TikToker Simple Simon has revealed he feels the ‘fittest he’s ever been’ ahead of his boxing match against Ed Matthews tonight, having shared the training regime that’s helped him prepare to take on a rival more than 30 years his junior.
The 52-year-old, whose real name is Simon Colbran, joined TikTok around six months ago after being persuaded by his daughter to join the platform.
In that short time, he’s grown an audience of 401,000 followers, posting videos that have attracted more than 10 million likes.
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And now he’s following in the path of other online stars by taking online beef into the boxing ring for an amateur grudge match - preparation for which has been admittedly ‘intense’ for Colbran, who, up until recently, had been enjoying retirement.
Colbran has previously played football professionally and semi-professionally, but says nothing compares to the fitness levels required for boxing, having had to start training ‘early’ due to his age.
He told LADbible: "I couldn't really just have two weeks full-on because I don't think my body would have coped. I had to do it gradually.
"But I'm gonna be truthful: it's probably the fittest I've ever been in my life - now, after these 10 weeks [of training].
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"I mean, I've even played a bit of pro football out in Germany, I played semi-pro in this country, and I'm fitter than that.
"Boxing training is a different level completely. It's immense. It's unreal."
He continued: “When I first started, I was training four or five times a week. But the last four or five weeks I've been doing six days a week, so I’ve literally just been having one day off and that’s it.
“I train for about an hour and a half every day. I have two circuit sessions - so two days of circuit - then I have two days of boxing. And then the other two days I go on runs. I also used to throw in a swimming session here and there as well.
“But I picked up the boxing a little bit just recently - last sort of two or three weeks, I’ve concentrated on that side more.
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“It's been intense. I mean, I've been through three stages in these 10 weeks where anxiety's really hit me - I've been physically drained, everything seemed like it was an issue.
“It’s hard. It’s unbelievable, what I’ve done, actually. I could have just taken it lightly and just got in the ring and said, ‘Well, at least I got in the ring.’
“But I'm not that kind of person. If I do something, I want to do it 100 percent and give it my best shot.”
While ramping up the exercise proved to be full-on, Colbran admitted his diet still featured the odd takeaway - but that he had cut down on the booze.
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“I love food too much, I must admit!” he laughed, when asked if he had cut down on any vices.
“The drinking, definitely - in that 10 weeks, I think I‘ve had a drink probably three times.
“I didn't used to drink loads, but I used to have two or three days where I would have a drink here and there. But I’ve cut all that out.
“The food side? I'm eating a lot more fruit and stuff like that... But I do the odd takeaway here and there, I must admit – and McDonald's.”
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If tonight’s fight goes well, Colbran already has his eyes on another contender, having set his sights on someone a little more age-appropriate.
"I've been calling him out quite a bit," he said.
"I've always said if things go well - but I'm not still getting ahead of myself - I would like to fight Greg Paul, Jake and Logan's dad.
"He's sort of a similar age. He's quite a fit bloke.
"So I think he'd be up for it, and I think he knows about it already, so I think that would be brilliant."
Colbran takes on Ed Matthews at the Indigo at the O2 tonight.
Jess Hardiman