Boxing is far more than a sport for many—it’s a way of life, a powerful outlet that instills focus and discipline, and, for former heavyweight boxer Neil Kirkwood, a transformative, life-saving remedy that gave him purpose and strength when he needed it most. According to a report from the BBC, the 55-year-old opened up about his battle against alcoholism.

Not only that, but he also achieved the extraordinary feat of shedding 280 pounds—all in a relentless journey to reclaim his place in the sport he holds so dear. Kirkwood, at the height of his heavyweight career in boxing, fought future world champion Nikolai Valuev. The Barnsley native may have retired from the sport with an unremarkable record of 6-8-0, but he hasn’t given up.

During his interview with BBC, the 55-year-old revealed that his affair with alcohol began in the early 2000s when his parents passed away. It led to years upon years of drinking and eating, which ended up with him blowing up to nearly 560 lbs. He recollected not being able to shop in high-street clothing stores or fit into a dentist’s chair. The turning point in his life came in November last year when a doctor informed him, “One more drink and you’ll be dead.” At this point in time, Kirkwood was going through three bottles of vodka per day. 

“I didn’t want to die,” the Barnsley native recalled to BBC. When he finally decided to make a change in his life to avoid paying the ultimate price, his partner, Theresa, and his family played a key role in helping make it happen. However, none played a bigger role than his grandchildren who he used to take on holiday trips quite frequently. 

“I wanted to go running, go on rides at the funfair but I couldn’t put the seat belt on, I was just too fat,” he said. “I couldn’t travel, I couldn’t fit in the caravan. It upset me, I cried.” Addressing his alcoholism, which nearly cost him his relationship with his partner, Kirkwood revealed his path back to a normal lifestyle was a grueling process that required consistency and discipline. 

He stayed motivated because of his support system, his incentive was to “stay alive” and his hope after all this was to get back to the sport of boxing. “The boxing is just the focus but the biggest challenge, the biggest fight in my life was coming off alcohol, fighting depression and losing weight,” he said. That said, now the question is how exactly Mr. Kirkwood turned his life back around. 

Hopeful to return to boxing, Kirkwood says it’s never too late

Describing his new training regime, the 55-year-old revealed he regularly goes to his gym classes, strength training, and swimming. Since he started doing all this, Kirkwood revealed he started to shed those pounds quickly. The Barnsley native claims he is now a little over 266 pounds, and he has been sober for 12 months.

Last Sunday, he removed the cobwebs from his boxing gloves and started training for his return to the sport after 22 years—his last fight in the ring is scheduled for April next year. Even though Kirkwood claims he is nervous about his return, he seems proud that the fight will mark the end of his 20-year journey “back to myself.”

“If just one person can take something away from my interview: you can turn your life around, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, it’s never too late,” he said. “You can ask for help – please ask for help. It’s never the end, nothing is that bad that you can’t get through it. If I can do it, anybody can.”

That being said, Kirkwood’s story just goes to show what the sport of boxing has done for people. Yes, boxing is filled with corruption and money-hungry bad actors, but never forget what’s at the core of the sport—resilience, determination, and an incredible need to keep fighting. What are your thoughts on Kirkwood’s story?