Boxer Lund bows out

SOUTHPORT’S oldest boxer Jon Lund has bowed out with a final fight against ring legend Ryan Rhodes.

Rhodes famously fought Saul Alvarez in 2011 when the Sheffieldbased fighter was stopped by the Mexican in the twelfth round.

Jon squared up to Rhodes in the Bold Hotel on Saturday night, when the Sheffield fighter dazzled Jon and the crowd with his ring craft and movement.

Jon said: “He was very, very good. He was definitely in a different class to me, and it showed. I thought I had my moments but Ryan was a class act.”

Jon, 50 this week, will not fight competitively again after making a promise to his family that he would hang up his gloves.

He said: “I might still have the odd exhibition or white collar fight, but I will not face another boxer again.

“I have been used to training over five days a week, so I can relax a little now. I might cut the runs down to three a week, and I can not stop worrying about my diet. But I will be helping out at Southport Jab club.

“Saturday night was one of the best shows I have ever seen. The prizefighter bout (won by Southport’s Lee Crossland) was brilliant, and very competitive”.

Jon, based at Southport Jab Fight Club in High Park, has been boxing for over 30 years and has competed in 59 fights over the last five years.

He is now looking forward to passing on his boxing skills to the next generation of boxers.