When Numan Hussain turned professional, he said he "could definitely beat" Vasiliy Lomachenko – a bold claim that did him no favors as a first impression.
“My brother asked me, ‘Who is this idiot?’” Hussain’s wife and fellow fighter Amy Andrew remembered of the time she introduced him to her family. “When I told him we were getting married, his response was, ‘What? To the guy who thinks he can beat Lomachenko?’”
Hussain and Andrew’s two-year-old son lies asleep in a pram as they share a laugh below the first of three boxing rings stretching across their Rival Boxing Gym in King’s Cross, London. Andrew, the 39-year-old former journalist who was swept up by boxing after fighting a white-collar charity bout, has won each of her seven professional fights and held the Commonwealth featherweight title.
Hussain has won six of his eight fights, drawing two – including his most recent, against Frank Arnold for the Southern Area title. The 37-year-old junior lightweight has always felt a burning desire to prove himself and, on Friday at London’s, York Hall, faces Robert Caswell. He knows that victory will bring him the title and allow him to progress. “We're on borrowed time,” he admits. “There's a title, but I couldn't care less. I need the win. That's the most important thing.”
Knowing the stakes, watching the fight will prove a tougher battle for Andrew. “It’s everything,” she says. “At the moment, I'm injured and so I’m living vicariously through him, but I also know how badly he wants it. He's my favourite person and I want everything for him that he wants.”
Hussain and Andrew know one mistake could prove costly to an already finite career – made clearer when Arnold announced he was pulling out of the rematch and retiring. The 26-year-old had been suffering from a long-term shoulder injury and was forced to stop fighting.
“He was in camp, training to fight me. Then three weeks ago, his shoulder's gone and he's retired. That quick. That's the game we're in,” Hussain says.
Hussain fell into boxing’s brutal world at 22. Coaxed into the mixed martial arts gym Urban Kings by the promise of a free trial, he explains that “it really offended me that I couldn't skip or punch properly compared to these older guys who looked out of shape. I’ve always thought whatever someone else could do, I could do better. That's my competitive nature. That's what draws me to boxing.”
Hussain has risen from unlicensed fights to working at Ben Davison’s gym and sparring the hotly tipped prospect Cameron Vuong. An animated Hussain says: “I know who he is because he's on the telly, but he doesn't know who I am. You’ve got to show these fighters that you can hang with them.”
Hussain explains that he can switch on quicker and fight to a higher level against tougher opponents. Yet stronger opposition makes it more difficult for Andrew to watch her husband fight, and not just out of fear for his safety.
“It's getting harder as the stakes get higher,” she admits. “I know how much he wants it and I know how devastating it is when you don't win. Living the life, giving up all the things that you do, I really understand it.”
One of the most challenging aspects is the selfish nature of the sport. “You really have to focus on yourself to do well in boxing,” Andrew says. “It’s hard, but I understand it's not personal.”
They both struggle to measure their own success. Hussain describes Andrew as a perfectionist, sharing her superstition of wearing a new pair of socks before every fight. “I don't think the day will come when she says ‘I was happy with that performance.’ We're always chasing that perfect performance but it doesn't exist.”
Self-appreciation does not come easily, but their impact as fighters is not lost on a new generation of fighters. “Loads of girls have come up to me and said, ‘I can't believe that you had a baby and you are still boxing. It makes me feel like I can do that,’” Andrew explains. “It's the same with Numan.”
When Hussain fought Arnold, he became the first fighter of Bengali heritage to challenge for a title. “People were so excited for me, but I didn't know about any of this. I just box for myself, but so many people messaged me, congratulating me,” he explains.
Hussain credits the "Amir Khan effect" for his popularity. He squirms at being seen as an inspiration, but Andrew is determined to promote her husband as one. “The important thing is seeing someone who's successful from your own community,” Andrew believes. “We have loads of kids that come to this gym who are Bengali. They look up to Numan and take encouragement.”
Hussain tries to shrug off the suggestion, adamant that he must keep looking forwards and treat every fight as if it is his last. Only when he finishes fighting will he reflect on his achievements, although Andrew remains his biggest supporter.
Hussain is proud when his son tries to walk, even when he falls, and wants to bring that attitude to his fighting. “As adults, if you try to pursue something and fail, people say you're an idiot. Why do we have such a different approach? I’m lucky that Amy looks at everything we're doing and reminds us that it is incredible.”
What are they both pursuing?
“I want to be world champion,” Andrew replies immediately. “Until I got a title, I felt really unworthy. I need something on a piece of paper to be like: ‘You made it.’”
Hussain adds: “I want to be mentioned as one of the best guys in this country at my weight. If my name is not in the top 10, I'm doing something wrong.”
With time against them, they know they must take on tough challenges quickly – and that is on top of running the boxing gym, additional jobs outside of fighting and raising a young family.
“We're juggling chainsaws, and if you mess up, you don't know what could happen,” Hussain says. “I don't have the luxury of time to fight journeymen. I need to share the ring with actual contenders and prospects.”
Above all, he wants to prove to himself that he can compete alongside some of the world’s best. “When I turned professional, I said I wanted to fight Lomachenko. Why is that such an odd thing?” Hussain asks. “If you don’t want to share a ring with these guys, how do you know how good you are? I want to share the ring with someone great.”
