How did your interest in boxing begin?

My family lived in a tough, racially mixed Chicago neighbourhood in the mid-1970s. My brother and I had to learn how to protect ourselves. We went down to the gym, had some boxing lessons and were lucky to be in the company of some great trainers and great fighters.

What is it about boxing that excites you so much?

There is nothing like it. I loved fighting myself and now I love watching it. I go to a lot of championship fights and that moment, before the first bell, when the referee says: 'Seconds out,' and two fighters get ready to explode with their fists in front of a screaming crowd - well, that, for me, is the most exciting moment in any sport.

Any favourite fighters?

Roberto Duran was the most natural and gifted fighter who has ever lived. He boxed in five different decades and won world titles at several weights. Also in my top three would be Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali.

And more recently?

The best-schooled boxer around is Félix Trinidad from Puerto Rico. He has won titles at welterweight and middleweight. I also like the Ukrainian heavyweight Vitali Klitschko and Kostya Tszyu. Ricky Hatton, too: he's a killer with a great attitude.

The best fight you've ever seen?

Marvellous Marvin Hagler against Thomas 'The Hitman' Hearns in 1985 is just about the best. Here were two knockout artists fighting for the middleweight championship at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Hagler had held the title for years and Hearns had just knocked out Duran. Hagler won in three wonderful rounds.

Any other favourites?

Another bout I loved was the 'Brawl in Montreal' between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran in 1980. Leonard went up to Canada as the all-American pretty boy and Olympic medallist who had knocked out everybody. Duran gave him a beating for 15 rounds and said afterwards: 'I knew if I kept the pressure on something had to give.' He was just as good in the last round as the first.

The best fight I've seen recently was last year when Vitali Klitschko beat Corrie Sanders. What a fight. I had never before seen two heavyweights slugging it out toe to toe, with absolutely no fear. Sanders took some unbelievable punches and just kept coming. It was amazing.

How often do you go ringside to watch a bout?

As often as possible. I would love to see more but I'm rehearsing 10 hours a day at the moment, so it's difficult.

If you could fight anyone, who would it be?

If I was in the right shape it would have to be Oscar de la Hoya. He's a beautiful fighter and a class act. I hope it would be close. I haven't fought seriously since my early twenties, though. In the ring, anyway.

What has boxing taught you?

For a fighter the longest steps in the world are those up into the ring. Your heart is pounding and you need a lot of courage. Once you're in there and the bell goes you've got no one but yourself - it's put up or shut up. You discover a lot about yourself - about courage and fear.

What do you think of the prize money top boxers earn?

It's absurd. You've got teachers giving up all their time to help educate the youth of a nation but who earn only £20,000 a year. Then you have guys like Mike Tyson saying, of a rival: 'I just want to push his nose into his brain and eat his children.' He gets $25 million for three minutes. Do you think that's fair?

Were you surprised when Danny Williams beat Tyson?

Williams is a brave man. He survived that first round but took some serious shots. He never gave up. He must have known after the first punch that it would hurt him all the way, but he carried on and wore Tyson out.

What would be your ideal night of boxing?

I have a library of 10,000 boxing DVDs - I can go all the way back to Willie Pep! I'd like to get Barry McGuigan, Steve Collins, Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Jim Watt and Wayne McCullough round to my place for a few beers to watch whatever fights they wanted. That would be great.

· Michael Flatley is a dancer and impresario