Neil

I am Neil Haddock. I have had a rather exciting life. From the age of 11 years old my life revolved around Boxing. Amateur: I became Welsh Junior Champion at the age of 17 and went on to win 3 Welsh ABA championships. Following these awards, I signed up for the ARMED FORCES and won numerous Championships as a soldier. I also qualified for the Commonwealth Games 1986 which took place in Edinburgh, Scotland. I won SILVER in the Lightweight category. Professional: When I returned from my service at the ARMY I decided to turn professional. After a tough introduction as a lightweight in the professional game, I suffered a serious injury to my left retina (in the eye). This injury took me out of Boxing for a whole year. During my time off from the game, I decided to become a runner and raced in the 'Berlin Marathon' along with various half-marathons and cross-country's all around europe. After getting the "all-clear" from a famous 'Carnaby Street Clinic' in London, I returned to my Boxing career. From all the running my weight had dropped to Super Featherweight. This time around I was stronger, fitter and more determined. After beating my first four opponents at my new weight, I boxed for the Welsh Championship. My opponent was Mr. Steve Robinson (who soon after dropped to Featherweight to become Champion of The World). The fight was gruelling! After 10 HARD rounds of pure boxing spirit, I was declared professional champion of Wales. With the Welsh Championship under my belt (excuse the pun!), I became more confident and approached for the British Championship. It soon became a reality, and there I was standing infront of Michael Armstrong, who was the current British Champion and World Ranked number 9. Unaware that I was unbeaten at my new weight, Michael Armstrong 's team weren't skeptical at the fact that he may lose in front of his home crowd. First few rounds I started strong, trying to impose myself as well as I could and noticed that Michael was already getting tired after receiving severe body punches. The sixth round soon came and I had already knocked him down twice with body shots, which inevatably lead to a smashing head shot which knocked him out, crowning me as New British Super Featherweight Champion!!! I went on to fight for the European Championship in French Guyana, South America. Unfortunately, the drastic climate change was unbearable to train adaquately in. Therefore, I unsucceeded at that attempt and unfortunately I suffered a career changing injury and was forced to retire from the Boxing game. Since my boxing days, I am a dedicated family man and the proud father of Aidan who is 10 years old and step-father to Leah who is 11 years old (going on 21)! :-)