Picture Section
Where it all started for me – the famous Repton Boxing Club in East London. The weights sessions got a little bit more difficult as I got older, unfortunately.
Starting out early at a gym show in Kent (that’s me in the green and yellow Repton colours). When I saw Ned and Mushy boxing, I wanted to learn too, and I won two schoolboy titles in England before we moved to Limerick.
With Jesus Gonzales and Tony Davitt after I won silver at the World Junior Championships in 2002. Beating Gonzales turned out to be one of the biggest moments in my career, ultimately leading me to Detroit and to Emanuel. I was so exhausted that I don’t remember any of the medal ceremony.
Devastation at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. In my heart, I knew that Hassan N’Dam had beaten me before the final result was even announced. My Olympic dream was over. (©MURAD SEZER/AP/Shutterstock)
I’ll never forget my visit to Áras an Uachtaráin with the Irish Olympic team. It was a privilege to meet President Mary McAleese – and it was the first day I met Maud. (©INPHO/ Morgan Treacy)
You might not think it to look at, but through that red door is possibly the most famous boxing gym in the world: the Kronk. (©Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images)
Emanuel always had his own way of doing things, whether it was wrapping hands or fixing cuts. This photo was taken before my first fight as a professional in March 2006. (©Bloomberg / Getty Images)
Emanuel trained more than 40 world champions over the course of his Hall of Fame career, including Tommy Hearns, Michael Moorer (pictured), Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko – and me. (©The Ring Magazine / Getty Images)
Doing padwork with Emanuel was one of the most intense workouts you can imagine. I don’t think I ever managed more than four straight rounds. This photo was taken in the Belfast Kronk in 2007. (©INPHO/ PRESSEYE/Jonathan Porter)
I was always fortunate to have a great team in my corner. For my fight against Willie Gibbs, it was Emanuel (left), Joey Gamache (second left), and Sugar Hill (right). (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Emanuel was more than a coach to me, more than a mentor. He let me live my dream. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
We both know what the other is thinking without even needing to say a word most of the time, which made him an invaluable person to have in my corner throughout my career. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
Myself and Wladimir Klitschko got to know each other well through different training camps over the years. I learned a lot about being a champion by watching Wladimir and how he operated.
Meeting the Greatest, Muhammad Ali, at the reopening of the legendary 5th Street Gym in Miami, Florida, in 2010.
Damian and I in Madison Square Garden for my fight against Dennis Sharpe in November 2006. Before I even turned pro, Damian was the main man taking care of business on my behalf outside the ring so that I could take care of it inside.
It took me and Adam a while to get used to working with each other, but once we did, we became close friends as well as fighter and coach. (Images; ©Dave Thompson / Stringer / Getty )
He transformed the way I fought, and I completely bought in to everything he told me. (Images; ©Tom Jenkins / Getty Images)
My homecoming in Limerick after winning the world title was a night I’ll never forget – but there was no harm getting a selfie, just in case. (©Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE)
Maud and I in the summer of 2013. We’ve been on every step of this journey together from the start, through all of the ups and downs. I couldn’t have done it without her.
My philosophy on boxing, borrowed from the film director Jim Jarmusch and painted on the walls of the National Stadium in Dublin. (©INPHO/James Crombie)
My final fight before retirement, against KeAndrae Leatherwood in Madison Square Garden, March 2017. (©INPHO/Tom Hogan)
