Carl Frampton

It's hard to believe I was just seven when I started boxing but I've put everything of myself into it.

A loss in boxing is different to any sport. It can set your career back a few years. So I fear losing more than anything.

I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to win. I just don't want to lose.

There are more important things in life than boxing.

The most important thing in my life is my wife and kids, my family. Boxing is a close second.

I've got two kids and a missus. I don't want problems after boxing. You need to be careful.

You're just taking punishment every day, getting hit all the time. That's something we're going to cut back on. I'll train hard but the sparring will be cut in half.

That retirement plan I had, getting out by 32, may still be the case even though at the minute it's in the back of my mind. It's important to get out at the right time.

I'm not a massive featherweight.

In boxing we're allowed to come togethwe. Protestants and Catholics, the north and south, everyone. I'm in an Irish vest, even on a mural in Tiger's Bay, because boxing brings the communities together.

My mum's very vocal about me, aye. She's very proud. It's just a bit embarrassing.

He still works in the local leisure centre and he's the union rep and a shop steward. Dad is very grounded. He's not bumptious or brash.

I love going home to Belfast on weekend breaks from training.

I just want to win a world title - that's the main objective and whether it happens at Windsor or whether it happens in America it doesn't matter.

But if I ever fight in Northern Ireland again, I want it to be at Windsor Park.

Boxing is a lonely sport and when you lose it's hard to take and it's hard to get over.

If I could unify my second weight division, that would be huge.

I was seven or eight and a kid who was easily picked on. Not bullied but other kids would've told me what to do in the streets. I was very shy. I used to put my head down.

As a kid I could be in New Lodge in a minute. I'd go down our street, turn right and I was there.

In Tiger's Bay I saw trouble I shouldn't have seen. But 95% of the people there are good and they're coming out to support me - just like in New Lodge which is the opposition or whatever you want to call it.

There's not a better sporting spectacle than an evenly-matched fight.

It's good to go and get photographs taken with people who come out and support you. I don't mind that, having a chat and shaking people's hands.

I get spotted quite a bit walking about the streets in Belfast and it's okay, I don't mind it, they come up and shake your hand.

If you worry about hurting your opponent you are probably in the wrong game, because it can happen. I wouldn't wish ill on anyone. I wanted to knock him out, not hurt him badly.

I was a quiet kid on the streets. The loudmouths would push me around but when I was boxing, I was beating them up and it felt good.