Bradley Saunders has called time on his boxing career, but what a career.
The Sedgefield light-welterweight had incredible times in the amateur and professional games but injuries have forced him to hang up the gloves at the age of 32.
“I have been having a hard time coming to terms with knowing that I will have to retire, but I am a lot better within myself now,” said the former Team GB star.
“I’d like to thank everyone I’ve been involved with during my entire boxing career from coaches to promoters to the fans, it’s been such a big part of my life.”
In this reporter’s opinion he was as good as anyone from this part of the world and should have fought for (and won!) a world title. He could move, so well that he always seemed to be out of his opponent’s range, but hit so hard he could knock a Rhino out.
Sadly, the end could have come at any moment given the state of his hands, though the former Olympian said that it was an eye problem which prompted him to call time, explaining that he requires surgery.
Saunders first took up the sport under the tutelage of dad, Jeff, winning everything as a junior and senior out of the South Durham Gym in Fishburn.
On the international stage, he won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Chicago in 2007, and went to the 2008 Olympics as a favourite for a medal.
However, he lost out in the second stage to Alexis Vastine, the Frenchman he had previously hammered in the worlds.
Saunders did come back strongly with gold at the 2009 EU Championship and silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Delhi.
The inevitable happened in 2012 and he turned pro with Frank Warren, making an amazing start with five wins in a whirlwind 10 months.
Then came the first of his major hand ops with renowned specialist, Mike Hayton, performing pioneering surgery.
But Brad came back in spectacular fashion with five more victories, all stoppages, the highlight being an 81-second blitz of Ville Piispanen at the Metro Radio Arena to lift the WBO Inter-continental light-welterweight belt.
At that point, he looked on the verge of a world title tilt but left Warren to sign for Eddie Hearn.
Two further victories followed but when both of his hands ‘went’ at Liverpool in September 2015, with his weapons broken and unable to fight he ended up headbutting Renald Garrido and being disqualified.
Mr Hayton operated again and it appeared that would finally be it for the gifted boxer.
He did make a comeback, under new coach Peter Sims in Essex, clinching a first-round stoppage of Casey Blair in Newcastle last June, but that will go down as his 12th and final pro win (10 inside the distance).
Bradley is busy with business interests as well as his family, wife Stephanie, and son Leyton.
But with younger brother Jeff an unbeaten light-welterweight he has vowed to assist him and has not ruled out become a trainer himself.
“I’m still going to be involved in the sport,” said Brad. “I was only sparring Jeff the other day.
“I’m going to concentrate on his career and help as much as I can. I think he can go all the way.
“When my life slows down a bit, I would like to train people and keep my hand in the sport, say in five years time, either in amateur or professional.”
Bradley is also doing some promoting, tonight hosting “An Evening with Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton” at the Mayfair JD Sports Domes in Seaton Carew.
It’s quite apt two of Britain’s best light-welters of the last couple of decades share the top table.
Ricky and Brad are raising money for the excellent Bradley Lowery Foundation.
The smile and the fight of little Bradley, from Blackhall, touched the hearts not just of the people in the North-East but this country and beyond.
As well as ‘The Hitman’, North-East great, Billy Hardy, will be a guest. There is a two-course meal plus live music til late.
Doors open at 6.30pm with the meal served at 7.30pm.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Ian Horrocks/ Matchroom