DTUK Honourary Editor Dr. David Bretton Chats with Dentist— and Professional Boxer— Arthif 'Dr. Hitman' Daniel
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THE BOXING DENTIST DTUK honourary editor Dr. David Bretton chats with dentist— and professional boxer— Arthif ‘Dr. Hitman’ Daniel Photo by Václav Kuda Photography dentaltownuk.com \\ FEBRUARY 2018 23 David Bretton: ‘Dr. Hitman,’ it’s great to finally meet you. Would you tell our readers a little bit of background information about yourself? Where are you from and where are you based now? Arthif Daniel: I was born and brought up in Harrow, North West London. I stayed in London growing up and went to Dental School at Kings College London. After the third year of dental school, I intercalated and completed a BSc in sports and exercise science before then returning to my dental studies and graduating with my Dr. David Bretton with Daniel BDS in 2008. I moved to Birmingham for one year DURING THE DAY, he’s a caring, professional (2008–2009) to complete my vocational and friendly guy who helps restore patients’ training, then returned to London, where I teeth back to health and function. worked as both an associate in general practice AT NIGHT, he swaps his rubber gloves for and as a senior house officer in restorative and oral surgery at Guy’s and St. Thomas’. boxing gloves and instead aims to cause as I also spent some time teaching at the much damage as possible. Primary Dental Care at Kings College under HE’S BOTH A DENTIST AND A PRO BOXER. professor Stephen Dunne. Around 2013, I I got to catch up with the man they call moved north to Manchester to progress both ‘Dr. Hitman’—Dr. Arthif Daniel. my dentistry and boxing. Boxer Amir Khan and his team are based in Bolton, close to Manchester, and they were helping me with my professional career. I was also starting my master’s in dental implantology with the Tipton Training team in Manchester, so everything fell into place. I’m now living in Manchester, where I am working as an associate at Westpoint Dental Care and also continuing my boxing. DB: How old were you when you started boxing, and what got you into it? AD: My dad was a very good amateur boxer and boxing was therefore very popular in our house. We were big fans of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Tommy ‘Hitman’ Hearns … and then there was also some great British boxers such as Prince Naseem Hamed, Nigel Daniel treats WBC heavyweight Benn and Chris Eubank. I started boxing champion myself when I was 8 years old, and just loved Deontay Wilder. it from starting. DB: What gyms do you work out at? 24 FEBRUARY 2018 // dentaltownuk.com Photo by Václav Kuda Photography AD: I train at Amir Khan’s boxing gym It’s also just entertainment, and things like in Bolton and I also work on my strength and when he ate the strawberries and cream, it’s conditioning at David Lloyd’s. just him playing around and having some fun DB: Have you ever sparred with Khan? and banter. I commend him for going into the AD: Ha-ha, no—we have too much jungle and facing all those challenges, because brotherly love to do that. I remember we I wouldn’t be able to do anything like that. were once training together in San Francisco. DB: What is a standard day for you, fitting I was in peak condition, because I had been in in both dentistry and your training? Vegas training, and Amir was just starting his AD: I train twice a day. Some days I start training camp. We were asked if we wanted the clinic in the morning and others in the to spar together. We both just looked at each afternoon, working into the evening. Often and laughed. Neither of us wanted to hit each my days start with a morning workout, which other—probably a good thing for me! focuses on my strength and condition. I do DB: How do you think he got on in I’m different exercises to work on my fitness— a Celebrity in the Jungle? running, swimming, etc. My cardiovascular AD: I think he came across really well. workouts are combined with a carefully planned Anyone who knows Amir knows that he weights regime. I then go to my clinics, where Amir Khan and Daniel in the surgery wears his heart on his sleeve. What you see is I perform a variety of dentistry, ranging from what you get, and it was good for the public general dentistry to more complex cosmetic to see that. For example, when he gave his dentistry, implant work and facial aesthetics. meal ticket to the elderly gentleman, Stan. After work, I then go to the boxing gym. Here Gestures like this allowed his character to I work on technique, bag work, sparring and shine through. workouts specific to my boxing. dentaltownuk.com \\ FEBRUARY 2018 25 Photo by Václav Kuda Photography DB: What is your diet like? DB: Do your patients know about the AD: Very strict and clean. Diet is particu- other side of your life? larly important in a sport such as boxing, as AD: I always aim to keep things as profes- weight classifications must be adhered to. My sional as possible and keep my boxing and diet consists largely of protein, good sources of dental lives as separate as possible. These days carbohydrates, and fresh fruit and vegetables. though, with the internet, Google and social My morning meal is often porridge with media, patients often become aware of my fresh berries, boiled or poached eggs and boxing career and come back and mention a protein shake; my other meals are often it. I think most of them quite like it; it shows grilled chicken/fish with steamed vegetables dentists too are human. and a carbohydrate such as plain rice, sweet Patients are often very scared and nervous potato or brown pasta. when visiting the dentist, and when they realise DB: How do your diet and training get that we are normal people with lives outside altered when coming up to a fight? dentistry, it can help them relax. It can be AD: The preparation is worked out working useful to help build rapport and conversations backward from your fight date. It’s important with patients and it can help put them at ease. that you are hitting peak condition on fight I have patients who still travel from London night. You must train hard, but you also must to see me in Manchester. train smart. The last week before the fight DB: I take it you don’t have any issues is about keeping sharp, but you should be with patients not paying the bill? aiming to taper down training, reduce your AD: No issues there. output and just maintain weight. DB: Are you aware of any other boxing DB: Would you replace your opponent’s dentists? teeth, if needed? AD: Not really. I think there are a lot of AD: I have always said that if the unfor- dentists who enjoy boxing for fitness, hitting tunate happened and I caused any damage to the bag now and again. But I’m not aware of my opponent’s teeth that I would always be any who compete in boxing. happy to remedy that, free of charge. DB: How about your family life? 26 FEBRUARY 2018 // dentaltownuk.com AD: I have an amazing family. I have two beautiful girls—Grace, 3½ years old and Jemima, who is only 4 months. They keep me on my toes but are an absolute blessing. My wife is also a dentist and she is incred- ibly supportive of everything I do. She helps greatly with my preparation, organisation and nutrition. I can’t stress how important it is to have good people around you. DB: You’re obviously incredibly busy, dentistry, boxing and a family. Do you have any tips for our readers on how to manage a busy life? AD: We’re all busy. I think the most impor- tant lesson I could share is the importance of making time. It is so important to set a schedule and stick to it. There is a huge difference between ‘making time’ and ‘finding time’. ‘Finding time’ doesn’t work; it just won’t happen. You must commit to making sure you make time for things and have the discipline to stick to your plan. I think it’s incredibly important for people to make time for the things that matter most to them. Particularly people like dentists, who are working in a highly stressful occupation, need to set time Daniel with trainer Eddie out to pursue hobbies and other passions Mustafa Muhammed outside of dentistry. DB: 2017 was a good year for you, winning your last two fights by knockout. What are the main lessons you’ve taken from them? and look for openings. In my last two fights AD: Absolutely. Although once Fight Night AD: My last two fights have been in the I have done this, and when stoppages have comes it’s just you and your opponent in the Czech Republic; I’ve been out there a few presented I’ve taken them in a smart way. ring, there are so many people who are in my times with my good friend and British boxing Boxing is very much about the mental side corner and behind my preparation. legend, Danny Williams. This year I have and tactics as well as the physical. I have so many people to thank: my worked closely with Williams and also my DB: What are your plans for 2018? strength and conditioning team; my boxing trainer, Eddie Mustafa Muhammed, whom AD: I have some big things planned.