Name: George Hillyard
Nickname(s): The Grill/HitHard
Nationality: British
Weight: 159 ½ lbs (Middleweight)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5ft9in
Record: Won 11 (KO 5) + Lost 6 (KO 2) + Drawn 1
Stats: Total Fights 18 + Rounds Boxed 87 + KO {317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9} 27.78
Introduction
George ‘HitHard’ Hillyard is a 29 year old professional boxer from London, England. He made his professional debut back in 2005 in a fight with Geraint Harvey at Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham. He went on to win the fight by TKO and followed it up with another win 3 months later against James Gorman in Scotland. Since then, George has gone on to fight at the legendary York Hall in Bethnal Green 8 times, managing to reach the quarter finals of the Light Middleweight ‘Prizefighter’ event held there in 2010. In his last outing on 2nd August 2014 he beat Tommy Tolan on points, here’s what George had to say to RDX Sports in a recent interview we conducted with him.
Q: How did you first get in to boxing? Do you remember your first trip to a boxing gym?
A: My parents got a caravan down in Essex, we went to a party and met Roy McDonald (the dad of Lee McDonald who played Zammo in Grange Hill). He asked me to come down to his gym and the rest is history!
Q: How old were you when you decided you wanted to go pro? Was it a tough decision?
A: I was 17, that’s when I knew I wanted to go pro. I left football and started to concentrate on boxing but my trainer wouldn’t let me turn pro even though I was holding my own with them that age. He said I was still a boy and need to turn in to a man with a man’s strength. He was right!
Q: How would you describe your boxing style, which boxers have influenced you?
A: I like to think I can do it all to be fair without sounding cocky, I can box and I can fight. As the infamous Emmanuel Steward said about me when he trained me for a bit at St Pancras Kronk ABC in London, I’m a Ricky Hatton and a James Toney rolled in to one. Nice words coming from him!
Q: Who has been your toughest opponent so far?
A: I would say my last fight against Tommy Tolan, he’s not the best I’ve boxed but I had a bad cut above the eye and a 3 inch one on my head and I had to come through that as I’ve never been cut before.
Q: What was the Prizefighter experience like?
A: It was not for me to be fair, I’m a long distance fighter and just couldn’t get going over 3 rounds. That night I was made for Prince Arron and he jabbed my head off! Haha
Q: What is your normal training regime (with no upcoming fight)?
A: I just tick over now. In the past I would have gone on benders and lived the Ricky Hatton lifestyle. Not good!
Q: How does this change in the build up to a fight? Does your diet change or just training regime?
A: I have Paul and Danny that run everything for me now. They are both ex-marines and have me live the life of a professional boxer now.
Q: What would you like to achieve before you retire?
A: Being a world champion…and I’ll get there you’ll see…
Q: Do you have any tips/advice for young, upcoming boxers who may be faced with the same decisions you’ve had?
A: Train and live the life of a professional boxer, it’s a short career and make sure you have the right people around you.
Q: Finally, who is your all-time favourite boxer? Who is your current favourite boxer? And what is the best fight you’ve ever seen?
A: James Toney was my idol and Floyd Mayweather is the best at the moment. The best fight I’ve seen and loved was the Matthew Macklin v Jamie Moore war, it had you on your feet!
We would like to thank George for taking part in the interview, if you wish to get in touch and ask any of your own questions you can do so via his official Twitter page @TeamHillyard or visit www.georgehithardhillyard.com.
