Boxer who beat alcoholism triumphs in comeback bout
New Mount FilmsA former heavyweight boxer whose alcoholism had left him "one drink away from death" has won his final fight after returning to the ring for the first time in more than two decades.
Neil Kirkwood, 55, has been sober for 15 months and has lost more than 22 stone (140kg), after he "ballooned" to nearly 40 stone (254kg).
On Saturday, he returned to the ring at Barnsley Metrodome for a tournament hosted by his boxing gym NK Promotions - beating opponent Darryl Carrington by first-round knockout.
He said: "The only place I was going was to an early grave - if I can do it, anybody can."
After 20 years of struggling with addiction, Mr Kirkwood's doctor told him he would not survive if he kept drinking, which he said made him feel "lonely" and "emotional".
"I wanted to be here, I didn't want to die - life's for living," he said.
SuppliedAs part of his recovery, he said he wanted to go back to "when he was happy" as a boxer in the 1990s.
"I thought, 'You know what, I'm going to start again' - and I started again."
He said quitting alcohol gave him withdrawal symptoms such as shaking and sweating, but having the target of being able to compete again gave him focus.
He started taking part in exercise classes, including dance fitness classes, which he said were "probably his favourite".
"I'm probably the only guy in there, but it's served me well, it helped me get back on my feet and lose my weight."
He said he now took five classes a day.
If you are affected by this story, BBC Action Line has links to organisations that may be able to help.
The fight on Saturday marked his comeback - and finale - in the sport, after 22 years away from it.
"We sold the Barnsley Metrodome out, which was fantastic, I had my own crowd and all my own fans," he said.
He added he wanted to thank people in the town for supporting him.
A documentary about Mr Kirkwood's journey is being produced by New Mount Films.
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.