MARK CHAMBERLANE has told SunSport how he received a life-changing call from the most powerful man in world boxing – saying he would phone him back after the company’s Christmas curry!
The 25-year-old Portsmouth lightweight boxer used to be a plasterer but his southpaw strength helped him take up boxing full-time.
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And one of his performances at the York Hall caught the attention of Saudi sports and showbiz chief Turki Alalshikh.
But he is close to his old firm and colleagues, so he was allowed to attend last year’s festivals, Faal and Jingaloo.
So when he got the shocking call while he was driving home from a party with a belly full of roast, he accidentally knocked over the Santa Clause of boxing.
Ahead of his Wembley clash with Josh Padley, the Pompey ace told us: “I had a fight in November but my next fight wasn’t finalised.
“I was out for work and was returning home when I got the call.
“I got back from work quite a bit earlier than that but he invited me over for a curry and we went out for a curry at about 9pm.
“My manager Frank Warren called me and I knew he was in Saudi Arabia for a fight over Christmas and it felt a bit strange.
Anthony Joshua on verge of £500million two-fight mega deal with Tyson Fury – but must survive Daniel Dubois test first“But I picked up the phone and Frank explained the opportunity and he passed the phone on to the main guy.
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“I’ll never forget it, as I was driving, I said ‘Can I call you back?’
“Thankfully His Majesty said ‘no problem, don’t crash'”.
Like Padley – who is an electrician in Doncaster – Chamberlain built his work ethic, mental toughness and perhaps strength in the workplace.
And his character-building path to the mega-money show at the 96,000-seat Wembley Stadium has been a tough one, one that has earned him every penny.
“Plastering is very hard and physical work,” he said.
“You don’t work for a break when the clock tells you to, you work until your walls are completely built up.
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“But I didn’t know anything else and that was the work I did for years.
“I don’t know if it’s helped my strength or not, I get asked that, I’ve always been a very physically active kid.
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“And I’ve never had any interest in the party life away from work and boxing, so I guess the hard work has paid off.”
Boxing legend spotted in Hyde Park as Eddie Hearn runs alongside hundreds of people ahead of Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois fightRiyadh Season Card: Joshua vs Dubois, Saturday 21 September 4pm IST Live on TNT Sports Box Office. Click here for more details tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
