One of my favorite things to do in life  is to interview people. Interesting people.  People who inspire, motivate, create drama for some sort of reason, or just people who make you step back and go…”Okay, I had no idea that you had that particular point of view.”

So, when our fabulous Visual Content Editor, Aysha, let me know about the boxer Sid El Harrak, we needed to get him on Twirlit. ASAP.

So we want to know more about you. Who are you and what do you do?

My name is  Sid El Harrak, I’m 26 yrs old, I was born in London, England, but of Moroccan decent! I moved to California in 1996! I didn’t know I was moving here, my mother told me we were coming on vacation. When we got here, her and my step dad sat me down, and told me I would be living here from now on……. She always wanted the best for me as a child, and moving to America was the right move for us. I started boxing when I was 14yrs old, but at that age, their were so many distractions, seeing as I was in high school… So I stopped boxing and didn’t return to the gym till the age of 17… I had 60 amateur fights I was 52-8, and now an undefeated pro (5-0-2k.o).

Did you think that you’d be doing this as a career or did it sort of…just happen?

First time I walked in the gym, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I was blessed to find something I love at such a young age. Boxing saved my life.

Favorite country visited? Or if you haven’t traveled much, where would you like to go?

I had a great time in Spain. Beautiful weather, good food, the people are friendly…. Its always a pleasure to go back to England and see my family. Only problem with London is, its so expensive!

What gets you up in the morning?

The people that don’t wanna see me make it! They fuel my fire, everyone that said I can’t, or I wont be able to… My mother told me one day, that when I was a kid, people said I was gonna be a failure when I was older. That’s all that runs through my mind before I leave the locker room. “they said you were gonna be a failure…Sid, they said you were gonna be a failure”.  Sometimes I’ll be at home and my eyes will start tearing up, cause I want this so bad.  I wanna be a champion, I’ve worked long and hard for it, and one day, God willing I’ll get it.

(Click images to enlarge)

Favorite youtube video?

I watch old English comedy shows on youtube, such as, Faulty Towers, Only Fools and Horse’s, and bottom..

Favorite cocktail?

I only drink a few times a year. When I do drink, I try and get straight to the point, Long island ice tea. One or two of those, and I’ll be good.

Your last meal on earth would be..

That’s easy, Dim Sum, can eat that all day, every day…

What website can you NOT live without?

Facebook, Myspace, Boxrec, Fightnews,and boxingtalk…. I go on all 5 at least once a day!

Do you Twitter?

Don’t have a twitter account. Got facebook and myspace, that’s enough for me.

What’s your MO in life? Life mantras?

To live my life with no regrets. Whatever I do, do it to the best of my ability…

Work before Love or Love before work?

When it comes to this sport, love has to wait on the side!  Every time I step in the ring, my life is at danger.  I have a motto that I live by: Work hard now- party later, or I could party now, work hard later, but I choose the first one. Also, I’m willing to lose my life in the ring, because the ring is my life, I’d be lost without it.

Determination. I like it.  So,what advice would you give to anyone who wants to follow your path in life?

First, don’t follow any man’s path, make your own! In this world, you gotta be a leader, not a follower! Anyone that’s getting into boxing, don’t do this, unless you  love it. know its a long hard road, when nothing really certain in the future! If you go to college and get straight A’s, you know once you graduate, their will be a good job waiting for you! Well I go to school, its called the school of hard knocks, and I get straight A’s, you can ask my coach Eddie Mustafa Muhammed, but if I lose focus for a minute, my dream could be gone just like that…….

Anything you want to plug?

I’m fighting in 2 weeks, July 3rd at the plaza in downtown Las Vegas! Also july 31st at the Pechanga resort and casino in Temcula, California!

Thank you for your time Sid!  If any of you reading this are going to be in Vegas during this weekend, check out Sid’s boxing skills!

(Producer: Aysha Manori)