CRAIG JOHNS BREAKS THE FIRST RULE Nelson: Now’s time to hang up gloves

WHEN Anthony Nelson laced some boxing gloves up in a friend’s back garden he had no idea the wild ride he was about to embark on.

From clowning about in a garden, the South Shields man discovered a love of fighting which drove him to a local amateur gym at Horsley Hill aged 18.

A latecomer to the sport, few would have predicted Nelson - after just 28 amateur fights - would turn professional, win English and Commonwealth titles and share a Fight of the Year contest.

They are just some of the fantastic memories Nelson can look back on with pride as he reflects on his prizefighting career upon his retirement.

“I think this is the right time to walk away from it,” said the 32-year-old, who departs the sport with a 12-2 record.

“I turned pro just to give it a go really. I love the sport and love fighting so I just thought ‘why not?’

“I turned pro with no expectations so to achieve what I have, I can hold my head high.

“I won the English and Commonwealth titles, I had a Fight of the Year with Jamie Conlan and I topped the bill at my local arena with Anthony Joshua on the card.

“I don’t think many can say that, can they?”

Nelson was last out losing to Charlie Edwards this June.

It is one frustration for him as he walks away because he knows because of inactivity he was not at his best that night.

With the exception of a quick tune-up fight two months prior, Nelson had been not just out of the ring but completely out of the gym for two years ahead of that fight.

He reflected: “Part of me does wonder what could have been. I am so proud of what I did achieve but I also do wonder what could have been?

“The inactivity was because I could not attract a sponsor and could not train fulltime because I needed to work to support my family.

“After that Conlan fight I was ready to kick on. I proved in that fight I was at that level and I was ready to kick on then.

“Sadly, my circumstances meant that just never happened.”

Ahead of his return against Edwards, Nelson opened up about his depression during his two years away.

He reached a dark place personally as he craved being back under the bright lights.

However, he insists he is in a good place Anthony Nelson (right) in action against Charlie Edwards at the Metro Radio Arena in June now as he walks away from the sport on his own terms.

Nelson added: “I really struggled with depression after the Conlan fight.

“The thing then was I wanted to fight. I loved fighting and knew I could be achieving something if I was fighting.

“Instead, I had to provide for my family and just could not dedicate the time I needed to if I was going to box at that level and do myself justice. I was not fighting and that was not because of me.

“The difference now is I am walking away on my terms. I know this is the right time for me to walk away.

“I still love the sport and will still go to the gym and tick over and help the lads in their training when I can - but I just don’t need the struggle anymore.”

Instead, I have happy memories to look back on and can walk away with pride.”

Prominent throughout Nelson’s fight career was his trainer Mal Gates.

Paying tribute to Nelson, Gates said: “Anthony is my best mate, he is like part of my family now.

“I am so proud of everything we achieved together and everything he did in his career.

“As well as a great boxer, he is such a great person too.

“Outside the ring he is an absolute gentleman and there is not anybody who knows him who could have a bad word to say about him.

“He is an absolute credit to himself and it has been an absolute pleasure to train him.”