Get to Know… Elvis Makoda
Name: Elvis Makoda
Record: (1-1-2)
Weight: Lightweight
Born: Republic of Congo
Residence: Richmond, West London
DOB: 06/04/1990
Nickname? ‘Double El’
Favourite current boxer? “Floyd Mayweather Jr.”
Favourite all-time boxer? “Roy Jones Jr. and Prince Naseem Hamed.”
Favourite fight? “Naseem Hamed v Kevin Kelly.”
Boxing clubs? “Hayes ABC in Middlesex, Rooney’s Gym in London Bridge and Westside Gym in Hounslow.”
Amateur honours? “I won the Haringey Box Cup 2012. I got to the final the year before that.”
Biggest achievement in boxing? “Winning the Haringey Cup, and for my old club – Hayes ABC, I won an award for being the most promising boxer. Overall, turning professional was one of my biggest achievements, I never thought that I would and now here I am.”
Toughest ever opponent? “Ben Wager – that was my first fight. I caused him a lot of trouble but he was the home fighter and managed to get a draw. I’d loved to say Rhys Saunders, which is my last fight which I lost but it was my first fight in front of my family and friends and I wasn’t myself.”
Goals in boxing? “When I first started it was to be a professional, now that I’m professional my goal is to be remembered. What I mean by that is to win something that will make people remember me. I’d like to win the British title; I’d be very happy with that. I’m 100 per cent sure that if I stick with Joe Elfidh, then I’ll win the Southern Area title.”
Retirement age? “Yes, I’ve left it a little late but I actually turned pro when I was 22 but because I didn’t win that debut fight when I should have, I didn’t box for over a year because I didn’t want to be a journeyman. Now that I’m 25, I’ll give it five years of hard work and would love to say I’ll stop when I’m 30 but I want to have won something.”
Team? “My coach is Archie, I’ve been with him three-and-a-half-years now, Sean Tobin is my strength and conditioning coach, third coach is Martin, he’s fantastic and we work on cardio together from Rooney’s Gym and Joe Elfidh is my manager.”
Best friends in boxing? “We are all a team so I don’t have best friends but I’d choose Philip Bowes and I’d say Archie as well. Quicksilver always gave me a lot of advice.”
Boxing style? “When I was younger, I was quite flashy like Roy Jones Jr. with my hands down but now I’m a pro with Archie, I keep my hands up more and box more like Ricky Hatton but also like Naseem with the flashiness.”
Ring walk song? “Look What the Cat Dragged in by Gigs.”
Pre-fight rituals? “Not really, although I just jump on the rope when I’m in the ring. I jump up and down twice on the rope in every corner of the ring.”
Favourite brand of gloves? “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t have one. I use Ringside at the moment, which are comfortable.”
Best venue? “I would say York Hall.”
Favourite football team? “Big fan of Manchester United FC.”
Other sports? “Boxing and football, that’s it.”
Favourite holiday destination? “I’d like to go to Miami because I’ve never been there, that’s a place I’d like to check out, and Las Vegas.”
Favourite TV programme? “I don’t watch TV that much. I used to watch Eastenders but now I don’t. I could sit there all day and watch Family Guy.”
Favourite film? “Coming to America and all the Batman films.”
What actor would play you in a film of your life? “Kevin Hart!”
Favourite song? “Bashment, which is reggae, and hip-hop.”
Favourite food? “Chicken.”
Favourite brands? “Armani. I don’t wear Nike or Adidas because it’s something that everyone’s got so I like to be different. most of my stuff is Y-3 or Vivienne Westwood, and a make that I think will be one of the biggest around – Exquisite Label. I am a fan of big brands as you can probably tell.”
Favourite superhero? “Dragon Ball Z I used to watch that when I was young. The actor was Goku who was my superhero back in the day but now it’s Batman.” Phobias? “Nope. Oh, I’m scared of frogs. Honestly, I’d rather be in front of a tiger or a lion than that animal!”
Motto? “I fly with the fishes and swim with the pigeons.”
Next fight? “March 5th at Medway Park in Gillingham.”
What fight do you want to see happen this year? “I would like to see Kell Brook and Amir Khan get it on. Definitely think Amir Khan wins that one, he’s got the speed and he’s a good boxer.”
If you could fight anyone, past or present, who would it be? “I’d love to have fought Prince Naseem. The reason I’d like to fight him because it would be entertaining, I like his skills and I think, for the fans, it would be a good fight, but I’m sure if it did happen that he would come on top.”
Twitter? @ElvisMakoda