60 Seconds: Meet Lee Gormley, a former Boxing News writer now making his way as a professional boxer
BN: When and why you started boxing:
LG: I got inspired from watching Carl Frampton fight in Belfast to take up boxing competitively myself. I was a late starter in my early twenties.
BN: Favourite all-time fighter:
LG: Too many to choose from! But I love all the old-school fighters, so I’d say Sugar Ray Robinson.
BN: Best fight you’ve seen:
LG: I remember watching the first Chocolatito vs Rungvisai fight in the early hours, trying not to wake everyone in the house up from roaring at the screen. Epic.
BN: Personal career highlight:
LG: Making my professional debut in June was surreal. But it was just the start of a long journey.
BN: Toughest opponent:
LG: My second opponent Jake Osgood was a tough man with 10 pounds on me. He took body shots which would’ve dropped anyone else smaller!
BN: Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
LG: My versatility is a strong suit, being able to fight at range or in the pocket. A weakness may be that I get too fired up during fights but I’ve learned to relax a lot more since turning pro.
BN: Training tip:
LG: Enjoy every moment, even the tough days. It doesn’t last forever.
BN: Favourite meal/restaurant?
LG: Post-fight pizza. Any Italian will do!
BN: Best friends in boxing:
LG: All my coaches have become great friends, Alex Matvienko, Tom McNeil, Phil Robinson and many others. My teammates Greg McGuinness and Liam Gaynor too.
BN: Which other athlete would you like to be?
LG: I’d happily swap bank accounts with Floyd Mayweather!
BN: What is the one thing you would change about professional boxing?
LG: The number of organisations who run the sport. Too many cooks.
BN: Which actor would play you in a film of your life?
LG: Barry Keoghan. I’m sure he could pull off a decent Lurgan accent!
BN: Have you ever been starstruck?
LG: I’ve been lucky to meet so many legends since starting boxing so I don’t really get starstruck as much anymore. But chatting with Buddy McGirt recently was a bit mad.
BN: Last time you cried:
LG: When my Grandad recently passed away.
BN: Best advice received:
LG: My coach Alex Matvienko said, “Boxing is the shortest career in the world, so enjoy it while you can.”
BN: Worst rumour about yourself:
LG: A fella back home once “heard” I was going to fight Conor McGregor. Don’t know where that one came from but show me the money!
BN: Something not many people know about you:
LG: I actually used to write for Boxing News myself before turning pro!
Fast Facts:
Age: 30
X: @LeeGormley
Nationality: Irish
From: Lurgan, Armagh
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6ft
From: Lurgan, Armagh
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 3-0
Division: Middleweight
Next Fight: Gormley hopes to be out again in the new year after completing his third fight this past weekend in Wigan, beating Karl Sampson over four rounds.
