In short
Paul Venis (Paul Venis) discusses what “danger” means, his transition from street violence and addiction to K1 kickboxing and recovery, and how he now fears relapse into harming others. He also recounts the Danny Christie vs Deca Heggy bare-knuckle fight, describing it as the most intense he’s ever seen, and explains his role as a “fair play man” to keep fights from escalating.
Guest backgrounds
Paul Venis is a former Middlesbrough “hard man” and long-time addict who says he’s been in recovery for years. He became a successful K1 kickboxer, claiming 33 pro fights with 32 knockouts and UK dominance, and later worked as a coach/gym figure. He describes his mother as a long-term recovery leader in Middlesbrough.
Key claims
Violence on the streets came from insecurity and fear of not being respected; fighting gave him structure and saved him. He says he still battles suicidal thoughts (he cites “six days ago”). He argues many modern attacks are senseless and driven by “no fear of consequence.”
Notable examples
Leaf Taggart introducing him to K1; his drug-fueled “rock bottom” (robbing family); the Danny Christie–Deca Heggy fight; his “fair play” work for Danny and others; his claim that Deca Heggy is a “wrong one” and a threat to women/children.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOUnderstanding Danger
1:00 to 1:59
Discussion on what it means to be a dangerous man and the mindset behind it.
“What does it take to be a dangerous man?”
The Fight World Introduction
2:07 to 6:41
Paul Venis shares his transition into the fight world and his early experiences.
“Change are proudly sponsoring the channel.”
Evolution of Violence
6:43 to 9:42
Paul discusses the changing landscape of violence and toughness in modern society.
“And this kid just turned around, walked off and laughed.”
Reflections on a Violent Past
9:46 to 14:00
Paul reflects on his past behavior, the reasons behind his violence, and its impact.
“It is the world we live in, and it's bizarre because a lot of these atrocious attacks that get carried out, they're not really for much of a reason.”
The Impact of Bullying on Criminality
14:00 to 16:40
Paul discusses how his experiences with bullying shaped his path into crime.
“You know, in them days when not many people were carrying knives and guns and just trying to be tough and earn money, being the biggest and baddest, you earned the most money, you had the most control.”
The Toll of Addiction
16:40 to 19:20
Paul reflects on the destructive effects of his drug use and the guilt he faced.
“The last year of my full use, you know, was absolutely horrendous.”
Struggles with Mental Health
19:20 to 21:30
Paul shares his battle with mental health issues and thoughts of suicide.
“There's a certain satisfaction when you work with someone.”
Fear and Fighting: A Complex Relationship
21:30 to 24:10
Paul explains how fear has influenced both his fighting style and his life choices.
“this is how I'm feeling and I battle it every day people will know that they're not alone but going back to I suppose was physical strength and fighting and violence again.”
The Lessons of Fighting and Ego
24:10 to 28:00
Paul discusses his experiences in the fighting world and how they shaped him.
“Yeah, the robbing and the taxing and the sneaking around and taking crops and taking...”
Facing Fears: The Fight That Shook Me
28:00 to 29:05
Paul discusses his experience of getting dropped in a fight and the fear it instilled in him.
“never been wobbled, never been hurt, never been beat.”
Show all 26 chapters
The Path of a Fighter: Struggles and Triumphs
29:05 to 30:26
Paul shares his journey in K1 kickboxing, from financial struggles to achieving success.
“You know, K1, when I was doing it, wasn't that big in the UK scene, but I was travelling around this country.”
Paul Venis: A Fighter's Philosophy
30:26 to 31:16
Insight into Paul’s philosophy about fighting and the discipline it brings to his life.
“The best bare-knuckle fight I've ever seen, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing, was Danny Christie versus Deca Heggy, and you was Danny Christie's fair play man.”
The Journey to Manchester: A Life-Changing Car Ride
31:16 to 34:00
Paul recounts a profound car ride with Danny Christie before a significant fight, exploring themes of friendship and emotional connection.
“So I'd never met Danny, but I'd been speaking to him for eight, nine, ten months.”
Witnessing the Intensity of a Bare Knuckle Fight
34:00 to 35:44
Describing the shocking experience of being ringside during a brutal fight between Danny and Deca Heggy.
“You know, I ended up sharing my life story and I ended up telling him about recovery.”
Role of a Fair Play Man: Protecting the Fighters
35:44 to 38:39
Paul explains the responsibilities and experiences of being a fair play man during fights, emphasizing safety and integrity.
“I wanted to stop it from the moment the first exchange happened.”
Controversial Figures in Fighting: Deca Heggy
38:39 to 42:01
Paul discusses the controversial nature of Deca Heggy, providing insights into his reputation and behavior.
“Then it's his way or the highway Do you know what I mean?”
Reflecting on a Sensational Fight
42:01 to 43:34
A discussion about the emotional aftermath of a bare-knuckle fight and the bond formed between fighters.
“But you'll never see a video of us floating around, wanking on a train or shit like that.”
Escalation of Violence: Personal Stories
43:35 to 45:00
Paul shares dangerous encounters from his past and discusses the implications of street fights.
“these, these, you know, the Deke and Danny fight, does that actually resolve any situation or does it just escalate violence even further?”
Internet Beef: Genuine Conflict or Attention-Seeking?
45:01 to 47:16
The host and Paul examine the authenticity of online beef and their past conflicts.
“From today onwards, you have my word, I've got to stop doing that.”
The Dark Corner of YouTube
47:17 to 49:10
Discussion about the negative impacts of online slander and the dark side of social media interactions.
“He was on the corner wasn't he and people were driving past and they knew what he was there for.”
Defending Family and Personal Struggles
49:11 to 53:44
Paul shares his experiences of defending his family against online attacks and his commitment to autism awareness.
“I've moved away from it, you know what I mean?”
Learning from the Past: A Father's Insight
53:45 to 56:01
Reflecting on past mistakes and the desire for a better future for his children.
“yeah yeah and our our whole household and our whole world evolves around her and her happiness and it's very peaceful and we love that.”
Descent into Violence
56:01 to 58:53
Paul Venis shares his experiences with violence and crime, detailing how his actions put his family in danger.
“I had knives, I had guns, I was doing all that shite.”
Life After Prison and Regrets
59:02 to 1:02:51
Paul discusses the impact of his prison sentence on his family and the guilt he feels over his past.
“My wife stayed by me, but when I got out, she was like, well, stay there.”
Reflections on Vulnerability and Honesty
1:02:52 to 1:06:00
The conversation shifts to the importance of vulnerability and how it can help others struggling with mental health.
“that you can pass that on and you can, yeah, you can, you can, you can feel the glory through somebody else's success that you've trained up.”
Final Messages and Legacy
1:06:01 to 1:07:26
Paul shares his thoughts on how he wants to be remembered and the positive aspects of his life today.
“Whenever I do podcasts, they're pulling and I don't blame them never ever blame them because why wouldn't you?”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:28And we're back. Your vehicle doesn't just get you from here to there. It's a bridge to the people and places that matter most. It's how you show up for your family, your community, and everyone else that depends on you. That's why for 125 years, Firestone has been building tires with one thing in mind. To deliver products that are as reliable as you are. Firestone. Always dependable. Since 1900. What does it take to be a dangerous man? A trained, disciplined, powerful. They can walk to a cage or a ring and put their life on the line, and that's danger. There's never a fight I've never went into that I've not been absolutely bricking it.
1:11Keep out of that fear, because it'll keep you dangerous. I'm not wired up right. I was born different. If you ask me now, when was the last time you thought about using? I couldn't tell you when. But I could tell you the last time I felt like killing myself. How recent was that? Six days ago. Is Dekahegi the demon that everyone portrays him to be? He's a tough art bastard. I give him that. 100 million percent he's a Roman. The size difference alone was madness. It was only meant to be me and Dougie there. And I looked at Danny and I was like, what do you want to do? And he just went, boom, in that ring, let's go.
1:34Blood was splatting all over me. I had blood in my mouth, blood in my face, all in my watch. It was everywhere. One of them lads could have died that day. 100%. If anything had went off, I'd have put my life on the line to protect him. I'd have died with him. If I didn't turn around with the sword, it probably would have come through my chest. You've got to be some scumbag to do that. I would absolutely end someone's life for that. I was that violent. I had to fight. I didn't give a shit who I was hitting, who I was fighting, what his name was. I just wanted to fight. It was just in me. Did it ever cross your mind that you might kill someone one day?
2:07Change are proudly sponsoring the channel. They're the UK's number one e-commerce mentoring programme, taking you step by step through building your own business with no experience needed. I've seen their members make life-changing money and free up real time to spend with their families. Success doesn't happen overnight. You've got to put the work in. The more you put in, the more you get out. What really stands out is their community. It's rampacked with like-minded people who genuinely support each other. You get one-on-one training, online courses and group seminars so you're never left on your own.
2:37If you're serious about building something new for yourself, message Ryan on Instagram at RyanJB. Paul, thank you for coming on, mate. Long time coming. And I know your story. I've watched you on other podcasts numerous times. And I think because you're a household name, I think a lot of people will already know your story. And if not, we can direct them there. But I just want to get under the bonnet of other stuff that nobody has really delved into. So let me start with, you've spent your life being wrapped around many, many dangerous men. You've been called a dangerous man yourself. I wouldn't argue that either.
3:16What makes and what does it take to be a dangerous man, would you say? The way I look at it now is different to how I would have looked at it. when I was getting a call to Dangerous Man back in the day, you know, for being tough or having a reputation or, you know, fearless, you know, all that stuff. You know, what makes a dangerous man back then is different to what I think makes a dangerous man now. You know, it's funny because I try and do a bit of social media myself and I'll do a live on TikTok or I'll try and carry a message. I'm doing my lives and I'm doing my talks and stuff and someone will ask me a question, which I think is stupid, but I get why they ask it.
3:50You know, do you think you would have beat Lee Duffy if he was still alive? or do you think you could beat Lee Duffy in his prime or Bri Cockler in his prime? You know, these other North East household names that are tough. Yeah. You know, and my mind first goes, why are you asking such a stupid question? But I'm in a position to be asked that question. I get why I'm asked that question. People are interested. Of course they are. And they're intrigued by extremely tough men. Yeah, of course they are. And I get why they ask the question, as daft as I think it is to date. I don't think it was daft to be asked it, like because of who I was and what I'd become 20, 25 years ago, you know, the life that I led.
4:26You know, so I suppose the answer to it is
4:32today, for me, the most dangerous men I've ever met are the dangerous men in my life or the dangerous men that I seek inspiration from, not just because they're dangerous, but because they're trained, they're disciplined, you know, they're powerful, you know, they're emotional, they're straight talking, and, you know, they can make that walk. You know, they can sign a contract. You know, they can walk to a cage or a ring and put their life on the line. And, you know, that for me is the most dangerous man. That's danger. Does anyone come to the forefront of your mind when you think of a dangerous man?
5:08Yeah. I've mentioned this kid on a podcast before. You know, when I thought I was dangerous back in the day when I thought my reputation and ego meant everything to me, I know now it's just fantasy. It's not real. you know that person that I was was more bothered about reputation and ego and fear you know I know that was just a it was just a fantasy it wasn't real you know but I remember getting out of prison and trying to turn my back on that life and trying to become something better you know um I walked into a fighting gym it was called Impact Martial Arts and it wasn't in Middlesbrough when I went to prison but when I got out it was there and I remember walking into this gym and it was people who I knew, you know, who were running this gym, you know, family friends and people who we'd had ties to our social set.
5:52I knew him. And I says, oh, I want to join. And they were like, my problem, you can come and train Paul. Stay out of trouble. See that sign at the front of that door there? No egos. Leave your ego at the door. I went, yeah, he went, you can come, you're more than welcome in here. You leave that at the door. No one cares who you are. No one cares what you do. You be a good lad, you can come and train. He said, I'll tell you what, you can train for free. and I was like, all right, sound. There was this kid called Leaf, Leaf Taggart. I'm not kidding you. He can walk up to me. Hey mate, you all right?
6:21Dead squeaky. Had an air band in. Look, soft as shite. Soft as shite. And he went, you're Paul Venice? I went, yeah. He went, what do you like to take on leg kicks? I went, a few should be sound. He went, wallop. Oh, you twat. And that was my introduction to K1 Kickboxing. You know, that was my introduction to combat sports. And this kid just turned around, walked off and laughed. You know, and I instantly become obsessed with this fight world and how he was carrying himself, how I seen him when he first approached me to be nothing. And if no one's seen your legs in the flesh, I can confirm that they're quite the legs.
7:01And that was my introduction to true arts of toughness, of fighting. Hard men. Yes. and this kid had an air band on he talked very squeaky you know it didn't look much he lulled you in didn't he to a full sense of security yeah I become obsessed with him you know I asked him teach me and I found out that this kid was K1 Muay Thai world champion you know he was one of the best of the best he was unbelievable around our area you know this kid's still in my life he actually works at my gym he's actually the main coach at my gym now so it's a shame the old school what we'd consider dangerous men it hasn't that legacy hasn't continued Now, dangerous men, they can look like librarians, but if they've got that mentality, nothing to lose.
7:46Nowadays, they're throwing acid in people's faces, sticking knives in you. Does the need to be seen as tough, would you say that? Is it confidence or is it insecurity? Insecurity. For me, it was insecurity. For me, I was a very insecure kid growing up. You know, I was self-aware, low self-esteem. You know, I was aware I had two different coloured eyes. I was aware I was overweight. I was ginger. I was picked on as a kid. All that usual lovely little stuff that comes with suffering and becoming insecure. You know, so when the tables had turned for me where I took enough shit, I'd had enough taking shit, the tables had turned, I'd become very insecure to the point where I had to be violent, had to be heard.
8:28I had to be the loudest in the room. I had to, you know, I was uncomfortable when someone wasn't telling me how hard I was or how fantastic I was. so I think the needs of being tough on them streets and being that person on them streets the baddest man on the street or the baddest man in the town it comes from being insecure where you're from is a rough area isn't it? Middlesbrough now is probably the worst well statistically speaking is the worst place to live outside of London in the whole of the UK so you've kind of you've got to be tough haven't you? yeah we've all had the names we've seen them across social media we know the stories you know from Middlesbrough was a breeding ground for tough fighting men fisted cuffs drinking beer the next day Middlesbrough's not that no more you know I don't think any town's that no more either you've just touched on it now one of the reasons what frightens me after death now of falling back into that lifestyle is 10 stone 11 stone ringing wet lads now targeting your missus and kids you know targeting your house you know sitting in bushes for 3 or 4 days waiting to stab you in the back that's perceived as game that's perceived as tough now that's that's where people are getting respect from oh I see him over there he's game he's tough and I'm looking at him thinking he's a shithouse man he's a coward he's carrying a knife And the reason why they've got to do this is because they are that size and they can't fight.
9:38I get it. But that's the world we live in today, and I've accepted that, hence the reason why I'm not involved in any other shit no more, because it frightens me half to death. It really does. It is the world we live in, and it's bizarre because a lot of these atrocious attacks that get carried out, they're not really for much of a reason. I'd understand if somebody had done something to your mother or you found out that somebody had sexually assaulted your sister, then by all means. Like, you know, all bets are off. If the police can't deal with it, then you deal with it yourself. But I'm just seeing far too many people, as you probably do, just being severely injured, sometimes disfigured for life, over being friends with the wrong person, wrong postcode, or, you know, you owe somebody 25 quid for a bag of weed.
10:22It's like, shit, we've really come to this stage now where we're willing to kill people for nothing. It's like, where's the fear of consequence? Like, jail. And how long have you been out of jail for? I've been out of jail now for 16 years, 15, 16 years. Oh, good. And yeah, never gone back. And how did you go from, so you went from being bullied at school to then becoming one of the most feared people in your area. What was the switch? What was the moment that made you think, fuck this, I'm going to lean into being a tough guy? Said it on a load of podcasts, and I don't mind saying it, but before I do say it, you know, sometimes when I watch my podcast back home, but I hear what I say.
11:00Sometimes I sound like I'm glorifying it and I never want to come across like that. But the thing is with me now is it's a part of my story. It is what it is. You know, there was a tough guy down our way called Lee Duffy and every youngster wanted to be the next Lee Duffy. You know, when I listened to the stories of Lee being bullied as a kid and being picked on and, you know, being really badly picked on and then all of a sudden turning the tables at 16, 17, 18 and becoming the main man of Middlesbrough, like running the doors, walking around, strutting his stuff, filling everyone in. That was intriguing to me.
11:32You know, I latched onto that story like many, many kids did in our area. How many years older was Lee Duffy? He died when I was four. I never really met him. I mean, I met him when I was a kid, but of course I met him. But my mother and father were very close with him. You know, we were all from, there's an estate in Middlesbrough called Southbank. And it's like, that's the main roughest estate in Southbank and Greenstown are the roughest estates in Middlesbrough. And that's where Lee was from. That's where I'm from. That's where I was born. That's where my mother and father were born. You know, so when we, and I was raised around all this, you know, my man was a tough girl.
12:05You know, she was, not a saint, you know, my old man was a dom. And so they were all raised tough, like tough. I was well-loved. Tough family. Yeah. And when I was growing up, getting bullied and getting picked on, you know, me and my mother and father would tell me the stories of Lee and like my uncles and, you know, my dad's friends and stuff like that. Because I was always around them, would tell the story. Don't worry, son. No, I was getting picked on bad. Don't worry, son. Look what happened to Lee. He did this, he did that. And I was like, and I ran with it. That makes sense. Yeah. Before I become this person, the bullying stops.
12:37When you get to 10, 11, 12, you start to realise, actually, I'm bigger than everyone here. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Like, I'm the biggest kid here. What am I doing here? How violent were you on the street? Violent. Yeah, violent. Very violent? Very, very violent. Yeah. The only thing I never did was stab or shoot anyone or anything like that. You know, towards the end of my drug addiction days, I started to harm myself. but that was only because I'd become frail. Yeah. You know, because I'd become what I'd become, which is out and out Crackett. But the leading up to building that reputation and being 18 and 19 and being the next Lee Duffy, because that's what I was.
13:10Yeah. You know, everybody knew my name. Everybody knew who I was. I was the main fighter in the Middlesbrough, on the streets wise. And yeah, I was violent. You know, if I was in a house party or in a nightclub and someone said, you see him over there, he can have a fight. I would instantly be threatened and I would walk over and just smack him or put it on him or we'd have a fight do you know what I mean that was that I was that violent I had to fight I had no fear I didn't think about any consequences I didn't give a shit who I was hitting who I was fighting what his name was I just I just wanted to fight it was just in me and how badly would you bash him up do you know what it's funny because I still had morals Queensbury rules stand and bang and all that stuff that was I loved all that you know that was how I was do you know what I mean but I mean I was badly beating people up like do you know what I mean did you find that there was a bit of bullying you creeping in 100 % that there was my mindset that happened to me I've been bullied for years so I'll do the same yeah of course why wouldn't I be you know I used it to my advantage you know becoming a criminal you know bullies thrive you know in the criminal in the criminal world in the underground world in the drug world.
14:24You know, in them days when not many people were carrying knives and guns and just trying to be tough and earn money, being the biggest and baddest, you earned the most money, you had the most control. And being Paul Venice, the hard man for so many years, was it exhausting or was it exciting? Exciting until it become exhausting. Because people have an expectancy of you. Yeah. Consistently. I had an expectancy of myself. and it quickly ran short because I was well loved I had a mother and father who loved me I had a good heart I wasn't a bad man, I wasn't a bad person I was just moulded into this person that I'd become that I wasn't comfortable being this person I never liked what was looking back in the mirror it was only it quickly come to an end when I started to realise There's, you know, the guilt and shame and who I was and what I was doing, the innocent people I was hurting, you know, robbing him, doing this, beating him off for this.
15:28You know, it took a fucking toll on me. What were you doing, taxing drug dealers? I was taxing, I was robbing, I was, you know, in the end I was, you know, innocent businessman, do you know what I mean? Extorting them and doing all that stuff. You know, I was being used to the best of my ability of other people, making decent money but it was really taking a toll on me to the point where I was shoveling so much cocaine up my nose so much crack down my throat to try and numb that pain and that guilt and that shame because I was always a good lad Liam I knew I was you just lost sense of reality I was just smoking and sniffing them emotions away and I've seen that pipe change a lot of people where they become somebody completely different I don't even recognise you that's what happened to me I spent five years on it you know and I started robbing shops.
16:16I started baggling, you know, robbing my own mother and father, stealing off my own kids, you know, stole off my own wife. Yeah, that's rock bottom. The only way is that from there. And all these people that you were severely hurting, did it ever cross your mind that you might kill someone one day? Yeah, 100%. I think I kind of, I got to the point where I wanted to be locked away forever or I wanted to end my own life, do you know what I mean? That was the position that I got to. The last year of my full use, you know, was absolutely horrendous. And I always thought about taking my own life. I always obsessed around it towards the end of my using and I actually committed to doing it.
16:53And I never, ever thought I would ever be in the position of taking my own life because I absolutely loved my kids. Even as a down and out fucking crackhead and a drug user, the only reason I still survived that was because of my kids. I would sit and sob and use against my own will, use drugs and smoke, crack and sniff coke against my own will, sobbing because I love my kids. Do you know what I mean? What do you think made you turn to hitting the drugs so hard? What do you think you was escaping from? The bad shit that I'd done, the living inside my own head. The guilt. Yeah, the guilt, the shame, the remorse, everything.
17:30You know, it's funny because I got into recovery me, Liam, after like almost dying and almost killing myself and going through the prison and getting sectioned. I did a lot through addiction. Like I got sectioned, I was in the mental institution for a long time. You know, I spent a bit of time in jail. You know, social services would let me see my kids or my wife. And, you know, my wife was always going to choose my kids over me. That's what she did. She was always a good mum. What I realised getting through into recovery, getting involved in recovery, was the reason why I think I become an addict, I think I struggled with mental health and addiction eventually, was because even as a child, I wasn't quite right.
18:10you know knowing what I know about the disease of addiction knowing what I know about recovery knowing what I know about the pen and paper the pen is mightier than the sword and writing down and learning about my own fucking insecurities my own vulnerabilities my own brain the way I work the way I tick is I'm born I'm not wired up right I was born different you know I always get asked the question when was the last time you felt like using Paul have I been in recovery for years you know I can't remember the last time I thought about using drink or drugs I can't remember the last time I used drink or drugs but if you ask me now when was the last time you thought about using.
18:41I couldn't tell you when. But I could tell you the last time I felt like killing myself. I could tell you the last time I felt like I didn't want to be here no more. I could tell you the last time I felt like obsessing around taking my own life. You know, I could tell you right now. How recent was that? Six days ago. Two or three o 'clock in the morning. Was it for no particular reason? I couldn't tell you why. Just the imbalance in the brain. And we're back. Streaming on Peacock. May I present to you the award winning staff of the Toledo Truth Teller. Slap me. Let's jar something loose. Ay yes!
19:09I like that. The certified fresh series returns. Your boss. You always like this? Or is this just an act? Oh no, this is mad. Oysters, everybody! There's a certain satisfaction when you work with someone. Maybe we could be a family. You sadistic pig! The Paper. New season streaming September 9th, only on Peacock. This show gives me a reason to laugh. Hey, it's Kelly Rowland. You may not know this, but I have eczema. So I get how it can steal your time. But why let eczema take over when you can talk to your doctor about ebglis?
20:08Reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Epclus. Before starting Epclus, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Paid partnership with Lilly. Respect your time. Ask your doctor about Epclus and visit Epclus.com. Or call 1-800-LILLY-RX or 1-800-545-5979.
20:42What was I expecting that? I'm with you, bro. And if you want to take a breather at any stage? I can't forget.
20:54That'll never leave me, that Liam. You fight that demon all the time? Yeah, but I'm happy to. I don't like using the word mental health sufferer. I'm a mental health survivor, and I always will, because I am not my thinking. I am not mired you know if I was mired I was my thinking I would be doing life in prison I wouldn't be here I'd still be smoking crack and still sniff a coke that's what I'd be doing but I'm not you know to take it away from that because it's not a nice subject for you to go into and I think you've I think you've said enough and you've been very honest and I think people will relate and if they can see a man like you be strong enough to say on a podcast this is how I'm feeling and I battle it every day people will know that they're not alone but going back to I suppose was physical strength and fighting and violence again.
21:42Have you ever been frightened of another man? Every time. Oh, really? Fear is what drives me. I always remember, it was my mother who said this to me, she pulled me aside when I was a kid and she went, because my mother went through all the bullying with me. It's funny because my mum's a really tough Scottish girl. God love her, she's brilliant. she's I've never I've never seen my old man have a fight I've never heard anyone say a bad word about my dad big strong dormant really tough old school brilliant morals fantastic actually loves you to be fair tell him I love him too yeah big shout out dad he he never seen him have a fight never seen anyone bad moving my mother I've seen him have hundreds I've seen her have a right tear ups you know and she can fight you know everyone used to say to me you know like your mum you you're fighting for my mum was well known my mum was was very well known she says to me that's unique innit yeah yeah my mum is even my old man used to say you've got my chin but you've got your mum's toughness yeah your heart is like your mum but you've got whose heart have you got my mum's your mum's heart yeah yeah I'm very much like my dad we're very similar bodybuilding banter we're very similar yeah you know two peas in the pod my best pal but my mum yeah I'm like emotional erratic head like a box of spiders but she gets you yeah but she's absolutely fantastic she is literally Mrs Recovery in the whole of Middlesbrough you know 28 years 29 years in recovery clean and sober fantastic woman Christian you know I'm fucking brilliant woman so which one are you a daddy's boy or a mummy's boy I'm a mummy's boy same I mean that's I'm a mummy's boy I've got a little sister who's a daddy's girl right I've got a little sister she's a daddy's girl but I'll always be mummy's boy.
23:34Yeah, you and me both. And I wear that badge with absolute honour. And when you look back at all the stuff you were getting into, all the fights, all the violence, I'm assuming because of the, you know, the depression you've been fighting, you probably didn't care of consequence of what was to happen to you physically and you've probably had beefs with gangs of people, I can imagine. Yeah. Was you completely... Shut off from it. Yeah. Yeah, shut off from it. one on one fighting I was always fearful and like I said it was me mum always said keep out of that fear because it'll keep you dangerous it'll keep you dangerous keep out of that fear son because you'll never lose the fear when you've got fear in your heart and you suffer with fighting or flight you were a dangerous person hell of a weapon you know and I always remembered that and the gang stuff and the crime stuff I had no fear I just ran with that I was emotional to that I was quite dead to that we just did that do you know what I mean I think I thrived off that.
24:32I buzzed off that. You know, the robbing and the... Made you feel alive. Yeah, the robbing and the taxing and the sneaking around and taking crops and taking... That was... We buzzed off that. But the one-on-one combat, the one-on-one warfare, that would frighten me half to death. There's never a fight I've never went into illegally on a field, in a house, in a cage, in a ring that I've not been absolutely bricking it. Is there a part of that you think's self-harm? Yeah. Yeah. I don't think I've ever met a fighter that's quite wide up right do you know the maddest fighter I've ever he's the most lovable biggest gentleman you'll ever meet in your life but if you sit down and have a conversation with him I think you have he's the maddest bastard in the whole entire universe Mick Terrell is the maddest man I love Mick Mick is mad I can sit with Mick and I can call him a really good friend I think he's brilliant I've sparred with him absolutely fantastic yeah but he looks at fighting like you know it's funny because he says we there's been a few times me and Mick we spoke about fighting we were meant to fight back in the day in K1 I think he had a bad knee at one point I had a bad back at the next point I think it was one or two fights we were meant to fight he ended up fighting his pal I chinned his pal which he wasn't too happy about we had a bit of banter just banter to him he says Paul if me and you were to fight you know 100 grand 50 grand I think one of my pals says well I'll put 100 grand up for you for two to fight and he was like 50 grand he's not a problem didn't even have to think about it and I was like you need me fucking pal He goes, ah.
26:00He said, if you met me in football, you'd be taking the piss out of me, wouldn't you? He went, yeah. He went, when I beat you, I'd be taking the piss out of you the same way. He's got such a good attitude. And I just thought, he's fucking mad. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? He's great. He's sort of very calm in his demeanour. If ever I'm in Newcastle, I'll always touch base. Yeah, unbelievable. I'm out of your way. There's fighters that I've met in corners where they're just so nonchalant and no fear, don't care. They've got no motions, no motion whatsoever. Every single fighter that I've met, that's frightened and fearful, but yet still making that walk and still doing it.
26:35They're the ones that I've always thought are the most dangerous people in the whole entire universe. Yeah, and you've become hugely successful in K1. And did that fighting satisfy your ego or was it just another arena to amplify it? The fighting was the biggest, humble, humbling experience I ever received. I ever got, you know, the kid, Leif, walking up to me and kicking me in the leg. You know, sparring my lads who I'd never heard of, who I'd lived in my town for God knows how long, but were just bricklayers and scaffolders, you know. But yeah, I'm strutting around Middlesbrough like I owned the place.
27:15I'm strutting around Middlesbrough like I was the hardest, baddest man in the whole entire northeast. And I'm walking in this kickboxing gym, K1 gym, and there's a guy there who I've grew up with who I just looked at as a daft kickboxer and he's like, do you want a spa? I'm like, yeah, I'm with him. and he's absolutely punching lumps out of me, week in, week out. Well, here's a good one for you. What does getting dropped or hurt or beat in a fight, what does that do? What do you learn about your ego that you'll never learn from winning a fight? I wouldn't know because I've never lost. I've never lost in a professional fight.
27:51I've never lost in a ring or cage. Have you been put on your arse? I've been put, yeah, yeah, of course you have, yeah. but only the BKFC camp. I've never been dropped, never been wobbled, never been hurt, never been beat. Only that last BKFC fight that I had, I got dropped three or four times in camp for the first ever time, which was a very strange feeling to me because it never happened to me. Yeah, what did that do to you? It frightened me. Frightened me half to death. You know, I was sparring with some big artists, Darren Till, Tom Aspinall. I was sparring with all these world elite fighters, you know, about to get dropped.
Read the full transcript
28:25Doesn't matter, you know, when you have this invincible feeling around, I knew I was never the best fighter, but I always knew I had an invincible head and chin where I thought no one's ever going to... And your mum's up. Yeah. And next thing you know, because I always knew I was beatable, but I just thought I am a nightmare fight for anyone and that's all I held myself accountable. Fortunately, you know, I was too much for most people and I won every single fight I ever had professionally. I tell you what I'd like to say at this stage during this interview, that for those that aren't familiar with your brutality in that ring, just put in Paul Venice knockouts or Paul Venice fights into YouTube, sit back, pull yourself a hot one and enjoy.
29:06Yeah, I did all right in the K1, mate. I did really, really well. You know, K1, when I was doing it, wasn't that big in the UK scene, but I was travelling around this country. It was costing me money to fight, you know, but I was fighting big, big, hard Scottish twats. I was fighting Irish men, Welsh men. I was travelling back and forth to London. I was, every single show, every single fight, I was taking fights on two weeks notice, three weeks notice because I was just obsessed with it. Like I said, it set me free. It was the most humbling experience I'd ever had. When I found fighting, it saved me from them streets, from myself, from me.
29:44And guess what? I could still be violent in a controlled manner. Without the risk of going to jail. Yes, and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I become disciplined. You know, I become addicted to it. You know, I got clean. I got sober. You know, fighting absolutely saved me. Structure, it gave me everything. Yeah, fighting saved your life. It did. It did. And I felt like I could become someone. You know, I didn't expect to do what I did, you know, which was becoming number one in the UK, winning everyone. You know, 33 fights, 32 knockouts. I won everything in the UK scene. You've caught that some fucking record.
30:16I know, and I was absolutely over the moon with it. Now I didn't think I was ever going to be a millionaire from it I wasn't expecting that But to be UK's number one K1 kickboxing Becoming champion Winning European World Champions All the British titles Was absolutely phenomenal You know I've never ever once claimed to be the best K1 kickboxer of the years Not even in the UK But what I achieved I achieved And no one will ever take that away from me Oh goodness me I fought some really tough lads Chris Cooper James Cannon Lucas Probyek You know I thought the best of the best that this country had to offer around K1 kickboxing, and I stopped every single one of them apart from one person.
30:53Yeah, fair play. Do you know what I mean? The best bare-knuckle fight I've ever seen, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing, was Danny Christie versus Deca Heggy, and you was Danny Christie's fair play man. Yeah. Talk me through that from the moment you got in the car to drive in, was it Manchester somewhere? Yeah. Talk me through that whole experience and paint the picture of what that was, because that was astonishing to see. So I'd never met Danny, but I'd been speaking to him for eight, nine, ten months. It's funny how me and Danny become friends. Me and Danny end up having a little bit of an argument.
31:34We ended up on the phone. We went from going to have a fight to like, oh, sorry, mate, yeah, yeah, sorry, mate. And we become brothers overnight. I remember the video he made, someone said to him, yeah, not Paul Venice. Yeah. Don't go there. I remember him ringing me going, is this you knocking these baby dinosaurs out on YouTube? And I says, yeah, I'm no match for you, but I have a gum shield and I'll travel. If you want it with me, I'll have it. And I thought, I'm a kid. Got a tip your hand. Yeah, yeah. And I instantly did. And he went into a bit of information around why he was the way he was.
32:07And I says, I'm sorry. I said, I'm sorry for coming at you. And I should have never have said that to you. And I apologise. and you've got a nice friendship now ain't you yes so go back to the Deca Heggy fight so he that was mind blowing we were talking and we were in contact and stuff and he says look he says I need a favour I need a favour from you I said what's up he says you were friends with Dougie Joyce and stuff like that I says yes he says would you come through and be my fair play man I'm fighting Deca Heggy in Manchester he says and I don't I don't trust no one but you would you come through and be my fair play man I went of course I will yeah not a problem I rang Dougie told him I'm going to come through I'm going to be fair play, man.
32:42I need it to be switched on and everything be right. Dougie was like, yes, Sal, no problem. I trusted Dougie. You know, I had a few dealings with Dougie. Dougie was a nice kid. So I thought, Sal, no problem. I'll come through. So me and Danny ended up picking Danny up. We get in the car. Was he calm? He was calm. He was calm. But it wasn't the Danny we know today. You know, I get in this car and Danny was a shadow of himself. Broken man, riddled with addiction, riddled with madness, riddled with he was just erratic maddened and it was off the back of a big bender wasn't it he took that fight yes Danny was I knew Danny and I knew what Danny was and he was literally what it says on the tin have gum shield will travel it's his motto now that's what he was when I first met him to what he is now you know only he's a he's a shined up Danny now he's fresh and ready you know he is what he is he's a professional now when I met him I guess he was he was you know rough and not his best.
33:43Yeah. And the journey in that car was God-given because I never, ever thought that I was ever going to say the things that I said to him. I never, ever thought that I was ever going to, I thought it was picking a lad up who we'd met before, tough kid, taking him for a fight. And it was one of the most emotional, God-given car rides I've ever had in my life. Wow. You know, I ended up sharing my life story and I ended up telling him about recovery. I ended up just, I don't know what come over me. You know, I didn't know how bad he was, didn't know what his struggles were, what his pains were. I didn't have a clue.
34:14But God just put this on me to the point where you need to sit and talk to this guy here. You know, and I shared a lot of stuff, a lot of personal stuff with me. And we had a connection in a car that would never, ever be taken away. I know God put me and him in that car that day, you know, and drove us down to that. You know, and that fight went out, which was even on the way home, we were both emotional. But you know the fight itself? For someone that's been in the ring many, many times and you've seen... I've never witnessed anything like that. Jaw drop him, wasn't it? That was some fucking straightener.
34:46I'll tell you why. Size difference alone. Yeah. The size difference alone was madness. What was it like being in the ring? The set-up was madness. The way Danny was was madness. I didn't want it to happen. When I walked in, there was only meant to be me and Dougie there. I felt safe. Don't get me wrong. Dougie gave me his word. And I felt safe. but there was four, five, six lads about looking around and I looked at Danny and I was like and Danny was like what do you want to do here and I just went look what do you want to do and he just went boom in that ring let's go wow yeah stand up yeah some of them shots I mean you could hear the sickening crunches blood was splatting all over me I had blood in my mouth I had blood in my face I had it was all in my watch it was it was everywhere it was everywhere one of them lads could have died that day.
35:36100%. 100%. Big shots. And I'm sitting back and every ounce of me wanted to jump in and stop the fight. I wanted to stop it from the moment the first exchange happened. Even though I felt like Danny was the quicker one, Danny was landing more punches. When he was hitting Danny, it was thud. And Danny had this brain go, shot, shot. No, he's getting it. Good shot, shot. but he was split and I just thought and I wanted to stop it and he seemed I did stop following him around I just stayed in the corner because I was just ready and when Danny ended up in the corner his gum shield come out I walked to the corner and I had him and I'm taking ages to put his gum shield on and I'm looking at him then in the eyes and I'm going you're right you're right and he went move he just went to me move and we're back streaming on Peacock may I present to you the award winning staff of the Toledo Truth Teller.
36:33Slap me. Let's jar something loose. Ay, yes! I like that. The certified fresh series returns. You're boss. You always like this? Or is this just an act? Oh no, this is mad. Oysters, everybody! There's a certain satisfaction when you work with someone. Maybe we could be a family. You sadistic pig! The Paper. New season streaming September 9th, only on Peacock. This show gives me a reason to laugh. Hey, it's Kelly Rowland. You may not know this, but I have eczema, so I get how it can steal your time. But why let eczema take over when you can talk to your doctor about ebglis? Ebglis Lubrikizumab LBKZ, a 250 milligram per two milliliter injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies.
37:28Ebglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you are allergic to Epglyss. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Epglyss. Before starting Epglyss, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Paid partnership with Lilly. Respect your time. Ask your doctor about Epglyss and visit Epglyss.com or call 1-800-LILLY-RX or 1-800-545-5979. Just still game. Yeah, and now please come show back in. and I got to say it again to him and I got him again he ended up on his back on his knee and I goes up to him again and he goes to Decker get off me turns round and I went you alright and he just went of course he can move and that's when I just thought this man Built differently Yeah And as a fair play man if something becomes unnecessary for example or I don't know I'd have died with that kid that day Yeah Does that mean you get involved?
38:26I'd have died with that kid that day Yeah If anything had it went off I'd have died with him I'd have put my life on the line to protect him Yeah That's what a fair play man does If a fair play man's there Give him fair play Then it's his way or the highway Do you know what I mean? It's like That's what happens Do you know what I mean? That fair play man's got to have a bit about him To be able to go Yeah What does it actually mean to be a fair play man? What's your actual job? For me I knew I had to be there to make sure Nothing gets out of hand No one took the base Danny goes home safe Both I was Danny's fair play man so I was only bothered about Danny do you know what I mean I've been fair play man in fights where I'm fair play man for both men both men have reached out to me we need this fight to happen we need it to be fair you bring one man you bring one man and I'm in that middle making sure both parties go home safe he doesn't go mad he doesn't go mad and these two are going home safe the fight's happening you know I did it for Robbie Brown and Decker Egy as well you know cool did he get the better of Decker as well yeah Decker was a fool half his size Robbie's Robbie's off it Robbie Brown's mad but I didn't want that fight to happen between him and Robbie Brown I tried to stop that how come?
39:35because of the size difference what was amazing about the Danny and Decker fight was size difference and it was Decker he's got a back like a barn door and had like a big cement breeze block and even when I was around him I'm a big lad myself and I'm like he's got an old neck and he's just massive and I thought fucking hell he's a big lad do you know what I mean he's just massive like a proper heavyweight and Danny was 75 kilos of of bender yeah do you know what I mean fresh he was 75 kilos of party that's what Danny was did you have any ever have any run-ins with Decker Heggy I did yeah I did after that fair play after I did fair play with Danny and I did a couple of videos and I was doing my take on it and stuff like that I think Decker didn't like what I was saying which was just the truth you know Danny won I felt like Danny got the better of him Danny was the weaker man the smaller man and Danny still give it to you and in the end Decker had had enough and I had there was a I had a recording which wasn't meant for my ears the person who sent me it actually went mad to him I says I wasn't meant to hear that he went no I said you fucking shit staring bastard but I'd already heard it so it was just me and my wife we were having food and I FaceTimed him on Instagram and I said I've sent you some recording he went ah you weren't meant to hear that it was just between me and a friend and I was like yeah but I've heard it now so where do you want me and he just went no I don't And is Deca Hegi the demon that everyone portrays him to be?
40:58He's a tough-hard bastard, I give him that. But 100 million percent, he's a wrong one. Yeah, I mean, he's... Bad, bad, bad wrong one. His behaviour outside of the ring. Women, kids and all, actually, yeah, 99 % sure. I've never seen it on paper. I've never seen anything. But, you know, I've been to Carlisle. You know, I've been in his town. I've heard what people have said. Yeah, I've had a lot of people approach me. could be him masquerading as somebody else, wanting to come on the show. And it's just a no from me. And no one's off limits on my show. But if I suspect that you could be a threat to a woman or a child, and I'm not saying that he has done anything, because you've got to be careful.
41:45I don't want a lawsuit. But my gut tells me he's a bad man and I will never have him sat opposite me. Yeah, I mean, look, I'm a man's man, do you know what I mean? And I think most of my pals are proper by yours, do you know what I mean? But you'll never see a video of us floating around, wanking on a train or shit like that. There was all that weird snog in his missus. He puts them very strange. It's weird. I mean, we've seen his quarry too many times online. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? I think it's just weird behaviour, isn't it? Do you know what I mean? I think if I've seen your Corrie three or four times across the internet, what are you playing at?
42:22Had a lot of women making statements. They're doing OnlyFans or you're a porn star. You shouldn't be seeing your Corrie that many times. Nah. Do you know what I mean? It's weird. So yeah, fucking in the side, we had to touch base on that fight because it was the most sensational bare knuckle fight. It was. And you had the fucking, the privilege of being right there. You could smell it. 100%. What made it even special as well, right? And Danny will tell you this. when I was driving home from that day, me and Danny were quite emotional. And I remember saying to Danny, because we got in the car and it was live and both of our socials were going viral, both of our socials were going mental.
43:00And I says to Danny, you're going to be a household name. I said, Danny, you're going to get clean. You're going to get sober. I introduced him to recovery. God put me and you in this car. I said every single word. You are going to be a household name. everyone is going to know Danny Christie is, mark my words. And I just knew in my heart and we prayed and we cried and we, and we, you know, it was a special moment on that way home. And when I see him doing what he does now and how he's living now, it's just like, God, I knew, I just knew. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. It was mad. And you know, these straighteners like these, these, these, you know, the Deke and Danny fight, does that actually resolve any situation or does it just escalate violence even further?
43:44So I remember having a few myself back in the day with... Does it create another chapter? Yeah, the main one that sticks in my mind was a kid called Wellard. And he was one of the most dangerous individuals I'd ever had a run in with. He was a big lad, very dangerous. He was always whipping swords and knives out chasing me down the road. And he was just hectic. We managed to convince him to have a fight. And he was a big lad, big lad himself, you know, dangerous individuals, don't like the prison now. And we managed to convince him to have a fight. and we had a fight. Didn't last long. We'd become friends after that.
44:20That mutual respect thing. Yeah. But this kid was like this close to killing me a couple of times. Do you know what I mean? Like literally walking down Narnby Road with my headphones in. Like walking down the main road coming home from the gym on summer's day with my headphones in just turning around and thinking, whoa! And just running off and then he's like nearly. He's got a big sword. If I didn't turn around with a sword it probably would have come through my chest. Have you ever had people come at you with shotguns? Yeah, my house got blasted. All my house got blasted. I got shot. Me and my pal got shot when we were pulling out of the gym, the car through the windows and stuff.
44:51But me, my wife and kids were behind the door and all my house got blasted and stuff like that. So yeah. So that's proper beef. Yeah. Cause you see online beef now on social media. I have to admit I've got to stop. I've been guilty of it myself. If I see someone that I think you're a real fucking bad person and you're leading people astray, and you're lying about people, and you're twisting truths, and you're just a narcissistic sociopath that wants nothing but divide and destruction. From today onwards, you have my word, I've got to stop doing that. But do you think internet beef on the whole nowadays is genuine or just a lot of fluff to get attention?
45:29I'll revere back to this. My and Brett May's beef was 100 % of my behalf serious. I can't stand the kid. I want to bring serious harm to that man. for some of the things that he was saying and some of the things that he was doing, like online and some of the personal stuff he was bringing up and saying. I 100 million percent wanted to hurt that kid. I don't know much about him. That was social media beef. He was another fighter, got out of prison. He started making videos on YouTube. I'll fight anyone in this corner of YouTube. And I was involved in this dark corner of YouTube. I was involved in it.
46:01So I messaged him in private and says, hello, mate, I've got a fight. I've got a show on, street beef show, 16 weeks. You've got plenty of time to get fit. I'm looking at selling 50, 60 grand worth of tickets. I split it down the middle of you. Me and your headliner, I split it down the middle of you. He's a bare knuckle fighter, fought the BKFC. Apparently a big, tough guy. Let's sort it. And he never got back to me, blocked me, and just started making videos about me, going in on me, slating me, bringing my past up, talking about people I had beef with, making up lies. You know, bad, real bad, real bad shit.
46:37Trying to get you targeted. Personal, personal, yeah, yeah. And he was bringing up old stuff, do you know what I mean? I'm thinking, and I was even trying to get in touch with him going, you need to stop talking about that, mate. Like, you need to stop mentioning that. I'm living a different life, mate. I'm just a fighter here, mate. You need to stop talking about that. And he just wouldn't. And it's probably stuff that I'd imagine you've already said and put it to bed. Yes. And he was trying to bring old shit up and making lies up. And, you know, it was bad. It was bad. And I've even tried to reach out and go, look, mate, you need to stop talking about that.
47:03And he just wouldn't. The only reason that fight never happened between me and him was because of him. Because he, well you've seen one, I don't know if you know what Danny did. Danny went to Doncaster looking for him and he never showed up. Oh yes. Yeah. Okay. He was on the corner wasn't he and people were driving past and they knew what he was there for. Yeah but at the time this was going off, I was doing talks at conventions, I was doing talks in schools, youth clubs, you know, I was getting invited to the prisons and they had this guy drawing me out saying bad shit so I couldn't jump in my car and go looking for him.
47:36I rang his coach and says is he boxing out with your coaches yeah I said can I come down with my coach I bring it Edgar gum shield 16 ounces bring him a camera can you let him know that we're coming down tomorrow and he went online and said that Venice is threatening to come down with 20 lads threatening my coach with machetes and axes and all that his coach rang me and went I'm so sorry I've had to kick him out Do you still want to fight Brett May? Nah I mean if he walked in here now I would attack him Right because of the stuff that he said and I shouldn't really say that because I'm a changed man and I shouldn't really say that but he's a fighter he said stuff he knows what it is I wouldn't just attack him and he'd say right and I'd shake his hands afterwards do you know what I mean I've got no hatred towards him now at the time I hated him but we'd have to it'd be silly if he walked in the room while he was in my presence and I never you know we never sorted it it'd be silly do you know what I mean he's a fighter I'm a fighter he's fought in the BKFC I've fought in the BKFC he shouldn't have no problem with walking in the car park and sorting it should he no He'd come looking for me and that, do you know what I mean?
48:37Me and my wife were in Doncaster with a gang full of lads and cars and that. Oh, I see. Come looking for me. I went nowhere near me. I suppose... He went to a different hotel. If he wanted to find you, you'd... But everyone on YouTube thought he was looking for me. Right. He portrayed he was looking for me. You mentioned the dark corner of YouTube. Yeah. What is the dark corner? I've never heard that. So the dark corner of YouTube was like Exposes and me, Danny, Shadowboxer, Brett May, Deckereggie, you know, all calling each other and arguing with each other. We made good money. Well, I did anyway, you know, arguing with each other.
49:12Right. Back and forth. I've ejected myself out of it now. I've moved away from it, you know what I mean? I don't really post on YouTube now. I've managed to get my algorithm differently now. But at the time, we were all thriving in there, and that's where we sort of, like, built a YouTube channel off the back of all that. And is that all about protecting your reputation? It was all about he said, she said, I can fight you. I'm harder than you. I'll punch your head in. Yadda, yadda, yadda bullshit. You know what I mean? But really, I think between me and Danny, there was only us that actually wanted to have a fight.
49:42The rest of them didn't really want to have a fight. The only character that actually was quite funny, that I actually didn't mind in the end, he's still controversial, like he's got a few shit hanging over him, is Shadowboxer. Shadowboxer was just on the wind-up. Is he the Orish fella? Yeah, he's got a few shady things hanging over him, don't know whether it's true or not. But he said something to me at home to me, which was like, Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson, they've got similar shit hanging over him. But yet everyone still gives them the time of day. And when I looked in his case, I don't know how he talks and the way he talks about it, I think, yeah.
50:16And that dark corner, that space, I mean, that could potentially ruin someone's life. It almost did, man. You know, I had people coming off YouTube, making, you know, attacking my daughter, making channels about my little girl. You know, Venice's spastic daughter. She's autistic. I had people making pages saying I was a woman beater. You know, Venice went to jail for beating his ex-missus up. You know, calling me a grass, calling me this, saying I'd been robbed of this. It was endless. It was endless. Just lies being told about. Oh, yeah, all bullshit. But people, I had hundreds of messages messaging me, you woman beater.
50:53I was spotting you, you're beating a woman up, beat your ex-missus up. I haven't got I've been with my missus since school Yeah I haven't got an ex-missus and not even if I'm so I found myself defending myself or what I thought what am I doing I know I fucking I don't explain myself to no one now Sometimes you feel a need to don't you I know you do it fucks with your head and you think actually because if you keep telling people that enough times you've got to believe it and I've always said this if Brad Pitt was to live with me for a year I guarantee if I told him every day he's ugly by the end of the year he'd believe it If you say a lie on repeat so many times, it does get in the subconscious mind of people.
51:30So you kind of have to call it out if it keeps going on. Yeah, but I found myself that I was doing that a lot now. I was waking up in the morning, it was stealing my peace. You know, I was waking up in the morning and my full divided attention was on YouTube. Who said what about me? What am I going to say back? So I was like, right, I'm done with that. Moved away from that. Go back to focusing on peace, gratitude list. The real life. I mean, don't get me wrong, I say real life. Instagram and Facebook and TikTok for me is real for me. You know, I run a personal training business off there. You know, I've got my own fight school.
52:05You know, I love carrying a message of autism awareness, the mental health, the addiction stuff. I do all that now across social media. I just don't think YouTube's the place for it. You know, but everywhere else, social media's class. I do enjoy it. I'm gobsmacked that somebody would make a channel about your daughter and refer to her with the words that you've just used. I mean, you've got to be some scumbag to do that. No matter what your beef is with you, fucking bringing someone's children into it is like next level, next level low blow. Did you ever find out who was behind it? I spent a few quid trying to, the VPN shite and all that.
52:43Yeah. By the way, that, if anyone says we can get the address or we can find out where, unless the police or anyone like that, do not give them no money because they're full of shit. you know no one can find anyone they can give you a 30 mile radius I found myself getting a 20 mile radius I'm going to drive to Nottingham because apparently it was someone in Nottingham and I was getting ready to get too old up and go drive to Nottingham because thinking someone was calling my daughter a spastic in Nottingham do you know what I mean my wife's like what are you doing do you know what I mean I'm thinking what am I doing here and I just thought wow you know if you caught up with them I would absolutely end someone's life for that my little girl she is severely autistic and she is my world like she literally my my household my son is 15 my oldest daughter she's 23 even though she's got her own house and her own family all our lives evolve around her yeah around my little perfect princess who's autistic how she sees the world and perceives the world is is her business but it's all ours as well yeah yeah and our our whole household and our whole world evolves around her and her happiness and it's very peaceful and we love that.
53:52You know what I mean? Like I have no problem with my life evolving around there. So when someone puts, because I do carry a message of autism awareness, I'll absolutely love it. I have my own company, Vienna's Voice, where we raise money and we do things around autism for these kids in my area and for parents who are struggling. Me and my wife do all that. We put autism events on. We do everything we can. You know, but the fact that someone, even when I post stuff today, someone, the odd person will say something stupid, you know, about autism or about my little girl. I have the ability to see past that now.
54:23You know what I mean? You've got to, mate. Yeah, of course you do. Of course you do. Then people leaving horrible comments about people's children that are autistic. We're going to get them, aren't we? I wish them the absolute worst. So you say you've got a boy who's, you've got a son who's 15. Yeah. So when you think you've spent, you know, not now, but you've spent a lot of your life wanting to be feared, Lee Duffy being an inspiration, would you want your son going down that route in his 20s? Nope, definitely not. Absolutely not. You know, my kids, I, my kids are the ones who inspire me to be a better man, you know, to be, to be able to be a positive man, you know, make the positives out the negatives.
55:05Like my past is so negative. It's so shite. It's such a ill, evil way to live. It's such a fantasy world. You know, when I look back at my past and see how I was and who I was, you know, I'm able to sit and go to my kids, right? because my son asks me questions. When this comes out, my son will watch it, him and his pals will watch it. They'll watch the podcasts and they'll ask me questions about my past and about this and about that. And I don't sit there and go, well, I did this and that, and this is what I was. I'll go, this is how much of a fucking idiot I was. I did this, this and this. And then I was crying for 22 hours a day for the next five years in prison.
55:41You know, I have the ability to do that and mean it and talk from my heart and go, this is how much of a fool I was, son. And why did you go to prison? The firearms. Towards the end of my addiction, Liam, where I become too frightened to fight, too frail to fight, too ravaged by drugs to even think straight or fight or do anything, I end up arming myself and, you know, I had knives, I had guns, I was doing all that shite. I actually went to jail for a fucking spud gun. It was an imitation. You'd have only hit you if I'd have flung it at you. But I did a lot of shit with it. I spent three days, because it's, boom, still did all that.
56:16You know, I spent three days running around like a madman robbing people and doing mad shit with this imitation fire and I robbed a shop robbed a couple of dealers I just went mental with it and I had like three day destruction in my in my town of just going a couple of days before my house got blasted as well do you know what I mean and I play a big part in my wife and kids being targeted you know I'll never forgive the people who did it but I know why it happened and do you know who they were yeah yeah yeah and I know why it happened because I'd stole a lot of drugs from them I'd robbed and stole from them do you know what I mean and you reap what you sow you live by the sword you die by the sword so I did what I did and there went and targeted I mean look they drove past me to go to my house do you know what I mean they knew where I was but they went and thought we'll show you and blasted my house why didn't they come and show me why didn't they come and get me do you know what I mean so they drove past so I'll never respect that and I'll never forgive them for it but I can I can hold my hands up and say I am the I was that selfish that I put my wife and children in danger yeah you know That's what I did.
57:18I'll play my part in that. And that was the reason why social services will never let me near them. Why my wife says, you're done, bye. Do you know what I mean? My wife tried to stay a bar, stick by me through prison and that, which she did. And we're back. Streaming on Peacock. May I present to you the award-winning staff of the Toledo Truth Teller. Slap me. Let's jar something loose. Aye, yes! I like that. The Certified Fresh Series returns. You're a boss. You always like this? Sores is just like, oh no, this is mad. Oysters, everybody! There's a certain satisfaction when you work with someone.
57:53Maybe we could be a family. You sadistic pig! The Paper. New season streaming September 9th, only on Peacock. This show gives me a reason to laugh. Hey, it's Kelly Rowland. You may not know this, but I have eczema. So I get how it can steal your time. But why let eczema take over when you can talk to your doctor about ebglis? EbGliss Lubrikizumab LBKZ, a 250 milligram per two milliliter injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema. Also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies, EbGliss can be used with or without topical corticosteroids.
58:36Don't use if you are allergic to EbGliss. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with EpGliss. Before starting EpGliss, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Paid partnership with Lilly. Respect your time. Ask your doctor about EpGliss and visit EpGliss.com or call 1-800-LILLY-RX or 1-800-545-5979. And how long has you been there for? I got a five-year sentence. I did two and a half. My wife stayed by me, but when I got out, she was like, well, stay there.
59:11I don't know. You proved to us that you're going to be who you've been telling me you're going to be. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? She's wicked, my wife. You know, she's the ship that keeps, she's the captain that keeps the ship driving. The only person on this planet now that I have fear around, only because I don't want to lose her. The fear of losing her, the fear of hurting her. Yeah. You know, all my guilt and shame now, today, that I suffer with, the reason, like when I spoke about the mental health earlier on the show and stuff like that, the guilt and shame comes from her and my kids.
59:42Yeah. The things that I did to my kids and my wife and kids, the disloyalty, the mistreating, the going missing, the neglect, everything that I did to that woman and them kids fucking kills me, breaks me. I tell you what, she stood by you, man. She has, she has and she is literally my life and soul now. She is, she's, she's my whole entire universe. She's my world, man. Her and them kids and the way she is now, she's the total opposite to me. Total opposite. I was the bad kid at school getting kicked out. She was the goody two shoes. You need that yin and yang. Yeah. Yeah, what a nice balance.
1:00:14She's fucking brilliant, man. And like 25 years later, I'm married to her and still got her. Do you know what I mean? So if you think that you've spent so many years being feared and revered, how would you really like to be remembered? And what do you think you're going to do in the future that's going to ensure that? Don't get me wrong. I would like to be remembered for being a tough man, a fighter, but a professional athlete. I think that's pretty much guaranteed. Yeah. I'd like to be known for that I'd like to be remembered for that I'd like to be respected for that not feared respected for that the reason being is because I own my own fight school now I own Touch Gloves Touch Gloves Fight Academy I've got my own fight school and we've got so many kids and so many people coming through the gym now who are learning how to fight box, K1, Muay Thai we do everything I've got Leif the kid who kicked me in the leg I've got Leif he's part of my team at Touch Gloves he's one of the main Muay Thai coaches we've got Paul Truscott former Commonwealth title order boxer one of my best friends boxing coach you know we've got my old boxing coach Mark Downing have you ever seen me doing the pads and stuff with the lad who's dead gun on the pads he's with us now do you know what I mean so it's like the team that I've built so like I honestly believe and this isn't yeah well I am blowing smoke up my own ass someone's got to do it I honestly believe that across combat sports in the Middlesbrough area in the North East area I don't think many people have achieved what I've achieved you know across multiple sports and I mean like I thought 12 professional fights in Muay Thai won all them K1 kickboxing won all my fights I had 12 and 0 as a boxer and then I moved over to the bare knuckle didn't have a long career in a bare knuckle but I still headlined the main show in BKFC you know and won do you know what I mean beat Bulgaria as number two Would you go back and have another dabble at bare knuckle?
1:02:00I would have loved to mate I was hoping to become a world champion in BKFC I was training with Mick Torell I'd love to follow in his footsteps you know and become a champion but was it injury stopped you or something? four bulging discs in my neck with a kink in my spine which was sadly come to an end you know I got told that I would never fight again I would never fight again that was not through choice I wanted to fight sadly I couldn't get through a second camp I tried and tried and tried but it just wasn't wasn't happening and when I started getting checked up and going private and seeing all these specialists I seen a guy called Julian who was working with the Olympic rowing team and he was the one pointed out that you are game over for you, boyo.
1:02:41Yeah. Yeah. And he says, if you want to try and carry on and end up possibly paralyzed on the left side of your body, then you'd be my guest and crack on. Yeah. That frighten me half to death. Nothing's worth that. And you've got so much knowledge now that you can pass that on and you can, yeah, you can, you can, you can feel the glory through somebody else's success that you've trained up. Yeah. And I can see you being a very, very good mentor because of your brute honesty. And that's like, whatever happens when your son watches your podcast back, you're certainly teaching him, honesty is the best policy, it sets you free.
1:03:12100 % and again, that's what I want to be remembered for as well. Honesty. You know, being a proper man, being a fighter, being a champion, but having no problems being vulnerable, having no problems talking about my insecurities, having no problem of sharing with another human being that I'm quite down here, you know, that I don't want to be here no more, that I'm sad here. Yeah. You know, because, you know, there's such a stigma around men. You can't say that, mate. You're being a bit of a fanny there. Do you know what I mean? Like, how many times have we been told that, grown up? Man up, you fanny.
1:03:44And maybe there's times to be able to still say that. Hey, man up, you little fanny. I'd probably say to him in a boxing gym or a fighting gym, but that doesn't stop me from putting my arm around him and going, come here, in private. Are you okay? Yeah, I'm the same. I check in with people. And also, if I'm vulnerable and there's something bothering me or upsetting me, I'm the first to just say, bam, I'm in pain. or if I feel like I'm going to cry, I'm just going to cry. If you bottle that shit up, I think that's when you become a contender to actually go ahead with something terrible that's irreversible.
1:04:15100%. I have lost so many friends, so many people, through mental health and addiction, just having enough and not knowing where to turn to. Addiction and mental health can be such a lonely and vulnerable place. Trust me, I've been there. I've had a love of mother and father who have never, ever turned or close the door on me or turn their backs on me. Again, I spoke about my wife, three beautiful kids, but yet I have been so lonely in mental health and addiction and still, still can find myself isolated and being in such a lonely place. But having the ability to come through it and talk about it, you know, and share it and reach out.
1:04:55Keep bouncing back. I can't stress enough. I cannot stress enough. Yeah, don't give up. Do not give up. It passes. 100%, yeah. Without a doubt. Now, a lot of people watching this, they're going to be big fans of yours. You're very, very popular. If there's nothing I've covered or there's something else that you want to say or just finish up on, just go for gold. Like your final message to the masses. And I'm also obviously going to put all of your social media links. Thank you. The link to your gym, all in the description on YouTube. But whatever you want to end this interview with, just wax lyrical.
1:05:30Yeah. So what I want to finish on this is whenever whenever I speak about my old lifestyle or my past or who I used to be you know one of the things that I always kick myself I always kick myself for is did I glorify that was I shining the light on that part of my life because that's not what I ever want to do I always come away from these podcasts feeling down feeling shameful you know I always struggle for a week or two after doing these podcasts I actually don't like doing them I don't I don't feel like I'm going to feel like that with this one because we haven't dwelled on it, we haven't lived on it.
1:06:04Whenever I do podcasts, they're pulling and I don't blame them never ever blame them because why wouldn't you? That has to be pulled apart to get to the end bit because it puts more of a light on the end bit of recovery and being sane and building a relationship with God, all that stuff this is the only podcast where I've felt like I haven't dwelled on it too long so I'm actually going to be okay but I don't want to ever ever glorify that type of my life, that part of my life because that's not, it's not big it's not good it's not it's not real you know the main path for me ever doing these podcasts and always sticking all the made up by and sticking my chest out I'm willing to do these podcasts whether one person or a million people watch it is because the glory towards the end is I've survived it I'm clean I'm sober I'm spiritual I have a beautiful relationship with a higher power my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ you know and not only that I have a relationship with my wife and kids something that I never ever thought I would at one point in my life I thought I was going to be a very lonely sad man you know I have a mother and father who would never change for the world I have a little sister I'm a good big brother you know I'm a good dad I'm a good son and I'm a good friend and a good husband these are the things that I know that I am that I never ever thought I would be because of addiction and mental health and you're a handsome swine we my mum always says that well mate this has been a joy and I'm really glad that you're not going to go back and feel deflated after this hopefully it will go the other way I purposefully wanted to make this interview very different to anyone that you've ever done and I never copy and paste anybody else's work and I just knew there's so much more to you than your story and people can find your story elsewhere but I think this will help a lot of people and I've enjoyed it and I'm glad that you have and mate I'm very grateful that you've travelled all the fucking miles to come here even though it is I won't even mention the time I'm starving but yeah I've enjoyed that I'm starving mate and I can't thank you enough and I hope that the future for you your family is bright beautiful healthy and successful brother thank you brother thank you very much Liam thanks for having me mate good health mate enjoy love you brother thank you and you wicked done mate that was fucking brilliant
1:08:56And we're back. Only on Peacock. This show gives me a reason to live.
From the publisher
Street legend and undefeated K1 champion Paul Venis opens up on what it really takes to be a dangerous man, the insecurity that drove his violence, rock-bottom addiction, suicidal thoughts, the legendary Danny Christie vs Decca Heggie bare-knuckle war (where he was fair-play man), YouTube beefs, his autistic daughter, and how fighting, recovery and faith saved his life.
Proudly sponsored by Change - the number 1 online business and e-commerce mentoring program. Find Ryan on Instagram to start your journey to financial freedom: https://www.instagram.com/ryanjb/ 🔔 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.🔗 Stay Connected With Me.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liamtuffsfb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liamtuffs/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/liamtuffs1 X: https://x.com/liamtuffs1
Paul online:
https://www.instagram.com/paulvenisofficial22/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@paul.venis.22
https://www.facebook.com/p/Touch-Gloves-Combat-Academy-61586921685177/
https://www.viennasvoice.com
📩 For business enquiries: thedozenpod@gmail.com
=============================
✅ About Liam Tuffs.
The Dozen with Liam Tuffs is a no holds barred podcast channel, where True Crime, Celebrity, Politics, Current Affairs, Combat Sports & Comedy are amongst the topics discussed! I sit down with some of the most fascinating and controversial characters including ex-gangsters, comedians, bare knuckle fighters, boxers, celebrities, and politicians to bring you raw & unfiltered conversations.
From underworld secrets and true crime confessions to fighter career insights and the dark side of fame, I discuss the stories most people are afraid to tell. These aren't just interviews - they're real, gripping, and often shocking accounts from those who've lived it, survived it, and have nothing left to hide. If you're into true crime, fighter journeys, and untold celebrity stories, join me as I discuss the truth behind the headlines!
Hit subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode.