AN INTERVIEW WITH KERRY HOPE

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AN INTERVIEW WITH KERRY HOPE
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How many hours do you train a week?
When did you start boxing ?
I train 25 hours a week
I started boxing when I was 13 years old
Did you kick box before you boxed ?
Would you like your son to box ?
No I didnt but I did karate
No I would not like my son to box
What is the most important thing that has
happened in your life?
Who is your boxing hero ?
My son being born
My boxing hero is Mohammad Ali
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What weight class are you in?
Were you a fan of boxing as a boy ?
Im a light middle weight. I weigh 11 stone
Yes as a boy I loved watching people box
Where and when is your next fight ?
Were any of your family boxers ?
Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre and its on the 21st
of February 2009
Yes, lots of my family were boxers. My granddad
was a great boxer
What title would you like to win?
Do you have any nicknames ?
Yes outside boxing my name is hopey and in the
ring my nickname is The Great
I would love to win a world title
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How many fights have you won ?
Where would be your dream place to box ?
Professional fights 11/12 and as an amateur 64/70

My dream place to box would definitely be Madison
Square Gardens
Who did you first fight ?
Do you still live in Merthyr Tydfil ?
Brian Coleman on the 21st of February 2005 at
Bridgend Leisure Centre
Yes I still live in Merthyr Tydfil
How long has Enzo Calzaghe trained you ?
Would you like to fight Joe Calzaghe ?
Enzo Calzaghe has trained me for 4 years
No because I spar with him all the time
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On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love boxing ?
Where was your first gym ?
My first gym was in the Gurnos
10, because I love boxing !!!
How many pairs of boxing gloves do you have ?
Where were you born ?
I was born in prince Charles hospital
5 pairs but I only use 3 pairs
What is the hardest match you have ever been in ?
Where do you train ?
I one versed Matt Scriven on the 4th March 2006
at the Manchester Evening News arena and I lost
Either Newbridge or Dowlais
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Who would you like to fight dead or alive ?
I would like to fight Howard Winstone
How do you feel about your next match? I feel
very Confident
Do you have any good luck charms ?
What did you need to do to become a professional
boxer? Confidence, hard work, discipline and
training hard
Yes, a lot off my mum
Were you disappointed when you couldnt fight in
Madison Square gardens? I felt absolutely gutted
Do you have any good luck charms? Yes, loads of
my mam
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When you go miles away from your family how do
you feel? Upset but I knows has to do it because
it is part of boxing
How many injuries have you had? Lots, broken
nose, cut lip, bruises, black eyes
Have you ever been sick before a fight? No, but
when I had the flu, and fighting I was nearly
sick in the ring
Do you play any other sports apart from
boxing? Swimming, running
Why did you start boxing? I got into trouble in
school fighting so I thought I would put it to
good use
How do you feel about being a professional
boxer? I feel very proud
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What colour shorts do you wear? Gold but next
fight black because I lost in them
Have you won any tittles? No, but next fight is
the 1st won Welsh champion
What colour shorts do you wear? Gold but next
fight black because I lost in them
Is boxing your favourite to watch on TV? Of course
What was the biggest venue you boxed at? I once
boxed at the Millenium Stadium
Have you got a strategy for the match in
Feb? Yeah I do, win
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Have you won any tittles? No I havent but next
fight is the 1st won Welsh champion
How many injuries have you had? Loads I had a
broken nose, cut lip, bruises and black eyes
Have you ever been sick before a fight? No, but
when I had the flu I was nearly sick in the ring
Is boxing your favourite to watch on TV? Yes of
course
How do you feel about being a professional
boxer? I feel very proud to be a boxer
Have you got a strategy for the match in
Feb? Yeah I have to win
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What equipment do you use to train? Exercise
ball, weights, mitts, speed ball, punch bag
What colour shorts do you wear? Gold but next
fight black because I lost in them. Black robe
How many times have you knocked someone out? 1
time Manoo Salari on the 18th Nov 2006
Did you box in a club when you were younger? Yes
I boxed at Gurnos and Dowlais
What was the biggest venue you boxed at? the
millenium Stadium