For Thomas Whittaker-Hart, the road to his first crack at title gold has been long and winding.
The former England and Team GB man has been to hell and back over the past two years as he battled a number of different illnesses which left his boxing career hanging by a thread at one point. First came meningitis, then Whittaker-Hart was struck down by pneumonia, which eventually led to him having an operation on his lung after a cyst was discovered.
At one point, the former Archbishop Beck student was warned he might never fight again, but that was the least of the 27-year-old’s problems, who was also told he faced the prospect of losing one of his lungs.
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“I’ve had a mad couple of years. I’ve had meningitis, pneumonia then the cyst, which was causing [them]. It was big,” he recalls to VIP Boxing Promotions of his battles outside the ring.
“It was just causing all the problems, but it has gone now and I have got no excuses. I’ve not rushed back.
"I have obviously rested and done what I had to do. It has only been over a year and this is the first camp where I have had the eight weeks.”
Whittaker-Hart, who is managed by former WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Tony Bellew, made his pro debut on the Liam Smith vs. Sam Eggington show at the M&S Arena in March 2019, outpointing Poland's Przemyslaw Binienda.
Six more victories have followed, two of them coming since the start of this year, and now the orthodox boxer is preparing to take on Mickey Ellison for the BBBofC Central Area light-heavyweight title.
The bout will take place on the undercard of Katie Taylor's clash with Karen Elizabeth for the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO world lightweight titles on Saturday night.
“I think every English fighter, well British fighter, obviously wants to fight and win the British, so it has just been a part of the plan,” Whittaker-Hart said.
“Obviously if I win this belt it will put me on a stepping stone. So, just keeping going up the grades and keep winning, and hopefully get my hands on the British title at some point.”
And the Joe McNally trained fighter believes a combination of him having an eight-week training camp to prepare for the bout, and the fact he is set to face an opponent who wants to win, means fans will see the best of him at Wembley Arena.
“I’m excited, to be honest. The first time I have had a proper eight-week training camp. I know what I am going to bring on Saturday,” he said.
“I have an opponent coming to win and I know he is tough and he likes to fight. I think you are going to see a lot better from me knowing that is in front of me.
“Don’t get me wrong, you go on about my amatuer pedigree and that, but don’t worry I can fight. I’m looking forward to it.”
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