Amputee boxer wins fight for amateur bouts

A boxer with a prosthetic leg has won a fight with the sport's authorities to allow him to take part in amateur bouts.

Matt Edwards, from Havant, had been refused the chance to fight under England Boxing, the national governing body for the sport.

He has passed a medical and received a licence for the London Amateur Boxing Alliance, which has enabled him to fight in contests at any of its clubs in the country.

The 26-year-old said now he has been accepted he feels he has "a point to prove".

Mr Edwards said he was "gutted" after England Boxing refused to give him the chance to fight, over concerns his prosthetic gives him an advantage.

Last year a spokesperson for the organisation said: "England Boxing has, in the past, for safety reasons, needed to follow a set of rules that did not allow for inclusive boxing to take place."

In a new statement they added: "We are committed to developing inclusive boxing for all and will shortly be publishing our diversity inclusion action plan outlining our goals to achieve as part of this journey."

It added: "We cannot comment on the actions of unregulated boxing organisations."

The fighter has now had two amateur match-ups under the Alliance and although he lost them both he said he has "learnt a lot".

He admitted being the only amputee in an able bodied league has put "a lot of pressure" on his shoulder's and he "got a bit overwhelmed" in his first two fights.

He said he was ready for more bouts now and hopes to some day have at least one professional boxing match.

"There's nothing making me any different apart from a metal limb," he said.

Mr Edwards had a below-the-knee amputation after a motorcycle crash five years ago.

The incident sent him on a downward spiral of depression, but boxing helped him with his recovery.

Now he hopes he can inspire other people with disabilities to get involved with the sport.

"I do want to help others and if they see me doing it then they're going to give it a go themselves and it's going to change the world, one step at a time, one leg at a time," he added.

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