Carl Froch famously abstained from sex for three months before knocking out George Groves.
Football legend Stanley Matthews would eat no food on a Monday. “Just one day, on a Monday, but I felt better.”
While Arsene Wenger refused to allow his Arsenal players to eat chocolate.
Jazza Dickens, however, has his own self denial to ensure his mind is focused entirely on claiming the IBF world featherweight title on August 7.
The likeable Liverpool featherweight won’t watch boxing on TV in the build up to his own contests – in case it drains any of his own energy.
Jazza will go toe to toe with Kid Galahad in Essex for the vacant world crown in a showdown streamed live on DAZN.
Before then Joe Joyce, Connor Benn and fellow Scouser Anthony Fowler will all feature in high profile televised bouts
But Jazza is unlikely to be tuning in.
“I don’t watch much boxing. I’m so passionate about it that I can’t watch it without having my own thoughts and getting involved,” he said. “It can be draining. A lot of energy goes into watching it – sometimes I can get a bit jealous that it’s not me in there fighting and I’ve got to wait until the next time I fight to get that feeling.”
An obsessive trainer Jazza, 30, has had to learn how to switch off as his career has progressed.
When he last met Kid Galahad for the British super bantamweight belt in 2013 he was a driven, ambitious, ferocious young firebrand.
He was stopped in the 10th round of that clash, but while the ambition, the drive and the desire remains as fierce as ever, Jazza believes much more has changed.
“I am a different fighter and a different man altogether to that fight in 2013,” he explained. “But when I compare how different I am I also have to compare how different he (Kid Galahad) is going to be. I know how far I’ve come since then – but I can only expect the same from him because he’s a great fighter.
“He’s done well staying in the game and getting back to the pinnacle. But we’re both different – I know I am. I’d be surprised if I wasn’t because it’s been a long time.”
Dickens has had 16 contests since that first professional defeat. But the memory still burns deep into his psyche.
“I can’t explain how I feel about that fight without sounding like I’m possessed!” he laughed. “Actually it’s been the same all through my career. I even still think now about a kid who beat me when I was a schoolboy. I just can’t let it go, I will not let it go.
“I haven’t followed Kid Galahad’s career but when he got banned a few years ago there was a bit of anxiety in me because I wondered if I’d ever get that rematch chance to put that right.
“I’m in there now but I just need to get over the line.
“It’s nice to be in a world title fight – but the day after the fight holding the world title belt is where I want to be.”
Jazza is on a roll.
The Liverpool featherweight has won his last eight contests , including an IBF European title, the WBO version and taking the honours in the MTK Golden Contract featherweight tournament.
Galahad has boxed only once in the last two years, and in his penultimate contest lost his perfect professional record when he was outpointed by Josh Warrington for the belt he will try to win again next month.
“Of course that gives me confidence, especially as he’s going into it on a worse run!” said Jazza.
Dickens also has different people behind him now.
Trained by the peerless George Vaughan and managed by Tony Bellew, the fighter who knows exactly what it is like to have a world title belt wrapped around his waist in a boxing ring said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for Jazza and I think we’re going to see the best version of him.
“This is a lad who’s made necessary changes to his team. He’s took himself away to America to get advice there. He’s done what he feels is absolutely right to become a world champion and he’s so close to realising that dream.
Kid Galahad looked dejected after the loss to Josh Warrington
“This is a hard fight but it’s a fight Jazza can win because of the improvements he’s made and also because he learns from past experiences. A defeat is not a bad thing if you take as much as possible from it and make sure the same things don’t happen again.
“I had to do that as a fighter on more than one occasion and I know someone as determined and as dedicated as Jazza is capable of doing it as well. He’s looked superb in his recent fights and I think he’s at his very best now.
“Through experience and the age he’s at, I think we’re looking at a great version of Jazza Dickens.”
Vaughan, with his 83 years of experience in the fight game, agrees.
“He will win this fight without a doubt. He’ll stop him I think. There’s no way Kid Galahad will beat him this time,” he declared.
Jazza loves working with a trainer widely regarded as the Godfather of Mersey boxing.
“When you work with Georgie you listen,” he said.
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“I’ve known George and his family for years. My dad went to school with his son Danny, he’s got a massive family and my cousin is George’s grandson. Because he is such a quiet coach and doesn’t shout his mouth off I didn’t realise the quality he has. Being with him has been the best years of my boxing career.
“I’ve been boxing since I was 12 and these are the best years of my boxing career. Every day I just look at him and the passion he has for the sport matches my own, and I’ve never found that in a boxing coach.
“I needed to learn. George had me boxing behind my jab and I’m finding out why that is the best weapon and I’m getting results.
“When I was younger a man called Francis Hands guided me. He was a professional boxer. He guided me and helped me through my teenage years which is a tough time for any kid. He was very, very kind to me in ways you wouldn’t imagine.
“I can never repay him for what he did out of the goodness of his own heart. But before Franny I had my two loving parents, Colin and Paula. I’m lucky enough to be one of the people able to say that so they are my heroes.”
Now Jazza is hoping to be a hero himself.
In demand amongst the schoolchildren making their way to lessons as he finishes his early morning runs on the hills around Everton Brow, he never turns down a request for a picture or an autograph or just a quick chat.
“It’s important to me,” he said. “The other day I was asked to do something for DAZN and a young boy wanted to interview me for his school. So I stopped and did that. That brightened my day. I want to be a role model. That’s important to me, If I’m going to be a champion that’s part of my role.”
There’s just the formidable presence of Kid Galahad in the way of that goal.
But Jazza Dickens won’t let anything get in the way of his dream. Not even a Saturday night in front of the box watching a big fight.
