A BOXER is preparing for a title bout after working his way out of adversity through dedication to the sport.

Ken Guy, aged 29, from Rhyl, is putting in the final days’ work before his Universal Boxing Alliance super welterweight semi-professional fight against belt-holder Liam Vaughan in Buckley this weekend.

Single parent to five-year-old Tyler, Mr Guy said around six years ago he had reached a difficult period in which his friends were getting into trouble and entering prison but boxing has helped him pull away.

He said: “I started boxing around six years ago when myself and my friends started getting in trouble. I started boxing with my uncle because I wanted to be better and it has kept me away from all that.”

Video by Geoff Abbott

Mr Guy trained at his uncle’s gym for two years, during which time he started boxing matches and was “thrown in the deep end”, winning and losing fights.

However, once he enlisted the one-to-one training of Tony Garnett, the three times ex-world kickboxing champion currently stationed at the MMA Fighting Fitness in Rhyl, Mr Guy began to run through his opponents.

“With Tony’s help I started winning and people started noticing,” he said.

“Tony can pinpoint what’s wrong and I improve it.

“I’m fit and healthy, I feel good.”

During the six-year period in which Mr Guy started boxing he has worked as a customer service assistant at a tattoo parlour, scheduling his training around his work and caring for Tyler, who will not attend dad’s boxing matches until he is older.

“He’s too young to understand that it’s not real. I don’t want him to get upset,” Mr Guy said.

Mr Guy has already defeated his opponent at a recent charity event but the title was not on the line, making this weekend’s fight a rematch of sorts.

Mr Guy said is confident he will “whoop” his opponent and “give him a boxing lesson”.

The fight will take place at The Trivoli night club, Buckley on August 25.