Martin Gethin admits his boxing career is teetering on the brink as he prepares for a hometown appearance later this month writes James Eley.
The former British Champion believes he is at a crossroads and is determined to secure one last win in front of his home fans when he competes on Black Country Boxing’s ‘Going for Gold’ show at Walsall Town Hall, sponsored by Grosvenor Casino Walsall, on November 19th.
The 32-year-old is currently considering retirement after a punishing defeat to Adam Little in September and the Walsall boxer hopes it will be a victorious farewell if he does decide to hang up his gloves.
“This next fight is very important,” he told www.uko-boxing.com. “If this goes totally wrong then it will be a sign for me to knock my career on the head.
“I wanted to make sure this fight would be in Walsall in case it does happen to be my last one. I wanted to have one last fight in front of my home fans who have followed me for so many years. I want to see how I feel in this fight and take it from there.
“I said when I first started that I didn’t want to keep on boxing to the point where I was too old and just getting my head punched in and fighting for the sake of it. You have to come to the end sometime and if you carry on when you shouldn’t you start getting hurt. This fight will tell if I can carry on or not.”
‘The Quiet Man’ suffered a knockout defeat to Blackpool’s Little last time out as a crushing body blow ended the contest in the third round. Gethin is now itching to get back in the ring and right those wrongs.
“It was a poor performance in my last fight and after that I wanted to get straight back in the ring and put it right.
“The defeat to Little did dent my confidence because I went in there expecting to beat him. I don’t think he is the best but at the end of the day it is just one of those shots you can get caught with and it can happen to anyone.
“When I do retire I definitely want to stay in the sport. I want to get the kids off the street in the local area and bring them into boxing. It’s been great for me.
“I want to see what I’ve got left in the tank after this one though before I consider hanging up my gloves.”
Tickets for what could be Gethin’s swansong are are priced at £30 (general admission) and £60 (VIP Ringside), and can be purchased by calling 0845 111 2900 or directly from any boxer on the bill.
The Walsall boxer is joined by Old Hill super featherweight, Manny Zaber, who fights for a first professional title at the top of the bill, Swadlincote’s undefeated super middleweight, Zach Parker, Chasetown lightweight, Luke Jones, West Bromwich welterweight, Tommy Loach, and Wolverhampton cruiserweight, Joshua Burke.
The weigh-in and aftershow (over 18’s only) take place at Grosvenor Casino Walsall, Bentley Mill Way, Walsall WS2 0LE (just off junction 10 of the M6). GC Walsall will have a presence at the Town Hall on the evening and have linked up with local taxi firm, Yellow Taxi’s, to supply a number of free taxi’s to take guests from the Town Hall to the casino post-fight.
Find out more about GC Casino Walsall here: http://www.grosvenorcasinos.com/local-casinos/walsall/
