THE long, monotonous miles alone on the road, the walk towards the ring on fight night, the moment when the crowd noise fades and the focus rests on the whites of your opponent's eyes.

As David Brophy points out, there is nowhere to hide in boxing, no-one to protect you from the storm.

The solitary nature of the sweet science is something the 25-year-old fighter relishes, having spent his previous sporting incarnation surrounded by the camaraderie of the dressing-room as a young football player with Dundee United.

Nothing that unfolds within the ring will ever match the moment he felt at his loneliest, though.

He was facing up to the end of his career at Tannadice following a double break of tibia and fibula when an accident at home resulted in doctors warning him that he may have to come to terms with the amputation of a leg.

Certainly, it seems fair to say that the Caldercruix boxer's route towards a 10-round eliminator for the Commonwealth super-middleweight title with Charles Adamu of Ghana next month has been something of a rollercoaster.

"It was at the tail-end of my time in football that I had a freak accident in the house involving a mirror and ended up with a big shard of glass going into my calf and coming out the other side," recalled Brophy.

"After being taken to hospital, I ended up with blood clots. I was told in bed before an operation that I might lose my leg.

"Obviously, doctors feel they have to tell you the worst-case scenario, but not knowing whether I was going to lose my leg was a bit serious. I was also told that I would not be able to do certain things again, but I was never going to think that way.

"It took two years of rehab to get me back on track and, when I turned pro after two amateur bouts, I was overweight and still had a bit of a limp.

"One of my mates, Stephen McGill, was my physio and I was showing off my ball skills in our local park when he came up behind me and booted me up in the air.

"I got to my feet and was ready to kill him, but the limp suddenly disappeared and it's never come back."

Brophy had been boxing as an amateur when United offered him a three-year contract as a 17-year-old. Several of his contemporaries have gone on to forge successful careers, but Brophy has no regrets over the fact that particular chapter of his life did not work out as planned.

"I like the fact that boxing is an individual sport," he stated. "With football, you can have a bad day and 10 other people will pull you out of it.

"In this game, you're on your own and there's nowhere to hide. Boxing is kill or be killed.

"I was a very good amateur boxer, but I also played football for my school team and that's when Dundee United signed me.

"I was always better at boxing than I was at football, but, when you're at school and trying to meet girls, there's more glamour attached to being a professional footballer than there is to being an amateur boxer.

"I was a holding midfielder who would kick anything that came my way, including the referee.

"I played in the same team as Scott Allan and Johnny Russell, who could do things I could never dream of trying, but I was a hard worker and I was always fit and strong.

"However, I suffered a double leg break similar to the one Henrik Larsson had when he was at Celtic. I have a nail from my knee to my ankle now.

"That effectively ended my career, but I'm honest enough to admit I might not have been good enough to make it anyway."

Whether he is good enough to make it in boxing is about to be seen. Sporting a record of 14 wins and one draw from 15 fights, the meeting with Adamu at Meadowbank Sports Centre on December 5 represents a step up in class.

The 31-year-old is a former Commonwealth title holder and won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Carl Froch has rated him his hardest-ever opponent after beating him over 12 rounds back in 2004 and, although Adamu is a shadow of that particular fighter, he is guaranteed to ask fresh questions of Brophy.

"It's my biggest fight by miles," said the Scot, now rated in the British Top 10. "This is make-or-break for me. Doors will either open or slam shut, depending on the outcome.

"Adamu is someone I've been aware of for a long time. He's a very hard man and he'll be coming here to knock me out, but I need to put myself under that kind of pressure.

"That might open up something within myself which hasn't been opened before.

"I'm not scared of that in any way. I need to unleash the demon.

"Boxing is a crazy sport. You get excited about someone coming to hurt you, but this guy's trying to take the bread off my table and I can't let that happen.

"He's a lot more experienced than I am, but I'm an up-and-comer and I'm ready for him.

"There's no doubt that I'll need to answer some questions on the night, but I believe I can do that."

*David was speaking ahead of MGM Scotland’s Edinburgh Fight Night at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Saturday, December 5. For information and tickets, email: info@mgm-scotland.co.uk