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Raise Your Game: Were you always good at games in school?

Enzo Maccarinelli: Yeah, it was my forte. I was pretty good at the other subjects as well, to be honest with you, but come games lessons I'd be excited, and first one out on the field!

RYG: What is it about boxing?

EM: My dad owned a gym and I didn't really have much of a choice, he sort of pushed me into it. At the time I hated him for making me do it when all my friends were out but, honestly, it's paid off now, and I give him more credit than anyone. We used to have lots of arguments. Especially if I didn't train, then I wouldn't get my pocket money. But like I said, it's all paid off!

RYG: What have you learnt from boxing?

EM: You learn a lot of things from boxing, but the main thing would be discipline. I do a lot of running, and where I run you see boys and girls as young as 14 or 15-years-old drinking cider on a school night, and to me that's not right. Sport broadens your horizons so you want better for yourself.

RYG: When you were younger did you ever have a problem with getting out there and doing the training?

EM: No I loved it! It was just a matter of my friends going out and me being stuck in, but at the end of the day it's better to be fit.

RYG: How do you deal with the pressure before a fight?

EM: I've done it for so long now, that I don't really... obviously you still get the nerves, and, for me, it's more excitement and adrenaline. I actually enjoy the buzz of performing in front of thousands of people.

RYG: Any superstitions?

EM: Not at all, I say a little prayer before I fight, and I always have done.

RYG: So how do you psych yourself up, and how do you calm yourself down?

EM: I psych myself up in my own way. People can't get over how calm I am before a fight. Basically it's a fight, it's a boxing event, where the best man wins, and you can't get much better than that.

RYG: Do you have something that you always do before a fight, a routine?

EM: Before a fight I always make sure I've got black underwear on and black socks, and I've done that since I was 10-years-old.

RYG: What makes a great boxer, as opposed to a good boxer?

EM: A great boxer has the ability to sacrifice everything, which is what you've got to do. There's so many fighters around today who win and then you don't see them for three or four weeks. They totally disregard anything to do with the sport. A great boxer is always willing to learn, always willing to keep trying and perfecting himself.

RYG: Have you ever felt that there was a time in your career where you thought - that's it I can't do it?

EM: It would be when I was young... a teenager of 14 or 16-years-old and I couldn't get fights. I won British titles, Welsh titles, and I just couldn't get anyone to fight me, so I become disinterested with the sport. I went up to 16 and a half stone, and was doing things I shouldn't be doing, but then I got back into training and my love came back for it again.

RYG: What is the biggest high you've ever had from sport?

EM: Just competing! It's pitting your skill against another person who is equally capable of beating you in front of thousands of people on TV, and the buzz you get from that is second to none.

RYG: What about the pressure when you walk into the ring - how do you keep yourself calm?

EM: It's one of those feelings I can't describe to you unless you've actually been there. You see some kids go in for their first fight and fully grown men who make out they're indestructible, and when they see that ring and when they've got to walk to that ring they just go to pieces, so it's really hard to describe...

RYG: Who inspired you?

EM: My dad. I give him all the credit for who I am today.

RYG: What makes your dad a good teacher?

EM: He loves boxing.

RYG: Hard on the outside, are you soft on the inside?

EM: Depends. (Laughs). Yeah I am to be honest. I'm a boxer at the end of the day, and when I step into that ring, I try and win a fight, but you know there's no way I'd do damage to any other opponent. Put me in front of a film with a sad ending and you might see a little tear in my eye, and I'm definitely a family man.

RYG: Any advice to young people who want to be as successful as you?

EM: Follow your dream - but always have a back-up plan. You know, it may never work out there, wanting to be the next Frank Lampard or David Beckham. I would say take advice, definitely follow your dream, but always have your education as well.

RYG: Is it hard work coming to train every day?

EM: It can be, but for someone like me I'm actually in the sport because I love the sport, and to me I enjoy it and I know the harder that I work, the easier I fight.

RYG: In terms of preparation for a fight, how much do you have to commit yourself?

EM: It's non-stop, I'm fully committed. It's basically 10 weeks of flat-out training and dieting. You wake up in the morning with a different muscle hurting in your body every day, and it gets very painful, but you know it's only good for you.

RYG: And what keeps you going?

EM: You keep going for the love of the sport and actually wanting to be the best that you can be. I want to be remembered in years to come as the best of my time.

It's nice for kids to look up to me and to Joe. I'd say to young people concentrate and commit yourself. I've never done training at half measures. I've never skived in training. If you've got a big exam and you're studying, if you plan to do an hour studying, do an hour, don't do half an hour. If you set your goals go through with it!

The main thing I've learnt from boxing is discipline. It's a good rule for life. You get nothing without hard work. The harder you work at something the easier the competition is.

RYG: Do you ever get scared before a fight?

EM: That's a hard question - it's a mixture of different things, the adrenaline is pumping, the nervousness... Scared - no, nervous - yes, because I believe you have to go into that ring knowing this other guy can beat you. If you go in there thinking you're indestructible you will get beaten.

A lesson for life there - that you've always got to be thinking and you've always got to plan ahead. You've always got to think about the next step, and if you go through life thinking everything's going to be easy for you, you're not going to get anywhere, you've got to prepare yourself for the worst and get the best!