When it comes to energy and physique, they don’t come much bigger than the self-proclaimed ‘Big Meeks’ – aka Micah Richards.
During his professional football career, Richards was banned from doing upper body work in the gym for fear of him adding too much muscle to his already-stacked frame.
But now, seven years into his retirement, the 38-year-old has let loose, bulking up and showing off his huge arms in fitted suits on our TV screens each week. Along with his infectious laugh, he’s impossible to miss.
Inside His Training Regime
When he’s consistent, Richards has confirmed he hits the gym once a day to lift weights.
‘As you may be aware, I take my fitness and gym quite seriously,’ he said on his Instagram. ‘And Big Meeks needs to stay BIG.’
Of course, Richards has had periods where his motivation has lapsed. Last year, he says he fell into a habit of drinking a bit too much alcohol, which led to his motivation to train dwindling.
He revealed on The Rest is Football podcast that he knocked alcohol on the head for a while as a result, in a bid to lose weight after ‘putting on timber’.
‘What’s happening is that I’m drinking and not going and doing my exercise the next day. I also had a problem with my back and had the epidural injection.
‘Now, I’m not drinking and feel great. I feel like I’ve got more energy,’ he explained.
Why He Does Boxing for His Cardio
That back issue and the problems with his knee that forced him to retire from football, mean he isn’t able to run or kick a ball at all. When his injuries were at their worst, he said he needed to drain fluid from his knee every three days.
With that in mind, he’s had to find an alternative way to maintain his cardiovascular fitness, with boxing forming a central part of his routine.
‘I have been working on it a little bit but technique’s a little off, right knee is not great,’ he explained on Sky’s A League of their Own. ‘I’m trying to train, just for fitness.’
That boxing training has also included sessions alongside his CBS colleague Kate Scott’s husband, Malik Scott, who has coached heavyweight Deontay Wilder. And Scott was impressed with what he saw.
‘Micah is strong and has good punching mechanics,’ he explained. ‘When I had him on the pads, it felt like I was coaching someone very coordinated. He knows what it takes to compete because he’s competed at the highest level in his sport.’
Training with Thierry Henry
Just don’t expect Big Meeks to keep up with Thierry Henry in the gym anytime soon. Richards has struggled to match the intensity of the Frenchman in sessions gone by, with Henry explaining that he is still waiting for him to return.
‘Micah came twice and it took him at least two years to come back,’ Henry told Men’s Health. ‘He came the other day, and it was a strong ab session for 50 minutes – 50 seconds work and 10 seconds recovery for 50 minutes. I’m still waiting for him to come back.’
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