MARK CHAMBERLAIN has told SunSport how he took a life-changing call from the most powerful man in world boxing – and said he’d phone him back after the company Christmas curry!
The 25-year-old Portsmouth lightweight was a plasterer before his freakish southpaw power helped him box full-time.
GettyBoxer Mark Chamberlain has revealed he snubbed a call from Saudi supremo Turki Alalshikh[/caption]
GettyHis Excellency rang the southpaw during a work’s night out[/caption]
And one of his York Hall performances caught the eye of Saudi sport and showbiz supremo Turki Alalshikh.
But he remains close to his old firm and colleagues so got the nod to attend last year’s festive phaal and jingaloo.
So when the shock phone call came, while he was driving from the party with a belly full of bhuna, he accidentally gave boxing’s very own Santa Clause the heave-ho.
Ahead of his Wembley clash with Josh Padley, the Pompey ace told us: “I had a fight in November and didn’t have my next one confirmed.
“So I had gone out on a work’s do and was on my way home when the call came.
“I had come off the tools well before then but they had invited me out for a curry and we were on the way from the curry about 9pm.
“My manager Frank Warren was calling me and I knew he was in Saudi for a fight that Christmas and it seemed a bit strange.
“But I answered it and Frank explained about the opportunity and he passed the phone to the main man.
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“I will never forget it, because I was driving, I said ‘Can I call you back?’
“Thankfully his Excellency said ‘no problem, don’t crash’”.
Like Padley – who is a Doncaster electrician – Chamberlain built his work ethic, mental toughness and, perhaps, power on site.
And his character-building route to mega-money shows at 96,000 seater Wembley Stadium has been a gruelling one that has earned him every penny coming his way.
He explained: “Plastering is a very hard and physical job.
“You don’t clock off for breaks when the clock tells you, you work until your walls are all done.
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“But I knew no different and it was a job I did for years.
“I don’t know if it helped with my power, I get asked that, I have always been a physical kid.
“And I was never interested in the party life, away from work and boxing, so I guess the hard work has just paid off.”
Watch Riyadh Season Card: Joshua v Dubois, live on TNT Sports Box Office from 4pm on Saturday 21 September. Find out more at tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice