Get to know… Ben Capps
After a five-year professional boxing career in Melbourne, Australia, collecting fringe WBC and IBF belts, Ben 'Bustin' Capps has returned to the UK to put the welterweights on high alert, already demolishing Chatham's Ricky Rose in the first-round of their July 28 meeting in Middleton.
The Capps family emigrated in 2005, when Ben was just 12 and, at 15, he took up boxing at a small gym just outside Melbourne, turning pro at 19. Despite winning IBO and WBC belts in Asia Pacific / Oceania and taking out some top names in the process, including Floyd Mayweather's sparring partner Fred Tukes, he fell out of love with the sport after controversially losing out on the Australian title and didn’t compete professionally for nearly two years, until deciding to return to the UK in February this year to have another go.
BBN popped into his gym in Manchester to get to know the Pommie-turned-Aussie-turned-Pommie!
Name: Ben Capps
Record: (15-5-2, 7KOs)
Weight: Welterweight
Born: Manchester
Residence: Manchester
DOB: 25th October 1992
Nickname? Bustin'
Favourite all-time boxer? Micky Ward
Favourite current boxer? Canelo
Favourite fight? Corrales vs Castillo I [José Luis Castillo won TKO 10 on May 7 2005 at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas]
Boxing clubs? Shadows Gym, Melbourne and Salford City Boxing Academy.
Amateur honours? Victorian State Champion at Novice and Intermediate level
Biggest achievement in boxing? Winning the WBC Asia Council super-welterweight title
Toughest ever opponent? 'Smokin' Joe Mullender – the only fighter to ever stop me [Joe Mullender stopped Capps in round-seven on October 20, 2018]
Goals in boxing? To earn enough money for a comfortable life… as a minimum
Retirement age? 35-years-old
Team? Gary Booth is my Manager/Trainer; Time Case – my Chryotherapy Consultant for recovery
Boxing style? I would describe myself as a pressure-fighter
Ring walk song? It all varies depending on the show but my last walk out music was ‘MELBRN – The Anthem’ because the singer is a friend of mine from Melbourne
Pre-fight rituals? Rolling dice – A game I used to play with my best friend who unfortunately isn’t with us anymore
Favourite brand of gloves? Cleto Reyes
Best venue? The Melbourne Pavillion; I had my last three fights in Australia there, winning two by knockout and losing by mixed decision to Samuel Colomban (23-8) for the Australian super-welterweight title
Best belt? The WBC title
Favourite football team? I'm a Manchester City FC fan
Other sports? Not really, just football and boxing
Favourite holiday destination? The Gold Coast, Australia
Favourite TV programme? At the momnt, it's Power
Favourite film? Menace to Society
What actor would play you in a film of your life? Mark Wahlberg
Favourite music? Rap
Favourite food? Large steaks!
Favourite restaurant? Sash in Melbourne, it was a Japanese new age fusion restaurant
Favourite brands? Christian Louboutin and Gucci
Favourite superhero? Iron Man
Phobias? Needles
Motto? I'm not here to f**k spiders.
Next fight? Who knows? Only just fought on October 20, so hopefully fit another couple in before Christmas
What fight do you want to see happen next year? Wilder v Joshua has got to happen
If you could fight anyone, past or present, who would it be? Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
What is the best division to watch in boxing and why? Got to be the heavyweight because one punch can change the whole fight
What is most important to you in your career between money or glory? Money
Where do you want to be in your career in exactly one year’s time from now? I want to be in the top 50 in the world rankings and rising
Tell us something that not many people know about you? I made my pro debut in Australia on Remembrance Day 2011 and beat an Army physical training instructor!
Twitter?@cappsy17