To hell and back. That has been the journey Anth Ornsby has travelled in 2019.
But the Tynesider is ready to put all the pain and stress behind him by boxing on the big pre-Christmas bonanza at Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday, December 13.
Luckless Anth’s world fell apart when a suspected heart murmur caused him to be pulled from MTK’s show in Newcastle in October.
The Geordie was always confident he would be given a clean bill of health to fight again and the British Boxing Board of Control have now shone the green light.
“I’m dying to get in there again,” said the Wallsend boxer who trains under Glenn McCrory at the O’Tooles gym in Newcastle.
“I’ve been through hell.
“I was confident of getting the all clear, but to get it was a sigh of relief.
“I was devastated to miss the MTK show, I’d sold so many tickets and I was crying when I had to give them back.
“I was ready to fight, it was the fittest and lightest I’ve ever been.”
His wait is almost over – on fright the night the 13th he’ll be in the home corner at the Houghton venue.
Ornsby (pictured right) has won both his contests, showing a lot of heart in both, squeezing past Rudolf Durica on his debut and then coming through a helluva tussle with Danny Little at the Summer Rumble, his first bout under the tutelage of McCrory.
The Steve Wraith-managed welterweight “can’t wait” for the show to come around, an event which features the Northern Area title confrontation between Ellis Corrie and Tom Hill plus a number of unbeaten North-East boxers, including Anth’s Wallsend neighbour, April Hunter.
“There is bags of talent on at the Rainton Meadows,” Ornsby told punch-lines. “It will be nice to be on the same car again as April.
“The title fight is a big fight and it’s a mint night all round.
“It’s just nice to be making my comeback and I’d like to thank everyone for their help, my family, Steve, Glenn, O’Tooles, all my supporters and great sponsors.
“I feel lucky and honoured with all the support I’ve got and I’m looking forward to going out there and fight for them all.”
Words: Roy Kelly
