Rakeem Noble is a rising contender with big ambitions inside and outside the ring

Rakeem Noble tells us about his promising boxing career, an admiration for Manny Pacquiao, a passion for comic books, and why you might meet him on a train station.

The 26-year-old super-lightweight contender has risen the domestic rankings and holds big ambitions inside and outside the ring...

Why did you become a professional boxer?

I started amateur boxing when I was 17 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was something that gave me a buzz and once I started university I continued to pursue it. The more I did it, the more enjoyed it, and by the time I got to 21 I thought I could take it further.

You juggle your boxing career with a job outside the ring?

I work for South West Trains on a part-time contract. I'm on the platform communicating with the guards and the signalmen, letting them know when the train is ready to go. I work 6.30am-10.30am, which allows me to get my work done with and get to the gym for noon. 

Do you take much time off before a fight?

For my last fight, I was working every day up until the weigh-on of the fight, because it's such short hours. You work four hours a day and you've got the rest of the day. 

You've put another career on hold until after you finish boxing?

In 2012, I graduated from South Bank University with a law degree. That's on standby at the moment. One day when I finish my boxing career and win a world title, I want to pursue that career as a solicitor, a lawyer, or a barrister.

Defence or Prosecution?

Prosecution. I always go on the attack!

Who do you admire in boxing?

I got into boxing at the age of 17 and before that I was into WWE, so 'The Rock' and 'Stone Cold Steve Austin' were my idols growing up. 

Learning about Muhammad Ali and his life inside and outside the ring was a massive influence on me. Old school fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor have also been my favourites.

Who would you compare your fighting style with?

I'm not saying I'm anywhere as good as him, or anyway close to, but one fighter I would like to emulate is Manny Pacquiao. He's strong, relentless, with high pressure, throws punches in bunches from different angles, and is durable and can take a punch. That's someone I would like to base myself around.

You suffered your first professional defeat last year?

It was annoying, but you have to take it in your stride. You cannot sit on stuff like that and dwell on it, thinking I lost, I'm rubbish, I've been defeated. Just take it in your stride, win or lose. 

But then you won your first professional title?

In March, I picked up the southern area title against Sohail Ahmad. That was a big fight because it puts me in the southern area scene.

People were seeing the fight 60-40 in his favour, but we put on a fantastic show and there was six knockdowns in the four rounds it was on. I came out on top.

And then proved yourself against a fellow prospect?

The second fight was against Kay Prospere about three weeks ago. Going into that I must have been a 90-10 underdog. He was highly rated, had been fighting on David Haye shows, and had knocked out quite a few people.

He came out of James DeGale's camp and they were saying he was going to be the next big thing in boxing. But we went into the ring and it was a 98-93 points win for me, so I shocked quite a lot of people and proved them wrong. 

Tell us something different about you?

I'm sure my close friends know this, but I'm a massive animated comic book fan. Marvel, DC, Dragon Ball, all of those kind of things.

My favourite character is probably Goku from Dragon Ball Z, but I've always been a Spiderman fan from the age of five.  

You can hear more from Rakeem Noble on this week's Toe 2 Toe podcast.