'For one night I felt like a top fighter': Dan enters boxing ring after a stroke - The Coventry Observer

'For one night I felt like a top fighter': Dan enters boxing ring after a stroke

Coventry Editorial 29th Mar, 2019 Updated: 29th Mar, 2019   0

DAN Clifford has swapped blue lights for the blue corner – by entering the boxing ring after having a stroke.

His aim was to raise over £1,500 for Cancer Research and raise awareness of stroke survival.

Dan, aged 42, from Burton Green, took part in an amateur bout just 18 months after suffering a near fatal stroke that led doctors to believe that he may not regain speech and movement.

However, his recovering was completed in spectacular style last weekend when he landed a third-round stoppage of his opponent to win his Ultra White Collar Boxing clash at Ryton’s Connection sports venue in front of 1,000 spectators.




Dan, the chief commercial officer of Birmingham-based marketing agency WAA Chosen, admitted the challenge had been daunting but also one of the best experiences of his life.

He said: “Having a stroke at such a young age was a real shock to the system and I have to admit that I was very ignorant about the subject and just assumed it was something that happened to old people.


“I hated being described as a ‘stroke survivor’ and also a lot of the negative talk about the amount of people that never fully recover and what it means to your life what its happened to you.

“I wanted to do something that really drove home the chances of a full recovery, and also encouraged people to find the motivation and desire to help themselves and do all the health and well-being things that would give them the greatest chance.

“I was friends with the owner of Ultra White Collar Boxing and knew all about the organisation and the phenomenal amount of money that they raise for Cancer Research – my father died of cancer so it felt like the perfect combination of challenge and cause.

“I think my friends and family were worried at first, but that subsided when they saw the transformation that took place within me – I lost over three stone in weight, was running over 50 miles a week, gave up alcohol completed and was doing weight training every day. I have never been fitter.”

And Dan believes that if other people are inspired to take up the challenge they should ensure that they sign up with a reputable organisation that concentrates of the well-being of competitors.

He said: “I was very impressed with the professionalism of the whole experience. You are weighed when you train and you are matched with someone of comparable experience and skill.

“There is a pre and post fight medical, insurance for all fighters and a corner team looking after you – for one night only I felt like a top fighter!”

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