I spoke to a friend and a coach at the time when I was in the amateurs and he said to me, 'Richard... do something else on the side, like you can go to school... but because just... just don't put your eggs all in one basket'. And me being young, I kind of took that in a way like you don't believe in my ability that I can be successful in boxing, I'm putting everything into this. But it's only now I understand what he said and I still made that decision anyway to go to uni. It feels really good to be a champion. You know, just to have something to show for all the hard work and dedication you've been putting in. I developed a deep passion in inspiring others, because when I was younger we did not have role models, positive role models to look up to. So I put my life out there, I didn't have to tell my story to the world.
But I thought it's going to help one person, then let me do it. Considering all of the knife crime and all of the tonnes of things that's going on in our country at the moment, it's so important that people like me can come out and do this. And I'm happy. I could've been in jail for sitting down for life, I could've been dead. Like this is... this is amazing that I'm even able to do this and it gives me the most happiness. I want to visit thousands of institutions, give my story, talk to different people... see if I can affect all these communities suffering from all different types of issues. In terms of boxing, I believe that I just need to get the domestic titles and get that experience, and then perform on a big stage, and one day... and it will come, I will be the world champion.