On Saturday 29th of May 2021, I managed to complete the challenge I had set myself of doing 50 rounds of sparring in one session to raise money for the NHS at Cogan’s Corner professional boxing gym Digbeth.
I started the challenge at 1 o’clock with the first 3 rounds being with my old foe and friend Malcolm Stowe. Malcolm as always brought the heat and the people who came to watch witnesses 3 solid rounds of sparring to kick off the event.
With pro trainer Shaun Cogan dictating who entered the ring next the people and sparring partners witnessed young, old, heavy and light putting me through my paces in this grueling challenge. Some of the highlights of the sparring was moving around with BKB British champ Dan Podmore on two occasions for a total of 4 rounds. I also took on ex-pro Carl Dickens who went through the gears to give me a good 4 rounds in two separate sessions. I also got the pleaser to take on ex-pros Gary Deakin and Les Byfield, Deakin only came down to support me with Byfield only coming down to support his girlfriend but both got in and done a few rounds.
Some of the big hitters from the unlicensed scene also turned up with Marcus Carter, Stuart Marley, Chris Hobday, and Craig Taylor all seeing if I still had the skills to pay the bills.
There were also some of the lighter lads from the unlicensed game with the likes of Joey Cummins, Craig Jones, Zhico Singh, and Danny Benson who used their speed and movement to keep me on my toes. From Cogan's Corner, we also had Matt Balfour, Hero, and Shaun Cogan's son Luke representing the gym. There were a few light rounds with the likes of female boxer Danielle Bennett, Man like Plug, and Shaun Cogan's grandson.
The final round was meant to be with Shaun Cogan but ended being against 3 generations of Cogan's with Shaun, his son, and his grandson all taking me on in a funny but very hard 50th round.
There was some great generosity shown by the people who came to support me and the fighters who fought with the donation bucket filled with over £650. There is still money coming into the Fund me page but it looks like that we have managed to raise over £2000 for the NHS. I intend to leave the fund me page open for a week or so to let the people who have promised donations to put them in.
Dexter’s Thought’s
I am truly overwhelmed by the generosity of people and I’m still getting my head around what I managed to achieve by completing 50 rounds at the age of 50. Firstly, it shows that age is only a number and with a bit of determination, will, and belief in yourself anything is possible. I have had 24 fights in my unlicensed career and beat some top fighters on the way to winning 6 titles but this achievement has to go down as one of my best. When I started this campaign to raise money for Good Hope Hospital after they looked after my brother Phil who had to be put into an induced coma for 3 weeks after catching Covid-19 I was only looking to raise £1000 and it looks like I have raised over £2000. I have been astonished and humbled by the support I have got and would like to thank everyone who has donated and supported me. The fund me page will be left open for the next week or so, so if you haven’t donated there is still time.
Once again, I would like to thank everyone who has donated and supported me.
