The End....

Its taken me a week to write this blog because I was feeling all sorts of emotions about the end of the experience and wanted to give do it justice so I will run through how I felt and what I did on the day and then chat a bit about the fight and finally the aftermath.....

Fight Day:

I barely slept the night before as Scott suggested I might, and I had taken the day off work so I could enjoy the build up. What really happened was my nerves jangled all day and I ended up getting to the venue at about 4.30! My advice to other fighters would be to go to work because I was beyond hyped up!

When I did get to the venue to be confronted with the ring in all its glory it was unreal, I've been to the coliseum in Rome and this felt like my miniature version! Our room was upstairs and everyone claimed a corner to be their own, was amazing seeing my WCBL family warming up and the atmosphere was insane, huge pressure was released by sitting with Leo and Jo and Lisa (I have never seen Lennox Lewis with his own hairdresser or hairdryer! Looking reem ladies!) we had top banter and then the serious hats went on....

Being on at 10pm had its negatives, watching everyone else come back through loving the buzz was great but impacted my nerves a bit, and I kept popping downstairs to see as many people as possible but I couldn't sit still, Fred at the other end of the room looked ready as well.

Showtime.....

We were told we were next and I was second in, I heard my name and then a massive roar, HUGE love to those representing the Bear, and as the tears pricked my eyes  I  worked out it was game time, I was struggling to hold myself together and it showed...

I've watched the footage back and Fred and I brawled, which was great for the crowd, but while technically not the best fight the hot conditions didn't necessarily suit heavyweights but it did make me wish I had tried harder at the hill sprints! I came away with the win but Fred's commitment was massive too and it honestly could have gone either way.


Aftermath....

Seeing my wife's proud face when my arm was held up was one of the finest moments of my life, Lauren has put up with my determination to fight with tolerance and has stuck to her guns throughout that while she doesn't understand the violence she is proud of my reasons both charity and personal for taking this on, and she even took on her own personal fears in the shape of a jaegerbomb!

My WCBL family, I have never been more proud of every person who stepped through those ropes, the heart needed to do it is incredible, and the support everyone gives each other is second to none, I've made some great mates and I will keep training at Knights. Your cornering on the night and Jonesy doing his great work behind the scenes too everyone was a part of a great period in my life.

My friends and family, your support has been incredible, from family to colleagues everyone has shown huge love,. through donations or being there on the night, it took hours for the chants of "Gilly" to leave my head, fantastic support, you owned the Irish Centre.

The End...

So my fighting days may well be done but I will keep training, I would recommend everyone look up Scott "Biz" Borthwick and WCBL, there are plenty of pretenders out there but Scott will look after you and see you right, the training is great, the pairings are done with care and the man gives a shit quite honestly.

My next challenge will be the Gurkha Run, a non boxing event but I will keep training because I love it now....

Biggest Love and Thanks

The Bear xxxxxxxx

The Last Week...

Saturday came round too fast, my last session  before this Fridays warfare, Fulfilling a bet I spent the whole of the training in a pair of Calvin Y-Fronts, and that was it for the lower half after I did it to raise a little more cash for the charity I am fighting for, Broadway, Scott paid up as promised and some of my WCBL family dug deep on the day too, in addition to loads of the guys donating online, cheers to everyone!
Training had even more tension than last week, people putting final touches to their technique and fitness will always remind people of how little time was left till tomorrow night, I wouldn't personally spar on Sat, I wanted to but the vision of damaging ribs and missing tomorrow was too much for me personally to risk.
We also had a load of laughs as always, my budgie being out caused Jo to remark that I might be the man to turn her, but then she mentioned I might need to borrow some socks to fill it out, so I was getting mixed messages!
Everyone looked sharp and drilled and I think it will be an awesome show tomorrow with loads of different styles on show and some technical fights and some all out brawls (Ill let you guess my style!) It will be an action packed night out and a credit to Scott and all the fighters commitment to the cause.

Tension...

I have been climbing the walls all week, and I am not going to get into smack talk but I feel ready to go, Ill stick my headphones on tomorrow close my eyes and be properly in the zone, one of the girls at work mentioned fight eyes, and they will be on tomorrow, not silly bulging eyes but focussed and ready to go to work.

I want to lay out some thanks now, to Scott Borthwick our trainer, he has worked us hard but in the best possible way, and runs a great professional set up. He has never promised anything he hasn't delivered and its been what I hoped for and more.

WCBL family, everyone at training has been amazing, I feel like I have made some great mates and the banter has been priceless. Looking forward to beers and more training in the future.

Sponsors and supporters, everyone who has donated, bought tickets, or just sent me over support via FB, text and phone, I am going to be unleashing a whole lot of Bear tomorrow for you.

Finally my wife Lauren, she has put up with months of me boring the living shit out of her, stressing her out and farting all over the house thanks to protein. Despite not being a boxing fan she has supported my reasons for doing this, and has always been proud of the effort Ive put in.

Ill post one last blog after this following tomorrows fight, good luck to everyone fighting, and thanks again for the love and support for me and the charity.

Biggest Love

The Bear