Status: WBC Super Middleweight champion. Has a record of 26-0 (20 KO’s). Will face Mikkel Kessler in the second round of the SHOWTIME Super Six tournament.

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 168

DOB: July 2, 1977 In: Nottingham, England

Inspiration: “I want recognition from the top fighters in the world. The top Americans.”

Childhood Heroes: “No, not really. I used to watch a lot of Naseem Hamed for entertainment value. He was exciting.”

Nickname: Cobra.

Favorite Movies: “I think Casino with Robert DeNiro. Goodfellas. Like a lot of gangster films.”

Last Book Read: “Steel Me, Christopher Reeve.”

Musical Tastes: “A bit of R&B and hip-hop. I listen to all sorts. I was brought up on Motown and soul as a kid. Because my dad used to play that all the time. Eminem, Dr. Dre, Biggie Smalls, gym music. It’s good to train to that stuff. Johnny Cash is the man. I play a bit of guitar and I do a few Johnny Cash numbers myself. Big Johnny Cash fan. Country music. I’m really, really into all of that.”

First Job: “I did finance courses in college, so I had an office job, answering the phone and using the computer.”

Current Car: “Mercedes.”

Favorite Meal: “I like eating so much, you know, I do like Chinese.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Fight Meal: “Complex carbohydrates. Whole grain wheat free pasta.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Was lifting the WBC title against Jean Pascal in my hometown Nottingham (December 2008).”

Most Painful Moment: “Was actually when I lost in the Olympic qualifying tournament. I was trying to qualify for the Sydney Olympics (2000). I lost a decision but it was a political decision to a Romanian in Liverpool. I basically got ripped off on the scoring system. There were a lot of politics involved back then when England was trying to qualify. It was painful to not qualify for the Sydney Olympics when I knew I was good enough to go there and win a medal.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “That’s quite an in-depth answer. I’m thinking about winning. There’s plenty of emotions that go on when you’re fighting. It’s very…it’s a deep question. That you need a long time to answer. I’m going to bring a book out. You’ll have to buy that and read that [smiles]. I’ll talk about it in there.”

Funny Memory: “I used to be a fan of Prince Naseem Hamed, an exciting fighter who provided entertainment value. And I got carried away one amateur fight – I vaulted the top rope (as Hamed used to do), flipped over the top rope – that went okay. Then during the fight I was throwing a silly uppercut from the canvas, and bobbing and weaving with my hands down. I threw a shot and I missed and I fell over. But I got up and won the fight. But that was quite fun and embarrassing. All my friends were laughing.”

Last Vacation: “Cyprus.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Roy Jones Jr. was fantastic. All the best fighters really. Floyd Mayweather is just a great technician – offensively and defensively. Manny Pacquiao is so fast and explosive. I watched a lot of Miguel Cotto’s career. I enjoy watching him. David Haye – I like watching his fights because sometimes he’s a little bit of a kamikaze. There’s a lot of method to his madness, the way he fights. But David Haye is exciting to watch and I’m looking forward to see him fight the Klitschkos. He’s definitely got a chance there, a good chance.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I like people to be honest. Quite humorous, quite comical. Can take a joke. I like people to be – not ridiculously but generous, generous with their time, if roundabout. To be open with their feelings. I like people who are straight talking.”

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