Status: Middleweight contender will box Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. next weekend. His record is 29-1 (18 KO’s).
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 160
DOB: June 19, 1979 In: Derry, North Ireland
Boxing Inspiration: “There’s so many. My father inspired me to become a fighter in the first place. Barry McGuigan inspired me to try and be the best that I could. And Muhammad Ali – he’s above the fireplace at home in Ireland. I think his whole life is an inspiration to everybody, whether it’s in boxing or other things.”
Nicknames: “I was called Rubber Lips when I was a kid. All the kids used to take fun of me. Dudds is what my fans call me.”
Hobbies/Interests: “Read books, play my guitar and train [laughs].”
Favorite Movies: “Lord of the Rings trilogy. Godfather. Cool Hand Luke. Paul Newman is one of my favorite actors. Butch Cassidy.”
Favorite TV Shows: “I enjoy Seinfeld, I never watched it when I was in Ireland. The usual – House, Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Musical Tastes: “From Dean Martin to Frank Sinatra to Rolling Stones to Doors, Pink Floyd and U2, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. I like all of them. I like old country. I went to Nashville a few years ago. Good music’s good music.”
Last Book Read: “Wuthering Heights.”
First Job: “I was a lifeguard at a swimming pool.”
First Car: “’98 Dodge Caravan (white).”
Current Car: “Dodge Caravan.”
First Boxing Memory: “Was when I had my first fight at an amateur club when I was seven. My father took me to just show me about. They just line the kids up together and put me in the ring with a 12 year old kid when I was seven. And he wouldn’t come out for the second round. And I just remmeber standing there with the shorts too big, the boots too big – just remember everyone looking at me in the ring and standing there. And the room was pitch black. And you could see all the heads, all the white eyes and the smoke. And I was thinking, I like this attention.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “Just thinking about getting my job done.”
Favorite Meal: “Anything Italian.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Right now [laughs].”
Most Painful Moment: “I got my jaw broke in the European Olympic qualifiers. It wasn’t the fact that I got my jaw broke it was the fact that I couldn’t box in the finals because of my broke jaw. I won the fight but I couldn’t fight in the final because of it.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “I don’t know, don’t have too many. None off the top of my head, drawing a blank.”
Embarrassing Boxing Memory: “I don’t know, drawing a blank.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Today at the moment I don’t really watch much boxing. If it’s supposed to be a good fight I’ll watch it. I don’t watch too many fighters to be honest with you.”
Favorite Fights: “I’ve watched all of Ali’s fights, Tyson’s fights, Sugar Ray Robinson’s fights, Jake Lamotta and Jack Dempsey. I love old fighters. I watched a lot of old fighter tapes as a kid as I grew up.”
What Would You Be If Not A Boxer: “I’d probably be a bum [laughs].”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Humor. Honesty. And people who enjoy a drink [laughs].”
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