GKR: Do you think learning a discipline like boxing helped you whilst you were growing up eg: through your teenage years? If so, in what ways?

KT: It definately helped me! In everything! That's why now even as I approach my retirement, I believe that what I have learnt through my training will help me succeed in other areas of my life. Strong training over time helps you develop good habits and good attitudes and these habits and attitudes will stay with you in all areas of your life. They can make you successful at whatever you want to do.

GKR: Over the years of training and learning your craft, did you ever experience flat spots in your training where you felt that you were not improving? If so, what was your mental approach to pushing through this?

KT: Yes - of course it's a normal thing. When your body learns to do something at a certain level, it sometimes makes you think that this is the limit - no more! But this is the level that supreme athletes train at and try to push through all the time. For me I experience this in different ways and sometimes it may take me say one whole year to make progress on something. For example, I have been bench-pressing about 120kg now for a long time (his fighting weight is 64kg) and sometimes it feels like I can't do more. But I know I will if I keep pushing. It's just a simple part of training that sometimes you have to go backward to go forward.

GKR: Even now as an undisputed world champion, do you still work on your basic technique during your 12 week preparation for a fight?

KT: Yes - the basics are very very important. For example, when I come back into full training after a few months rest, I can't immediately hit the bag with the same power. On average it takes me about 2-4 weeks to get the full strength back in the punch. This involves getting my elbow where it is supposed to be and my shoulder in the exact right position etc. I know technically where it should be when I am punching but it takes a little time for your brain, the joint and the muscle to remember it and this eventually happens through repeatedly practising the basics.