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OAP Ignores Doctors Orders To Make Boxing Debut Against Opponent 46 Years Younger

OAP Ignores Doctors Orders To Make Boxing Debut Against Opponent 46 Years Younger

Retired window cleaner and waiter John Allinson, 69, of Grimsby, boxed against a man a third of his age in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

As many Sunday league footballers will tell you, sometimes you just need to enjoy sport for the hell of it, even if you're not very good. That's exactly what one retired window cleaner and waiter did, after boxing for the first time against a man a third of his age. Check out the bout here:

Credit: Grimsby Telegraph

John Atterton from Grimsby, 69, took part in a boxing match in nearby Cleethorpes, facing up against 23-year-old Ash Newman, all in the name of charity.

Despite going against his doctor's orders to enter the ring, before then getting knocked out in the second round, John managed to raise £405 for Cancer Research UK from the fight.

"When I got in the ring and saw him coming at me, he was so fast. My thought was just to survive," John told the Grimsby Telegraph.

"Anyone who fought me would have thought it would be an easy ride. My doctor said I shouldn't be doing it because I'm so old."

Credit: Grimsby Telegraph

John, who does ten hours of fitness classes a week, said he wanted to take part in the fight to 'step outside of [his] comfort zone' and see how fit he really was.

He trained for two months ahead of the fight, but admitted to quickly forgetting everything he'd been taught as soon he entered the ring. Though wouldn't we all.

"He was just too fast and I could not stop the blows," John said. "I was panicking and then I started flapping."

"I managed to get through the first round after being knocked down and surviving an eight count. I was taking some punishment.

"I can't remember the punch that put me down in the second round."

Credit: Grimsby Telegraph

Despite not winning the match John came away with a lot of admirers. Video footage of the fight shows the crowd giving him deserved applause and cheers afterwards.

John describes the fight as 'the hardest thing [he's] ever done' but stressed he has no regrets .

"I got ever so much respect for doing it and everyone clapped and cheered as I walked into the ring to Big Bad John by Jimmy Dean," John added.

"Afterwards they were all shaking my hand. They said I was a brave idiot. I would never have made a boxer."

Credit: Grimsby Telegraph

John took part in the fight as part of Ultra White Collar Boxing, a fundraising organisation which encourages people with no experience of boxing to fight after eight weeks of training.

He is now believed to be the oldest person in Grimsby to have ever taken part in a match. Legend.

Featured Image Credit: Grimsby Telegraph

Topics: SPORT, UK News, News, Boxing, Charity