Boxer Andy and the toughest fight of all against addiction

Former Black Country professional boxer Andy Flute was tipped by many to be the next best thing when he was 18.

Then England under-21 captain, he reflects on life as skipper of his country as “one of the proudest moments of my life”.

He went on to have a successful career in the ring, which saw him fight four world champions and spend time as a sparring partner to Chris Eubank, Joe Calzaghe and Nigel Benn.

But behind the scenes the middleweight contender was fighting a much tougher bout, which took him “to hell and back”.

He had spent his whole professional career drinking alcohol every day, often training with fellow professionals after drinking up to ten pints the night before.

Excuses

“Who knows where I could have been if I hadn’t had all that drink. But I’m not making excuses," says the 49-year-old.

“It sometimes benefitted me in the ring. I enjoyed the feeling after I’d had a few drinks, it gave me more confidence.

“Chris’ trainer, Ronnie Davis, couldn’t believe it. He told me I was the best sparring partner Eubank had."

It was in 1998 when Andy threw the towel in on a 15-year career and bought The Horse and Jockey pub in Coseley, that he admits he was on a slippery slope towards alcoholism.

“I loved working at the pub but it was the worst thing I could have done in terms of the drinking.

“It started as social drinking but spiralled out of control, and I’d say by 2002 I had developed a serious addiction.”

In the years that followed Andy drank himself into near oblivion, and developed a cocaine addiction when the effects of alcohol started to lessen.

At his worst he was drinking 16 bottles of Jack Daniels in four days.

“I was drinking until I passed out, and when I came around I would do it all over again.

“The crack addiction got very expensive too, I spent thousands each week on that.”

'I was at my worst'

To fund his addiction Andy sold properties and memorabilia, but what most concerns him is how he lost friends and relatives as a result of his spiral. His wife June, who he met at school, left him along with their children.

“I attempted suicide by taking an overdose when I was at my worst, which should have killed me”, he said.

Reflecting on that time, he puts his recovery down to divine intervention, and has since devoted himself to God.

After being released from his third prison sentence at HMP Birmingham, formerly Winson Green, he promised himself he would never return.

“I went to nearly 100 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, which helped a little but I still felt as though the drink was controlling me,” he said.

After one particular relapse, Andy is convinced his cries for help were answered.

“I was never a religious man. But at the AA meetings we regularly talked about a higher power.

“I thought, ‘How am I going to be helped by a higher power? I couldn’t have been further away from it'. But I was desperate with no where else to go.

“I promised Jesus that if he could help me then I would devote the rest of my life to him.

“All I can describe it as is a euphoric feeling. Like a weight was lifted from me, I couldn’t believe it.”

What followed has changed Andy’s outlook, and led him to hold lectures for many young people who are in a similar predicament to what he was.

“I’ve not been cured from alcoholism. I know that if I have another drop my past will become my future again. But the depression of the disease was lifted from me and gave me the strength for the fight."

He last drank alcohol on October 28, 2015, and was baptised the following month.

“I’ve been clean and sober for four years. I’m fighting for Jesus now.”

Turning my life around

Besides his devotion to his faith, he now lectures at prisons and AA meetings, teaches aspiring boxers at the Dominator gym in Tipton, and is beginning to develop a connection with his children again.

“Once I tell the youngsters in the prisons my story they listen because they can relate to me. When they see someone like me who turned my life around it gives them hope.”

He has been surprised at the different types of people that come to the AA meetings, which regularly sees 50 participants each week, and says that positive steps are being taken towards openness.

“There are many professional people who come to us because alcohol has taken control of their lives.

“People see it as a shameful illness. It is such a common illness but people try to cover it up.

“It isn’t something you can get over on your own. If you break your arm you would go to the hospital, so why don’t we have the same approach to illnesses like alcoholism?”

He also criticises the level of support in boxing, among other sports, for youngsters that might be showing signs of addiction.

“Sports people invariably have an addictive personality, so when they stop or even during their careers, they need support.

“It’s getting worse. Drink is so widely available and each sport needs a proper plan in place to spot these things and take care of their athletes.”

Andy is certainly doing all he can to help youngsters not make the mistakes he did.

“I’ve been lucky. Life is pretty good now. I’m starting to see my kids again, and I just want to reach out to as many people as I can.”

Andy’s book, Jesus in my Corner, is out now.