Lea Worrall is not just a boxing fan; he is a dedicated chronicler of the sport’s history. As the author of nine boxing books, Worrall has built a body of work focused on legendary fighters, iconic rivalries, and the stories that shaped modern boxing. His titles include Mike Tyson: The Iron Years, Boxing Legends & Champions, The Fab Four, Nigel Benn vs Chris Eubank: Who’s Fooling Who?, and The Real Deal: Boxing’s Ultimate Warrior, among others.
Based in the United Kingdom, Lea Worrall has carved out a niche as a historian of the ring, preserving the legacies of boxing’s greats for new generations of fans. While his path to authorship was far from straightforward, his commitment to research, authenticity, and hard-earned storytelling defines both his books and his writing philosophy.
In this WriteStats Author Interview, Lea Worrall opens up about his journey, his struggles, his resistance to AI, and why boxing history still matters.
Lea Worrall’s Writing Journey Began with Film, Not Books
Interestingly, Lea Worrall didn’t initially set out to become an author. Instead, his early creative ambitions were rooted in cinema.
“When I was younger I wanted to write films. I was inspired by Star Wars and Jaws and wanted to write my own sci-fi stories.”
However, as he soon realized, many of the films he admired began life as books. That realization planted a seed. Nevertheless, his first attempt at becoming a novelist did not go as planned.
“After a failed attempt in 2013 as a sci-fi novelist, I decided to knock writing on the head.”
For many writers, that would have been the end. Yet for Lea Worrall, that moment became a turning point.
“After a bout of depression I decided to write again, this time about the sport of boxing, a subject I am deeply passionate about.”
That decision ultimately shaped his entire career.
Why Boxing History Drives Lea Worrall’s Work
While many sports books focus on championships and highlights, Lea Worrall takes a different approach. His writing is deeply rooted in research, context, and personal history.
“Researching and learning about the various boxers has influenced my writing greatly, especially learning about the fighter’s early years before they became a boxer and what influenced them to take up the sport.”
Because of this, his books don’t merely recount fights; they explore motivation, background, and identity. As a result, his work appeals not only to boxing fans but also to readers interested in resilience, rivalry, and human struggle.
Moreover, this research-first mindset explains why Worrall remains so committed to traditional writing methods.
“Writing Hates Me”: Motivation, Doubt, and Persistence
Like many authors, Lea Worrall is candid about the emotional difficulty of writing. In fact, his honesty is striking.
“It’s funny, but when things get hard I always consider quitting, but as soon as I tell myself it’s over, I start writing again.”
This cycle of doubt and return is familiar to many writers, and it highlights an important truth: persistence doesn’t always feel heroic. Sometimes, it’s simply refusing to stop.
When it comes to tools, Worrall keeps things simple and practical.
“I use Google Docs for all my writings, whether it’s an article for my blog or a full-blown book. I use Grammarly and the editor tool on Word to fine tune my work.”
Notably, he reads around five books per year, focusing more on depth of research than volume.
Self-Publishing, Rejection, and Choosing Amazon KDP
After facing repeated rejection from traditional publishers, Lea Worrall made a decisive move.
“Amazon KDP was easy to use. I tried the traditional route many times and faced rejection, so decided to take the risk and self-publish.”
That risk paid off in output, if not always with ease. While he describes self-publishing as a “love-hate relationship,” he remains clear-eyed about the reality of the process.
“I love to write (mostly) but writing hates me.”
Surprisingly, his publishing budget was $0, relying instead on organic audience building.
“I started a blog before my books came out in an attempt to build an audience.”
This grassroots approach mirrors trends we’ve observed across thousands of authors in WriteStats research, including our study on when writers are most productive, which revealed how habits—not tools—often drive sustainable output. (You can explore that data here: When Do Writers Write Best?)
Marketing Is the Hardest Part for Lea Worrall
Although Lea Worrall has published nine books, he does not consider himself a full-time author.
“No. I have a full-time job, as my writing would make me homeless.”
For him, the biggest challenge isn’t writing; it’s visibility.
“Selling and marketing is the hard part. I have no clue on marketing and being a salesman is alien to me, though Facebook & X is a good platform to put my links out there.”
This struggle is extremely common among nonfiction and niche authors, particularly those who prioritize craft over promotion.
A Strong Stance Against AI in Publishing
One of the most striking parts of this interview is Lea Worrall’s firm position on artificial intelligence.
“I am against using AI tools.”
He goes further, explaining his reasoning without hesitation.
“I think it’s cheating. I would rather research, write, and put the hard work into my writing projects.”
In an era where AI tools are increasingly embedded in publishing workflows, Worrall’s stance reflects a values-driven approach centered on effort, authenticity, and historical accuracy.
The Legacy Lea Worrall Wants to Leave Behind
Ultimately, Lea Worrall’s motivation is not fame or financial gain. Instead, it’s preservation and inspiration.
“Hopefully it will inspire the younger boxing fans to look back on the old boxing greats I write about.”
At present, he is focused on articles for his boxing blog, while several book projects remain in progress.
“I have a few books on the back burner, so will probably get around to finishing them off in the near future.”
Final Thoughts on Lea Worrall’s Author Journey
Lea Worrall’s story is one of resilience, specialization, and creative integrity. From early dreams of science fiction to becoming a respected voice in boxing history, his journey underscores a powerful lesson: meaningful writing often comes from deep personal passion rather than market trends.
Through persistence, research, and an unwavering commitment to doing the work himself, Lea Worrall continues to document the fighters and stories that shaped boxing’s golden eras, ensuring they are not forgotten by the next generation of readers.
