Charity was the winner as big-hearted boxers helped raise a knockout £2,500 for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Complex Dementia & Delirium Team.
Around 200 people packed out Rushall Labour Club for the seventh annual charity boxing event, with all proceeds from ticket sales and an on-the-night raffle going to Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity.
Tommy, from Beechdale, is an amputee after losing limbs to meningitis when he was a toddler in 2012. He also has lordosis, an abnormal inward curvature of the spine.
He ‘beat’ former British lightweight boxing champion Martin Gethin, Patron of Well Wishers, who came out of retirement to return to the ring after a seven-year absence.
Despite losing the lower half of both legs and his right arm below the elbow, the Streetly Academy student has been training at Martin’s Wild Star gym in Aldridge.
Roared on by the expectant crowd, the West Bromwich Albion fan strapped on his prosthetic legs to overcome the ex-British and England 10 stone champ in the second round.
Tommy’s dad Dean, 39, said: “I couldn’t fault him. To attach his legs and walk from the dressing room to the boxing ring and stand up was a massive accomplishment, so he did amazingly well.”
Radiographer Humza Mahfooz, 25, the only Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust employee on the bill, showed his skills honed from two years with Fearless – a boxing club in Palfrey – to beat Ben Anderson by a unanimous decision.
In the other bouts, all contested over three rounds of one minute, Taoi Halls drew with Billy Harman, Ben Cooper beat Richard Morley, Dale Follows beat Craig Timmins – both to unanimous verdicts – Jules Hunt got the better of Richard Lappage, and Tony Deakin pipped Andy Gilkes to a split decision, over five rounds.
Boxing fanatic Joanne Smith, 55, a Clinical Support Worker on the surgical ward who has worked for Walsall Healthcare for 20 years, was ‘ring girl’ for the first time.
Mum of two and former boxer Joanne, from Walsall, has trained fighters at three local clubs and was looking to regain that adrenalin hit after suffering four major seizures on holiday in Tunisia.
“It was absolutely fantastic – I loved it, and what a charity Well Wishers is!” said Joanne. “It raises money for good causes.”
Georgie Westley, Fundraising Manager for Well Wishers, said: “It was another great night and everyone really enjoyed themselves.
“Tommy stole the show and he and Well Wishers were the big winners of the night.”
Martin said: “It was a brilliant night and Tommy did amazingly. The crowd was really supportive and all the boxers got behind each other.”