy idea because she never would she's amazing Best support I've ever had but you know, you get crazy thoughts because you just spaced out on drugs and stuff, but I was doing loads of research on nutrition And I come across a guy mark Hyde man. I think he was called in America some expert And I started research and I went it was basically a Peagan diet. I think it was it was a meat and vegan diet both in one But it was like a I started doing loads of research and so I started going like I got loads of food in so I was out of hospital for a week and I tried this diet But over I must have lost about 12 kg as well. I was I was so ill at the time I've got a picture on my phone from when it was like one 12 kg difference. It was crazy but I tried this diet for a week and Lost loads of weight. I was cooking every day But I just got ill again end of the week and then I got rushed in again And that was it. That was the last time I thought yeah, this is it I ain't got a choice now And then I got rushing it in the middle of the night and there's the basic It was like three in the morning drugged up and all these surgeons rushing in waking me up like, you know You need surgery now. I'm like This is like it was like off a movie. It was scary. Do you know what I mean? It was in a I was in a bad place really and no one could visit you because it was middle of covid No one can come and visit me in hostel Me missus. She's there like worrying me my brother's there worrying You know what I mean? It was it was bad time for everyone in my family Me missus. Yeah, me missus She's she thought I was gonna die like she actually told her mum. She's like, I think he's gonna die like She that's how bad You know, I mean she's she's trying to work his whole full time But she had to have like a week off and stuff because it was bad and It was yeah, it was a horrendous time, but um, I had to accept I was gonna have surgery and Uh, that was it. It hit me like a ton of bricks I had to decide it took me a week in hospital To decide you know what I mean like phone calls to my partner to To danny Mitchell my coach my brother john watter and my other coach and was just trying to get some Positivity back and doing some research Danny got back to me and said look there's a fighter who's got a bag Like a boxer. He come across this guy in america who he's seen and that gave me a bit of hope and uh I thought do you know what? I ain't got a choice, but I can't just sit and cry about I've just got to get it done And uh, they wanted it done there and then but I said look just give me two weeks Let me go out on some strong steroid tablets and let me have two weeks to let it sink in And then yeah, the book me in three like three weeks later It was the book me in for the surgery and I was I was kind of in a good place when I went in because I accepted it by then And then long was operation. It was eight hours eight hour keol surgery So it was a it was a major surgery and it was it was a long while I've never I've only had one little surgery on my nose before and that was it I've never had anything like that before in it It was it was It was like I was preparing for a fight going into that surgery. It was mad. It was pretty crazy What was that like the first time you woke up with the bag on? Was it weird strange? Yeah, I kind of I can remember waking up in intensive care and Looking around and I was just spaced out and pretty morphine It was on morphine and ketamine I was on It was the good stuff And I was tranquilized So I was just like spaced out thinking yeah, this is this is bad and then I fell about sleeping and I woke up in my room Um I was in a room on my own woke up And there's this woman come in this nurse and I looked down at the bag in the first time and it was just I was like mortified. I was like, yeah, this is crazy But it it was this because it was one of the medical bags that it was see-through So you could see everything in there and is you could see the stoma And it was like all green acid coming out at first And it was it was a massive shocker, but because I was in a bit of pain Never think was just going like really fast Um, I was out in four days four days and I was out because I was just recovered quick and I managed to change the bag So I was out in four days and uh, it was just it was just crazy really. It was a mad experience But you still get the tell the tales, you know what I mean? That's all part of your journey That's all part of the story. This is what people buy into the inspiration the motivation not too quick to keep going End of the day, it's a fucking bag. You've got to do the toilet somewhere. Yeah, exactly You just do it in a fucking bag a bit. Yeah, I mean how other people treat you like other fighters and that Is okay when you've got it on how do you fight do you put something around that or yeah freak other people out? Yeah When I went the first time people's like properly looked is when I went swimming first time Like if people are going to look I would look you don't want to look They're all nosy bastards. Do you know what I mean? I go to swim and there's a guy who swims with one leg and he takes really and I always look and I think stop fucking Yeah, you feel bad. I'm thinking you're just a nosy bastard Yeah, to be honest, I know people are going to look because it's natural. It's like, you know, it's not normal Someone actually some old bloke said to me last weekend. He was like Is that is that a tracker? Is that is that some sort of tracker for your lamps and I was like, yeah I was because I was using my Garmin watch. I was like, yeah, it's uh, it tracks my lamps He was like what that thing on your stomach. I was like, oh, no, that's a shitbag mate And he's like, I'm sorry. I was like, no, no, you're all right, you know because people's not used to seeing it I've never I've never seen anyone with it and Yeah, I get a few stares, but I don't mind showing it off. I don't mind. You know, I tell people about it and I just like raising the awareness for it. Yeah, you've just got to own it. Yeah, definitely Fuck sakes a bag in the stomach. Yeah, it's fuck all. It's just you just got to own it. So Now then going through all that the emotion The ups and the downs the pushing through thinking your girlfriend's going to leave you think you're going to die Thinking your fight careers could over. It's not just one thing you're thinking a fighter's coming to end these career He's thinking, okay. I'm going to retire. You've got everything how we're going to make an income Am I going to lose my partner? Yeah, I'm going to live or die is so much. So you've got all that pressure In one. So how have you managed to handle that especially in lockdown? Is that helped or with Nobody about in kinder? Yeah, I think it's helped because obviously in my head. I know nothing's going on now fight shows So I'm kind of missing out on anything. I feel like I want missing out on much So it happened in a good time and I recovered I recovered really fast and I think yeah, definitely I'm glad it happened during lockdown. Yeah so How did you handle it all then? I haven't had any at once. Did you start how long did it take you to start back training also? After the the main surgery um, after the first eight hour surgery, I kept having loads of severe complications just because it's me. I've always got complications, but I started having bad blockages and um Two weeks later. I was back in hospital and I got rushed in by an ambulance. Mimis is thought I'm dying again I was like this is never ending and uh, it just seemed never ending. I was like this is I was getting bad cramps again I thought what's going on here? And then I got rushed in I was in I was in for a week and I was sticking tubes down my stoma while I was awake and it was a renders the pain was crazy and um I thought, you know, why am I gonna have blockages all my life now? Is this gonna be it like just back and forth in hospital? And I was I was badly again. I thought that was it after the first but then I was getting Mentally bad again. I was it was struggling And then a week later I got rushing again. I had to have emergency surgery because um There's a stitch internally too tight a little bit too tight and it was causing causing some severe blockages so I was getting blocked up nothing was coming out and um This I was getting severely sick and uh, they basically said if it's not going to come out that way It's going to come out this way and I was going to be sick like and there was going to be Yeah, basically shitting out your mat and that was a mad fought and uh So they had to do emergency surgery But they had to stick tubes down my throat to get like acid out. Oh, it was a renders and uh, that was that was the worst time worse than the first surgery because I had this emergency surgery I rushed it was like right you can you have surgery tomorrow? And I was like, what why do I need surgery? I thought you unblocked it. It was like, yeah, you get there's a stitch too tight. We'll just need to refashion the stoma So I was like, yeah, whatever. Let's go. I didn't have time to think it was the next day I got into the theater And uh, I had to have another epic Joel in me back and it won't go in I was like and it got it in and it was it was killing and then I thought right Let's just put me to sleep and let's get going And then he was like, I know because of covid you've got to stay awake. I'm like, you jet I was like, what I've got to stay awake during this surgery. You're gonna be arriving into me. So that was like a mad Soon as you said it, I had about 10 minutes to get prepared on it I'm glad he told me then because I would I would have probably jumped out. I was thinking about fucking it off I was like, I'm not staying awake during this. I've been through enough. Shit But then uh, yeah Literally, yeah, and he put this um, he put me sedated So I was I was just like half drowsed half knocked out and they put a big sheet here so I couldn't see and people talking to me but Yeah, I was awake for surgery for a few hours, but you could feel him prodding and stuff but When I come out because I didn't have no food for about five days My stomach was empty. I was on strong morphines I was on oral morphines and I was on Tramadols all sorts of tablets going through because it was a tablet form it was affecting my stomach And I had severe sickness For about three days. Um, but then I couldn't be sick because my stomach was that tender from the surgeries I was I was straining my stomach every time I was trying to like be sick And uh, I actually thought that's that saturday. I thought I thought I was dying again I thought that was it. This is the worst I've ever felt in my life I'll never forget that day that full day of being sick and it was just green acid coming out and It was the worst feeling. I'd rather have cramps in my stomach than that And they had to stick tubes down my throat again and oh it was horrendous. There's that many I've got horrible pictures on my phone just for like, you know, keeping memories, but Whenever I get a feeling of being sick again, it gives me flashbacks, but that was the worst day But after that touch would everything got back to normal And I've never had a problem since never had a blockage never had any pains I've gotten really well with the bags. But yeah, I think the main thing that got me through it was um Just surrounded me sending with good people good positive people I've got um john water. He's uh, he's like a mind coach. There's triathlon's iron man's Really positive guy. So he gets me in a good place. Danny Mitchell is really positive Is my coach my brother my partner, you know, they're just all feeding me positives so you know, just uh Trying to think positive as well like thinking what would my mum do? What would she be saying right now and you know, I mean Trying to get through but in my head. I was like, I've lost my mum. This has happened now I was like, there's no hope. It's just gonna keep getting worse all the time I'm not going to be able to fight again. So I was getting all these thoughts going through my mind and I'll be honest. I didn't want to be I didn't want to be here after the surgery I was having thoughts because my missus were back to work and I was stuck in the house 24 seven I couldn't even go out for a walk couldn't go downstairs I was laid in bed for about for about three weeks, I think And you know, you get mad thoughts and you know, you're like, I don't want to be here anymore So say though It was yeah, I'll be I'll be honest with you. I was I was getting them thoughts and My partner was really strong, you know, she because I used Um, I struggled a bit obviously when my mum went before but she's always been there And my brother's always been there as well But it was just hard because I was always on my own But luckily touchwood I had me two dogs and they kept me going through the whole of it Honestly, they are They are the cure for a lot of things dogs are honestly. They're amazing and uh, you know, that's that bit of company and They're always there. We are but I think yeah after after I get out walking about again I think that was it. My mindset was focused on Just getting things put in place like triathlons and fighting again Because what one thing like John Motton and Danny was saying Especially John. He was saying look What you got to do while you're laid in bed resting like you're not be able to do it Try not to think about the your stomach and what's going on try and think about What what are you going to do in the future and think like set some targets set some goals So he actually uh, I went and seen him a month later and he booked me in for a triathlon in september this year And he was like, I'll book you in for this give you something to motivate you for Something to work towards keep your mind focused even though you're not going to be training just yet um And all I all I was thinking about was Jimmy Sweeney again. I was like, right I'm going to get back and I'm going to rematch Jimmy like next year even though There was like I wasn't even expecting to fight this year at all. I was thinking about a couple of years But my recovery was that quick. I was training. I was back in the bag in about a month um a month after surgery Or two weeks, I think after the second surgery I was out in the garden it in the bag and I kept ripping ripping the stitching out on this on the On this where the surgery was so I didn't listen as I just used to rush back and over do it again But luckily it settled down. I managed to get listened to me me family And there's like look just let it heal first and then you can train. So I slowed it down Started doing a bit of biking bit of running slowly and I build it up I build it up from the beginning again basically And after about two months the muscle memory started kicking in and my fitness started coming back slowly and That was it. There's no more pains. Yeah, it was crazy. I feel like a new man. It was like, yeah It was like I was Terminators come back. How was it then? What weight were you starting to back train again when you lost everything? Did you lose over 28 pounds 30 pounds? Yeah, so I normally sit around 80 kg And I remember I got to about 69 before the surgery and I tried to Bulk up a little bit again and then it was hard. I was trying to eat loads of carbs But then after the surgery I was down to about 72 and I started eating more Obviously, you couldn't really eat you had to eat certain things for like two months Can you still eat the same with the operation and stuff? Can you still eat normal then? Yeah, yeah, I can still eat I can eat anything I want now basically I can eat more I can eat stuff that I want eating when I had colitis No, how does that affect how did that affect your fitness like can you still run as far? Can you still go as many rounds? Can you still push yourself to the extreme with the bag with the bag? Does that affect anything like our kidneys breathing? No, so I I honestly thought, you know I won't be able to do like I did but I was doing I'm doing everything I was before but doing it better Like, you know when I had when I had colitis I couldn't I couldn't go any further than 5k run When I was having a bad flare up only when I was in remission I could do like long endurance But throughout the whole fight camps it's probably 5k and then I had my stomach would cramp So I'd have to run back home like I couldn't I couldn't go far. You know what I mean? So it's always been a struggle, but now I can do anything without worrying. There's no worries So how do you fight then? How do you get a bell knuckle feet? Obviously you've got you can't go down a certain level in the waist But yeah, what happens if somebody punches it or kicks it in an MMA feet? Yeah Can it go up or anything? Can it break? Yeah one main thing is getting hernias around the stomach because it's obviously when they're when they're stuck into It ripped open your muscle into your abs. It's weak and they say hernia is one of the most things I've got I forgot a few support belts and stuff, but Basically when I'm boxing I've got the boxing guard actually comes above the the stoma Um, and you can get some support belts as well But I can I can like tap it myself and it doesn't hurt, but I've not actually took a full-on punch to it yet But I think with the boxing guard over the top and another support belt and stuff I'm pretty comfortable. I've done some sparring. I've took a few steady shots on it and It doesn't even when I'm sparring it. I don't even cross my mind. It's there anymore Every day. I don't even I don't even I forget it's there sometimes. It'll just become the norm Just brushing your teeth. It just becomes exactly but yeah for a fighter, especially grimy jimmy. I'd imagine he would aim for that Yeah, you know, nobody's gonna talk about it's a it's a you're in that ruthless sport We are it's killer be cool. So people are going to go for your vulnerabilities, but yeah, no doubt If your mindset you able to work around that So how are you feeling then when the rematch get called with jimmy sweeney after the control your pain your fucking suicidal thoughts You are thinking you're going to lose everything thinking your life was over to then getting a rematch fighting fat again How was that feeling for you best feeling ever when I when I confirm that fight It was like it was the best feeling ever You know just to get back in that ring is going to be a massive achievement Never mind when I want it when I beat him again. It's just going to be a massive achievement. It's getting back in again and For me, that's that's the main thing just getting in that ring and Within a lost from me bag and what I've been through is he's going to be a great relief and I'll just be so happy to get in. You know what I mean? So Yeah, it was a good feeling knowing I can compete again It was I think that was one of the main things that helped me get through recovery was knowing I'll be able to box again Just always having that on the back of my mind like I will box again and I will prove everyone I will you know prove surgeons wrong and stuff like that. So did they tell you not to fight? um Yeah, I want so before surgery and stuff I was I was asking them so many questions like you know I want it as low as possible because I'm going to box again. They're looking at me gone out like you Yeah, yeah, they just like kept saying yeah, all right and uh I was like, you know, is there anyone to ever box with this before and it's like No, they've they've not known anyone. Do you know what I mean? So It was kind of all they just probably thought I was just mad and they probably thought I Yeah, true But yeah, I think just from a mindset. I would just like yeah, I'm I'm gonna fight again And that's it end of and I will find a way to fight again and The only one I might struggle with is mixed marsh MMA again because obviously there's kicks there's grappling I'm actually I'll have to find a way to get a support guard Just to cover it and what promotions will let me fight on there But my coach Danny Mitchell is he's keen and he's pretty positive will get me on a MMA fight as well Yeah, anything can be done man. Anything can be good like this is all part of your journey the inspiration To help people the motivation to never quit. That's what it's all about never give up never let What doctors fucking say consume you and think okay. I'm just going to take their advice Yes, take your advice from some things, but it's still your life Yeah to live it do you want to lie in your house in your bed all day just feeling sorry for yourself crying into your fucking pillow thinking That's it because I ain't living you know that yourself have many inspirational people on here But your story's I actually love your story. You're a fucking right good guy man For what you're coming through and what you're pushing towards and you're still young to have that mindset at a young age Were you doing any reading or any? Listening any motivational videos were you? Yeah, I was watching your podcast I was watching a lot of uh, I was watching a lot of Gordon Ramsay as well mad Weirdly just watching a lot of things for this guy. He's people with me. Yeah, and uh, yeah I was reading some books podcasts and uh, David Goggins. I was watching I was just reading like loads of positivity stuff and um, yeah, just getting them positive thoughts and you're hanging around positive people just gets you through and Any any negative thoughts and that just brings you down all the time So yeah, it's it's one of the main things that gets you through to be fair So your feet when is your feet? And it's 14th of august and uh, is it the o2? We're going to have a crowd then again then london Yeah, there's full crowd again. They say so how many people's on there watching. I think uh Two and a half to three thousand in there london indigo is so it's inside the o2 at the indigo It's a nice nice big theater places. Yeah, it's good. I'll call me out. Is it sold out yet? Is the tickets out? Tickets there should be out soon. There'll be a link but um tickets might now definitely be there to support you mate Yeah, that'll be that'll be good. So how's the training going to be for this feet then? Um, to be fair, I'm fiter than I was already on the last fight 100. I can't believe like the fitness Um is improved so I think do you know just because I'm not fatigued and tired all the time But uh, I've I've basically started doing a lot of triathlon training So I've got actually three triathlons coming up in the next month or so So I'm looking forward to just competing in them as well keeping me fit But since I've been on a proper training plan Um, it's actually doc john's coach, uh dean kirkman. He's he does world championship level Iron man. So he's so clever. He knows what he's doing. So he's he's done me a pro triathlon plan I've been on it for about 10 weeks and Training smarter without I've never really had a proper plan I've always like over trained because that's just that old school style where you just every session you go full on But now I'm training smarter. I've got a set plan what I'm doing. So I'm getting them recovery days in properly Training every day. Do you know what I mean? No days off, but because of me training smarter I'm getting so fit a quick and uh Yeah, I'm just I start me camping about four or five weeks I'll have a solid eight week camp get some solid sparring in So I'm just looking forward to starting just starting to getting camp again. I'm excited. Yeah. Yeah, something to look forward to Definitely. Yeah So feeling fit I'm feeling stronger. What weight is it super middle weight? Are you mad? Yeah, so the bare knuckle, uh, the weights are a little bit different. I think mine's like featherweight title even though it's 175 kg on the same day Um, it's same day way and as well. So you got to get down. There's no big weight cuts Because obviously dehydrate yourself for a better knuckle fight is a bit dangerous. So try and get down. I think it's lightweight or featherweight. Yeah, so that's uh, But when you set the weights people's targets are some people are kilo Over and under. How is that in the weight division? Is it not as close as it has to be? Yeah, so obviously If you're a few pounds over you've got to try and cut the weight so Saunas or anything like that just trying to burn the weight off but You've got to be pretty much bang on. Yeah bang on weight. Yeah, so Do you think obviously you're winning this fight then get into it 100% he's getting stopped within five rounds Have you spoke to him yet? Uh, yeah, he's I've spoke to him after surgery. He's always been quite respectful and he messaged me Saying sorry to her about you know going through surgery and stuff like that and Yeah, we've messaged each other now and again just being respectful We've got that respect for each other like fighters, but And the day this is a fight and he's in my way of my dream. So did you still got the belt? Yeah, I've still got the belt. Yeah, um, it's in me. It's in my room where just in case case you weren't active They maybe took off. Yeah. No, no, I'm still I'm still the champ. So I'll be defending the belt august He'll be buzzing for it as well. Yeah, so we will yeah, so he's only had one lost Against julian lanes x ufc fight and he revenged the loss So he's never he's never lost twice to the same person, but is a gypsy big gypsy. Yeah, it's irish gypsy Tough bastards those gypsies man. It's in the blood in it's in the irish travelers. It's in the blood You know bear knuckle box in it. It's in the bloodline and they've done it For decades Yeah, you've got two dogs two rescue dogs. Yes, I am your pride and joy. How is that being Farer to two dogs. Oh, it's amazing, mate better than kids Because I know you've spoken about having a third dog fourth dog. You want a house with 10 dogs. You've says, yeah Dogs are the best. Why do you love the dogs so much and why rescue dogs, which is a phenomenal thing out of respect as well um I've always wanted a dog since when I was young, but my dad never let me have one I don't know. I just never really had a dog But I've always wanted a dog and then when we made me and my partner We bought a house. I was like, yeah, I want a dog. We need a dog just And obviously when my mum passed away, it was kind of like a What do you cut a grieving kind of thing? Someone was like, you know, maybe get a dog And it was the best thing I did for grieving was to get a dog And I actually called him after me bonbon. It was after the sweet fight bonbon I used to eat a lot of bonbons back in the day. So that's why they call me it but um When I got when I got me my dog my first dog that was it just I fell in love with him straight away and it was Man's best friend, aren't there? You know, I mean that connection you have with a dog and The bonding you have is unreal the loyalty every time you come in and there's Oh, dogs are amazing. I've I'm obsessed and I just love taking them out in the In the in the wildlife and you know, I mean just catching a few rabbits But yeah, I think the the one rescuing dogs as well Just I get a buzz out of rescuing because you see him in that kennel. You see the little face and being abused Yeah, I think my first one bon was abused quite bad because he was like really scared He was underweight. He was always used to be scared when you go to tap him and stroke him So just now he's got the life of luxuries The amount has come out is unreal like it was never he used to be so scared all the time but now he just He's like the man now. Do you know what I mean? So and yeah, I rescued me of one about two years ago She was a working dog. So she's a killer inside her But she's like the most lovingest dog ever. You know what I mean? So Everywhere I go, she just follows me and it's it's a nice feeling. Do you know what I mean when Two dogs dogs are next level. I don't have about 20. Yeah, it's the loyalty and it's a companionship Like they don't speak back. There's no negativity as soon as dogs easier just happy But that's what I'm hoping get the bigger house and then get two free dogs. It's definitely it's fucking hard work though But it's worth it because they want they give back Yeah, I mean the happiness and That's what's probably kept your life as well. I think we've got the missies and the brother and Yeah, and it's you kind of want you like this. They do say that people were in their 50s and 60s When if they've got a dog they live longer. Yeah, because yeah, definitely They need to be there for the dog. I reckon it's good for your mental health as well getting a dog It's you know, just keep your company and especially if you live on your own or I would like I suggest I recommend getting a dog or if you've just you know, if you've lost someone in your family close or It's good for like that grieving. You know, it keeps you busy Keeps your focus and it's just someone there. Do you know what I mean? It's And you know, I mean, I like dogs better than humans They are amazing going forward for the future brother. Yeah, what's the plans? Yeah, I've got a trifle on next week and then the week after Uh, I keep that's just gonna keep me busy in shape and then Obviously the jimmy fight in august get that get that dealt with And yeah, just get back in the ring. That'll be amazing and then just go from there really My plan is just to travel the world fighting getting paid for fighting traveling the world as well And just keep raising the awareness for a loss to me and helping people out I've helped quite a lot of people out since coming out of it and posting it on me Social media because I've got a bit of a platform to work from Hundreds of people being messaged me. So I've helped a lot of people out, which is a good feeling as well Because a lot of people do struggle with it people feel alone. Yeah, I love yeah embarrassed alone confused So helping the people out with colitis it lost to me A lot of people are just getting ready for surgery and the scared and the message of me and I've I've helped them out a lot going through surgery. So that's that's pretty mad seeing as though I've only had it for about six months It's pretty crazy. But um, yeah, just to keep fighting have a nice family Just Just live the dream and just enjoy life. You know, I mean just travel the world Just look each day to just enjoy it. I think that's the main thing just be happy Um, you know what I mean? So it's not about having money all the time. I just think it's just whatever you do in life You've just got to enjoy it and just be happy and enjoy what you do every day and I'm loving it. I'm loving life It's good. That's the main thing. What about trying to go to America and America is big for this kind of stuff They'll knock over and how do you get into America? Was that something on your hit list? Uh, yeah, I'd love to fight some even if to get some big names from americans coming over here to fight as well I'd love to go and fight in america. I'd love to come I fought in thailand before I fought in russia I thought I love the world as well, but Just to fight in america would be good. I've always wanted to fight in america and uh, japan or somewhere crazy like that I just yeah, I'd love to It's just a nice experience getting paid to try to get fighting abroad is who's the big names in america at your weight class um In bare knuckle, there's a guy artem loboff mcgregor's friend mate irish guy He um, he's had a few big fights and he's got a massive platform Um, he's quite big in the game at the minute with jason night. So there's a few americans out there Um, I'd fight any of them All at once. Fuck it. I'd fight him next weekend if I wanted it But um, yeah, there's some big names like actually they're all like x ufc fighters and stuff like so the big names That's what I want next. I want big names coming in x ufc fighters bellator fighters and uh, we'll go from there But everything you've set your sights on everything your vision eyes has came true. So this is just another step Yeah, 100 one year next fight in august and then What have I maybe another fight render year and then possible america next year? Yeah, it's um, it will happen. You're clearly like I who believes what he sets out to do What about um For anybody that's in the struggle brother for anybody that's moving through a big operation not necessarily with you through but yeah For a manny yourself has been in the ring and fights bare knuckle To then line his hospital bed scared that shows that you ask women everybody's human All have those feelings and emotion but for anybody that's maybe getting for a big operation Are struggling to maybe go see a doctor about something what advice would you give for them? Yeah, obviously everyone goes through them hard times everyone has down days and But you just got to think you know, there's always like that in the end of that tunnel whatever you're going through So it's just Even though it's hard you're gonna have down days and down weeks But there's always he's always going to be it's going to get better. You know what I mean? So there's always a bit of hope and just keep setting them targets and goals all the time if you're feeling like shit That's what I try and I actually set up a whatsapp group to help people of Getting back to the gym training bit of mental health as well And you know, I always say on there to set goals and targets all the time even like even just daily goals just to keep your mind busy And if you've got nothing to work for you're gonna I think it's people do struggle to find motivation and stuff So I think that's what keeps me going is setting targets goals like these small ones every day And then obviously fights triathlons. They're the bigger ones But yeah, there's uh, just keep going strong because there's always hope there's always hope there and uh I always think this one thing that gets me through is someone's always got it worse than you so I just think you know, I've got a I've got my bowels removed. I've got a bag But someone's got no arm no legs. Someone's gonna die. You know what I mean? So You know, that's positive in every situation. Exactly. We'll give a shout out to big georgia king as well I know I had one big daredevil also extreme athlete. How do you know george big george? Yeah, we started following nature on instagram and I can remember from A years ago when he's climbed the shard and I was like, who's this crazy man climbing up there with no ropes And then he got arrested That was just crazy on it and then he that's uh, that's how he got big and he's on channel four He's on this morning. But uh, it's just that, you know Mindset again, and it's crazy. Believe in yourself. Yeah, um, listen, brother It's been an inspiration to have you on the day. I think it's phenomenal what you're achieving and what you're going to do for the future Definitely for coming on the day telling your story. I very much appreciate it and looking forward to your next week It's been a pleasure coming on. Thank you. God bless you. 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