Damon Hague WBF World Boxing ChampionDamon Hague is the former two weight WBF world boxing champion, WBF European boxing champion and undefeated full contact British kick boxing champion, etching his name in the WBF history books along with Roy Jones Jr, Antonio Tarver and Johnny Nelson.
I caught up with my old friend to talk about his influences, sport and life.
1. What was your main strength and motivation during your sporting career?
Main Strength was God, my unswerving belief in Christ.
God, I believe, called me from a prison cell, to World Champion and that's Fact. An epiphany I was blessed to receive happened at a time when all was lost. God helped me to believe that all is possible through Christ that strengthens me.
He gave me the will and desire to overcome, to believe contrary what everyone else thought of me. Gave me purpose, a hope and a dream.
I mean I always wanted to be a boxer. I started with my Granddad at the age of 6. However I stopped at 13 and got into drink and drugs which led me down a negative path.
You see will and desire know no boundaries, its will and desire that overcome regardless of disabilities and social problems. It's Classless, Ageless and Sexless above all its free. Heroes are made not born. We can all be heroes if your prepared unequivocally to succeed at any cost, even your life!
2. Did you train or seek advice off other sporting fields to improve your ability?
I always sort advice off successful people. There is an application of ones self that if worked on, and developed, can be applied to anything. Its a common denominator in every successful person in history. I have met, read and had the fortune of working with some of the most powerful, wealthy men in the world, all highly successful and all at the very top of their field, albeit sport, finance, whatever. It's hard work, it's self belief, it's focus, it's paying the price.
I found great inspiration from history: Stalin saved the world from Hitler's horrors by simply not accepting defeat. Mohammad Ali was speaking out as a sportsman when black men and women were being hanged; Jesus Christ died for us so we could have a chance; Sister Rosa Parks sat down so black people could stand up; Lance Armstrong never gave up when cancer gave him 20 percent chance of living and he went on to become 7 times 'Tour de France' winner. The point is, no one person inspired me, however history did. I realised I had something that these greats had. When I put my mind to it, I realise I can, not I cannot, I CAN!
3. What were the training disciplines needed to take you to the world title?
To become the best you have to train wiser, not harder. Wise and hard is the optimum to benefit your progress.
The longer you do something, the little changes you make along the way are crucial for growth. We would always have a base of fitness. I train even now, daily, so I was never out of shape. Having a good base is imperative. My team and I would have a fight for example in 8 weeks. My trainer would have tapes on this fighter sent, but my team were so professional that they knew everyone and in turn knew how to beat them. Training would consist of strength work, plyometrics, and speed nearer the fight. Tactically we would try and spar, say a southpaw, if I was fighting one, that kind of thing, as timing is so different against them. But generally we covered everything. Remember, I would be making weight so although I had specific workouts planned, we were very instinctive in our approach. If I was tired, I would train accordingly. Remember, you have to differentiate between tired and being lazy!
The way I figured it was I'd give it everything while I was a Pro. I'd been given an opportunity, one that I would only dreamed of having. I'd barely whisper the thought and now I was living the dream and I was giving it my all.
4. What advice would you give to young athletes?
Dare to dream, be all you can be. Whatever you do, dustman, footballer, floor sweeper, be the best floor sweeper in the world. Don't drink, take drugs or cheat, lie and sleep around, as these will hinder your success. If your mate's aren't helping your career or life, leave them behind. You have one life, don't waste it. No matter whether your fat, thin, black, white, fostered, adopted, YOU CAN.
Keep away from small people, they are simply that small. The great, the truly great, make you feel you can be great too.
Always pay the price to succeed, of course as long as its not cheating you or somebody. Don't let anyone tell you you can't succeed because you CAN.
Your life is a gift, polish it till it shines!
Thank you and God bless you all
Damon has been such a positive influence on my life and football career, I would like to thank him for taking the time in participating in this interview and passing on his experiences to others.
Damon Hague interviewed by Alex Penny for Alex Penny Professional Coaching. 2008
'picture courtesy of Damon Hague'
