Griffiths back in the ring after a career threatening setback
James Griffith…return on major BCB show. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB
JAMES Griffiths feared his fight career was over after losing a thumb in a work accident, writes PAUL WEBB.
But following clever work by surgeons, the “Baggie Boy” been given the all clear and makes a ring return on the undercard of “Unfinished Business” at the WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton on, October 24.
"It was my own fault, to be honest," Griffiths admitted. "I was rushing what I was doing using a chop saw, and it happened. The thing was, I got in the van and told my uncle that I had cut my thumb of, and I think he thought I was joking. The whole way to the hospital, all I was thinking was, 'that's my boxing career done.' I couldn't believe it.
“Fortunately, it was repaired, and I have been fully cleared to box again. To go from thinking the worst to being back out again is incredible. I'm lucky."
The Wombourne 30-year-old turned professional relatively late and didn't waste any time, boxing seven times in 15 months, all wins and all over four rounds. A persistent shoulder problem didn't deter him and, keen to test himself over a longer distance, and he took every one of the six rounds against Octavian Gratii in March.
"Doing six rounds, I felt absolutely fine. I could have done eight or 10 that night even with the shoulder giving me problems. I held my hand a bit low at times, it was a bit of laziness, maybe because I didn't think he could hurt me. But the shoulder was a problem, as it had always been. I have had a lot of therapy on it and now finally it’s right.”
Griffiths trains at the BCB gym in Wednesbury, where there is plenty of high-quality sparring around his weight class. Like so many times before, he has been getting in rounds with Tyler Denny ahead of his first fight in seven months.
Griffiths said: "Tyler is great to spar with. He's tricky and is different every time. He's a southpaw, and I feel like I spar a lot of those - whenever a new southpaw comes to the gym, they just put them in with me."
Prior to the accident the Midlands Area Boxing Board had made Griffiths mandatory for Troy Coleman's middleweight title, but with the champion looking to secure a major televised fight and then the subsequent injury, he will have to bide his time.
He added: "I keep myself fit all the time, and maybe it's just the way my body is that I put a bit of weight on between fights, but right now middleweight is the division I want to be in and make that step up to the longer distance and title fights. “
The show is headlined by the highly anticipated Midlands featherweight title rematch between Ryan Griffiths and Lewis Morris. The stacked card also features home city favourite Brandon Bethell, unbeaten talents Bradley Thompson, Paige Goodyear, Mia Holland, Callum Seedhouse, Regan Williams Conor Baker and the returning Jacob Lloyd.
Remaining tickets are available now, priced at £45 for general admission and £80 for VIP. They can be purchased from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com.