The 35-year-old boxer admitted he was “closed off” early in his career because he was keen to stay focused and ignore other people’s expectations, but he’s now more comfortable in the spotlight

He told Boxing News magazine: “I’ve started opening up more over the years.

“When I was young and first coming into the sport, I was very closed off. I was so hell-bent on proving everybody wrong and achieving what I wanted to achieve in the sport.

“I didn’t want to give any ammunition. I didn’t want to give anything away to anybody.

“That kind of hardened me. It closed me off. I didn’t want to open up to people.

“I didn’t want to talk about things, I just wanted to fight.

"Now I’ve been in the game os long, I’m much more comfortable in myself and in front of a camera.

“I can speak about a lot of different things I wasn’t really willing to speak about in my 20s.

“I guess it comes with experience and maturity.

“Coming into the game, I didn’t want to be your friend. I didn’t want to have a chat.

“I didn’t want to do anything except get in there and do my job, hurt you and get hurt, and then go home.”

Chris attributed his life experiences and career changes for the difference in his attitude.

Asked what changed, he said: “I wouldn’t say it’s any one thing. It’s just an accumulation. Time, events, experiences.

“You just grow up. You experience things which change your mindset and make you think about life more.

“Being in a fight like I was in with Nick Blackwell, that changed my mindset on certain things, that opened my eyes to what boxing really can be.

“My brother’s passing, my first loss, first stoppage loss. These are all milestones.”