Coach Haddon makes boxing comeback

1:38pm Saturday 18th March 2006

ROBERT Haddon, coach of Sydenham Amateur Boxing Club for the last five years, has made a surprise comeback.

The 26-year-old had a late call-up to represent the Western Counties at heavyweight (87 kilos) in a match against a Welsh Select at Bristol. It was his first action for seven-and-a-half years and he gave a good account of himself before losing on points to a super-heavyweight, 13 kilos heavier.

Haddon said at the weekend: "I gave up when I was 18 because I liked my food to much and put on too much weight. Then I took up coaching. But we've got two new coaches now at Sydenham, Sam Foster and Paul Anthony, and I decided it was time I started boxing again."

He went on: "The age-limit is 34, so I can give it a real go. It went quite well in my first bout, especially considering that I only found out on the morning of the bout that they needed me. My wife is perfectly happy about me boxing again, but my mum isn't!"