In a West Cork Minute - Noel Murphy

Professional boxer Noel Murphy (22), Macroom, based in New York, won on Irish soil last weekend … and here he talks pizzas, penguins and how to pack a punch...

What’s the one thing you can’t live without? Pizza. I’m not picky about what type.

What would I find in your fridge right now? Chicken, lots and lots of chicken.

Name one element your sport could/should take from another? I’m going to turn this on its head and pick what I took from another sport. I played football and soccer with 

Macroom before and I have used the footwork, agility and speed I learned there to help me in boxing.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? I don’t have a car so no time to think!

Who has been the biggest influence on your sporting career (and why)? That’s my mam, Linda. She has done everything for me and helped me get to where I am now, doing everything she could – driving me places, when I’m on a diet cooking me the right foods, cleaning up after me.

Pick two celebrities to be your parents: Posh and Becks. That would be interesting, wouldn’t it? A Macroom man in with the two of them …

What do you think cats dream of? Jesus, definitely something evil. They’re always scheming.

If you could play any other sport for one day what would it be? I played soccer before, on the left wing for Macroom, I was handy enough, and I’d love to go back playing it again.

If you joined a circus, what would you perform? I’d be the fella playing with the lions, living on the dangerous side.

If you could get rid of one county in Ireland what would it be and why? Dublin. Reason why? The accent!

What would you do if you found a penguin in your freezer? Ha! I don’t know. If it’s alive, maybe take it for a walk around Macroom, would be bound to get some reaction. If it’s dead, the cat probably had something to do with it …

Before we let you go, teach us something that we don’t know: I could teach you how to punch! It’s about getting the right balance of technique, speed and power – and if you get it right, it works a treat! But kids, don’t try this at home!