Biofile Ben Doughty Interview

First memory of boxing:  Sparring with my Dad in the living room when I was five years old. For some reason, I put a paper-clip on my glove and cut his eye!

Childhood dreams:  To be an all time great world champ, like my idols Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Last book read: BOXING’S GREATEST PRIZE – by Peter Wilson. First read as a teenager and revisited for a new book project.

Favorite movies: A Clockwork Orange, Scarface, The Hangover.

First famous boxer you met or encountered: Good question. Probably Errol Christie, who was a pretty big UK star at the time, back in 1984 at the Thomas A’Becket gym.

Greatest sports moment:  Sugar Ray Leonard beating Marvin Hagler in April, 1987.

Most painful career moment: Getting stopped inside a round in the quarter-finals of the National Schoolboy Championships in March, 1985. I was fifteen and it was an all time low inside the ropes.

Funny boxing memory:  It wasn’t so funny at the time but my disastrous trip to Düsseldorf for Tyson Fury vs Wladimir Klitschko stands out. My accomplice and I flew into the wrong city (Stuttgart) before unsuccessfully attempting to jump the train and getting collared by the revenue protection inspectors. When we finally arrived at our Düsseldorf hotel, I realized that I’d left the fight tickets on the train! We bought new tickets before getting drunk on the train back to Stuttgart and waking up in Koln at 5am in the morning.

Strangest fight:  Off the top of my head, Peter McDonagh’s stoppage win over Michael Gomez was somewhat bizarre. Gomez appeared to simply give up mid-fight amid rumors of a fix, although nothing was ever proven.

Funniest boxers encountered:  Billy Joe Saunders is a natural born prankster and always fun to be around, Former European Cruiserweight Champion, Terry Dunstan, was highly entertaining in the gym and my co-anchor Michael ‘The Silk’ Olajide is a laugh a minute.

Embarrassing career memory:  The most embarrassing fight I was ever involved with was Larry Olubamiwo vs Hughie Fury back in 2015. I was in Olubamiwo’s corner and he turned his back on Fury as soon as the bout started before receiving a blow in the kidney area and diving out of the ring arse first. It was live on Channel 5 in the UK but has been thankfully forgotten for the most part.

Why do you love boxing:  I have loved boxing almost too long to consciously know why. Despite all the disingenuous corruption, it remains the greatest sport in the world and a metaphor for life.

Favorite ice cream flavor:  Something chocolatey with cookie dough!

Favorite artists:  I’m not a huge art buff but I love Salvador Dali’s work.

Which of your books are you most proud of:  The Wilfred Benitez bio is probably the best but I’m most proud of the Tony Ayala Jr. biography because it was something I had wanted to write for the longest time.

Favorite boxers to watch:  Ali, Leonard, Jersey Joe Walcott and Kirkland Laing.

Favorite fights:  Ali -Foreman, Leonard-Hearns 1, Hagler-Leonard, De La Hoya-Mosley 1 and Gatti-Ward 1. I could name many others.

Favorite sport outside boxing:  I don’t really have one but I’d say tennis if pushed. I’ve been to Wimbledon for the last two years with my Mum.

People qualities most admired:  Critical thinking ability, loyalty and accountability.

Education:  I got 6 O’ levels and 2 A’ Levels from Archway Comprehensive School in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Never went to university although I would advise my son to follow that path.