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Journalist throws in towel three minutes into boxing career

A journalist at a bi-weekly newspaper lasted less than two rounds in his debut amateur boxing match.

Simon Larkins, sports reporter at the Exeter Express & Echo, competed in his debut bout in a charity event which saw him and fellow fighters raise £11,000 for Cancer Research UK.

However, despite undertaking an eight-week training programme to prepare him for the fight, Simon’s coach threw in the towel just over three minutes into the match.

Simon had taken a mandatory eight count towards the end of the first round, having dropped to one knee, and was just getting another one from the referee midway through the second when the fight was stopped.

Simon, left, in the ring against opponent and fellow fundraiser Ben Rogers

Simon, left, in the ring against opponent and fellow fundraiser Ben Rogers

In a piece for the Express & Echo, Simon wrote: “So, having got beaten up in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,300 people, you might also come to the conclusion that it is not a moment I look back on with much pride, but you’d be wrong.

“A lot of that I owe to my fellow boxers and friends who lifted my spirits after the bout.They said that everyone had showed bravery to get into the ring in the first place, and added that they thought I had done well against a good athlete who had a visible height and power advantage over me.

“I was undoubtedly matched against a tough opponent. I’m not saying I couldn’t have won – and I went into the bout confident of springing an upset – but my opponent landed a couple of good shots midway through the first round, battled hard, and my defence left a lot to be desired.

“You would think getting hit in the head would encourage you to keep your hands up to protect yourself from further blows, but if there is one thing I have learnt from Saturday, it is that trying to think clearly in such a situation is difficult.

“It is something that will perhaps come with more sparring and time spent in the ring than is possible to get into an eight-week training programme.”

Simon added while he didn’t think he would opt to take part in another such event, he would not “discourage” anyone else from doing so.

2 comments

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  • May 4, 2016 at 11:52 am
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    well done for having a go. You can’t knock that folks.

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  • May 5, 2016 at 11:08 pm
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    Immense courage getting into the ring – should be proud of yourself. But as Mike Tyson said; everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face…

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