Peter Till back in the ring for a good cause
Walsall's Peter Till will box again at Bloxwich Memorial Club in the name of charity - over 35 years after his first amateur fight came at the same venue.
The 51-year-old was just 14 when he stepped through the ropes for the first time in 1977, representing the now-defunct Bloxwich Boxing Club, writes Craig Birch.
The popular former Midlands lightweight champion went on to compete 52 times as a professional, retiring in 1996 after his son Richie was born.
Now 'Tilly' is back in the ring for a worthy cause, to raise funds for a terminally-ill mother-of-two who wants to take her children on a holiday of a lifetime to Disney Land.
Theresa Jackson, 35, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29 but was given the all-clear six months ago, only for the disease to return in her stomach.
Till had already arranged to stage and appear on the show before he heard of her plight and, having lost his father George to prostate cancer, felt compelled to help with this Friday's fight night.
He said: "It should go without saying what a sad situation this is and, hopefully, we can all get together to give enough money for Theresa.
"I was made aware of this by my brother's daughter, I wanted to do what I could and this is the way I can help.
"I boxed for a prostate cancer charity 18 months ago, which gave me the bug for the sport again and I was going to fight anyway.
"I am 51, but I don't drink or smoke. I am not as good as I was, but I want to compete. It's true what they say. Once a fighter, always a fighter."
Till has been training at Walsall Wood Boxing Club to take on Simon Cocain, who is serving in the army, and is looking forward to a trip down memory lane.
He said: "It's fitting and emotional for me, I can still remember a lot about my first fight there. I had a lad called Jay Skeldon.
"Not only did I win, but I got the Boxer of the Night award. I remember jumping into the air after the decision. Next thing I knew, my uncle Jimmy was in the ring and I was on his shoulders!"
Till was a training partner of former WBC world super middleweight champion Richie Woodhall in his hey-day and named his son after him.
He said: "I caught up with him a few months ago at a sportsman's dinner with 'Sugar' Ray Leonard.
"It was the first time my Richie had met him and he was looking forward to it more than meeting Ray!"
For tickets to the show, which has a full under-card, call 07772 556 184.
