Haroon is already a Four Nation and British champion and he thinks he’s going to be better than me. We spar a lot and sometimes, even though he weighs only 6 ‘, stone, he can...

I get a lot of letters and fan mail from Scotland,

It’s definitely a relief not to get as much attention for this fight because it means I can just get on with it just like any other fight,

He’s very strong and I hit him with most of the punches I’ve got and he still stood there. But I’ve done the four rounds now and I found it very easy. In the first...

He was exactly what I needed because he was strong and took a good punch.

My warm-up was harder than the fight.

There’s a lot more to come from me. I am only young, I’m only 19, I’ve got a long way to go. I’m sure (promoter) Frank (Warren) is going to pick the right fights for...

I think I’m as good as the Russians and the Cubans but I’ve got my feet on the ground. Now that I’ve got a medal it is a huge thing for somebody my age. The...

He gave me a good test. There’s a lot more. I’m only 19 and I’ve a long way to go. Frank will pick the right fights for me and hopefully I’ll be on the right...

I’ve adapted my footwork and my punches are a lot harder now. My first fight was like my amateur fights. I went in there with fast feet and fast hands but now I’ve slowed it...

Nearly all of the lads are going to get medals and if they perform on the day a lot of them could be gold.

I was very impressed with Amir,

We have to make sure that if another major earthquake comes, people are better prepared. That means building better and stronger homes and communities than they had before.

Everyone I box now is going to be after me, but that’s what I want – to be tested to the full.

It happened so quick and it’s gone totally mad since then,

I want to be a world and Olympic champion as an amateur.

[I raise a brow at the speed and seeming exactitude of his ambition.] Well, maybe four years, … As long as I don’t allow myself to get distracted I think that’s possible. If I keep...

Like many who feel exiled, it is a primal requirement to return to your roots. And this project has built that bridge for me.