An interview with Dennis Oshijo

You can follow Dennis on Twitter here.

Roehampton University has a future boxing star in its midst. Dennis Oshijo is a third-year studying Sports Science and Business Management, but come this summer he will convert a long and successful amateur boxing career into a professional one. With coaching from former boxing champions Harry Andrews and Richard Williams, Dennis has all the attributes and backing necessary for a very exciting career in the sport.

Having rushed over from training, Dennis sits down with me in the Union Bar. He is extremely confident and upbeat about his future, and as I begin to ask my questions he answers with plenty of energy, despite the rigorous coaching session only a few moments beforehand...

At what point did you decide to dedicate yourself to boxing?

In secondary school I used to play football, but I wasn't very good. My Dad used to box in the army in Nigeria, so he took me to my local boxing club, and I noticed I had a talent for boxing. Then I had my first fight in 2008, and after that I stuck at it.

What do you remember about your first fight?

I was only 15 at the time and I fought someone who was older than me - he even had a kid - and I won. It was a totally new experience to me because I'd only done sparring before. I remember the guy came steaming in at me and I didn't really know what to do, so I just covered up and threw a one-two. Then a hook, and that dropped him.

He got back up and it was an electronic bout with a lot of punches. When they called the decision out and said that I'd won, I jumped up in the air.

Was it quite intimidating?

Yeah, I was really nervous. The guy brought all his family along and had loads of supporters, and then it went quiet and all eyes were on us. In football, you can just pass the ball if you're in trouble, but in boxing the lights are on the ring and it's just you and your opponent.

Then what happened?

I had another fight a couple of weeks later, and I managed to win my first ten bouts. Then I had my first loss at the London Championships in 2009. In the Championships I had to box twice in one day, in which I won both, then twice again the following Sunday. I won the first one and then lost the second one on a majority decision which could have gone either way.

How do you motivate yourself after a defeat like that?

I was straight back up in the gym the next day.

You must feel physically quite tired after a fight like that though?

Yeah, really tired. But now in the professional ranks it's totally different. More rounds, longer rounds... I was at training today for about two-and-a-half hours. Compare that to when I was an amateur, and I'd train for an hour and go home. Now there's a lot more technique and skill involved.

The fights are different as well. Now I'll be fighting 40-year old journeymen, 35-year old tough guys, Eastern Europeans... in amateur you're fighting boxers between the ages of 18 and 25.

Are there different techniques you have to learn in professional boxing?

Yeah, you have to slow down. I had quite a good amateur style, in that I used to stand upright, throw straight shots and apply a lot of pressure. Movement-wise I wasn't really there, but as a pro I've been working hard on it. My coach Harry Andrews has been great, and has helped me to slow down and keep to the centre of the ring.

How often do you train?

Six days of the week. Also every day in the gym, and going out for runs in the morning and evening.

Is it difficult to keep yourself in that routine every day?

Very hard, especially when you have to lose weight - That can be really draining. Even throughout secondary school my friends were going down the chip shop or getting drunk, and I couldn't really do that. To be honest though, I don't feel like I'm missing out because everything I've achieved has been worth it, and everything I will achieve will be worth it as well.

What other sacrifices have you made going into boxing?

The social life, definitely! Also I remember when I was at college and had three A Level exams in one day. The very next day I had to get a train out to Belgium to fight in an international tournament, where I won gold.

What about University? How have you found combining studying and training?

I have more time now, and studying Sports Science has actually been beneficial because I'm learning about subjects like nutrition, biomechanics of technique, the psychology of motivation, which is all really helpful. I'm only in Uni three days a week so I've found it a lot easier.

Has the University been supportive of your boxing career?

It's only recently that I've started selling myself to the University. I thanked them on Twitter and they gave me a retweet, but I applied for a sports scholarship in first year and they rejected me. They geared it more towards athletics, but in my view I'm the best athlete in this University. The teachers don't really have time for boxing.

I guess it's not in the limelight at the moment.

Exactly. British boxing especially.

How do you think that can change? Young people getting involved?

Yeah, it teaches a lot of discipline. At my school there were loads of fights, but I was in the gym every night and it kept me disciplined and gave me a routine.

Every Tuesday and Thursday I go down to the local primary school and teach little kids how to box. We do fun boxing, which includes little drills, running around and throwing a few punches. Nothing hard, it's just to get children active.

Who's inspired you during your boxing career?

My Dad's the one that got it started. But inspirations? I guess Floyd Mayweather... people who've made it through boxing. He's got a lot of money but I'm not really interested in the money - that comes with success. But in truth I motivate myself.

I think also my football career has helped to motivate me. I used to get really angry and upset when I wasn't on the team, but I saw a few of the people that were getting played the other day. They're just going on holidays and getting drunk now. They don't play football anymore, but I'll be a professional boxer soon.

What's the ultimate goal for you?

I definitely want to fight for a World Title. From now until I'm 30 I'm going to be giving it all I've got, and I've got a degree which will help in the years after.

How do you prepare yourself mentally for a fight?

Usually I relax. I like listening to some reggae or going to the cinema with my friend, and just keeping everything very calm. Before my first fight I was really buzzing and excited, and in boxing they call that 'nervous energy', which is when your nerves leave you feeling a bit drained before the fight. So the best thing to do is relax, put your hood up as you go into the ring, and as soon as the bell goes you're ready.

Do you ever get angry or frustrated in the ring?

Never. That's the worst thing you can do in boxing. In the past I've caught opponents with a good shot and they've got angry, and just come rushing at me. Once that happened, I'd just be able to throw calm, clean shots at them .

During a fight are you concentrating on yourself or your opponent?

In terms of technique you're aware of yourself and where you are in the ring, especially for me as I'm quite a tall fighter for my weight category. But obviously I have to watch out for shots coming at me, and that can take a lot out of you so it's a bit of both.

What's been your best moment in the ring?

I boxed against the army in London last year and I beat their two best guys. I've also boxed in France, got my gold medal in Belgium and fought in the Dublin City Cup. In amateur I've just been fighting and winning.

And it's taken you to quite a few places by the sounds of it?

Yeah, all across Europe, and I'm very thankful for that. When I turn professional I'll have to dominate Britain first, and then I can get out and go further. But first I just have to spend my time in the gym and work hard.

So what's the plan from here then? Promotion is very important I assume?

Yeah, you have to build a following. Professional boxing is a business - you can be a great fighter, but if only five people turn up to watch you it's not making any money. You can have all the skills in the world but if no-one knows about you it's pretty pointless.

Basically I have to sell myself and make sure people are watching me. That, and building my skill is the formula for success.

Are you confident about your future?

Very confident. My P.E. teacher in college used to say "failure to prepare is preparing to fail". That's really stuck in my head for things like Uni exams and coursework deadlines. Every time I've been prepared I've always got the result I wanted, and that's the same with boxing. Preparation is key, and is the best way to build your confidence up.

How do you feel about someone like Freddie Flintoff making a late move into boxing?

That is a perfect example of boxing as a business. Freddie Flintoff trained for a few months and won against a hand-picked opponent in a fight with amateur rounds, but if you look at Flintoff's Twitter, he's got about two million followers. His fight sold out the MEN Arena, so he's probably bringing in close to £1m for the promoters.

It's good because it puts British boxing in the limelight, and gets other people interested because Flintoff obviously had such a great cricket career. But it does send a bad message because there will be people who think you can just go to the gym and turn professional. Well, you can't.

Same with Haye-Chisora I suppose?

Exactly. That fight was built up for a year and the whole of Europe wanted to see what would happen. But it was only authorised by the Luxembourg boxing board, and it wasn't even a proper fight. It was a funny situation, but in the end David Haye got the job done and they both got a few million for their bank accounts. They're both happy.

So do you plan to treat your boxing career with an eye towards business?

I have a few very talented friends, but they don't understand that boxing is a business. Their careers suffered and they've been thrown to the wolves and put in hard fights they weren't ready for. It's messed them up.

But the boxers that do focus on learning the skills and treating the sport as a business at the same time are flourishing. That's what I need to do - build a following, make sure everyone at University knows who I am and watch me fight at the end of the year.

Have you had any setbacks in your career that you've had to overcome?

After winning nine or ten fights I had my first defeat, and that taught me more than the previous wins did. I thought 'I never want to feel that feeling again', and I must have watched the tape of me losing about 100 times. It was actually really close and it could have gone either way, but it means I'm prepared for anything now.

Also where I'm dropping weight I'm really prone to illness, so I have to make sure I eat my fruits and take my vitamins. I don't drink, I don't do drugs and I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. I'm 20 years old now and I've only been drunk twice, because it doesn't really interest me. I'm on a mission.

And nothing's going to get in your way.

Exactly. In fact, we were talking about exercise addiction in my sports psychology lecture, and I think I might have it. If I miss a training session I get really angry, and that's one of the signs. I remember on New Year's Eve when my cousin Kofi was down, and rather than partying we found the only 24-hour gym that was open. We were there sparring until about 1:30 in the morning.

Afterwards we got a little milkshake to reward ourselves, but six hours later we were out running.

Do you think you can be a great boxer without having that drive?

Definitely not. You can have natural talents, but if you can put your body in the best physical shape then that will always beat it.

So what do students have to do if they want to follow you?

Add me on Twitter (@d9dennis) and follow me on Instagram. I put loads of pictures up there of my training, so that's the best thing to do to stay in contact. I'll even take people's numbers and offer them personal one-on-one training if they want to get fit or learn how to box.

You can follow Dennis on Twitter here.