EDINBURGH fighter Stephen Simmons admits that his defeat to Englishman Matty Askin in their British Cruiserweight title fight at London’s York Hall on Saturday may potentially signal the end of his career.
The 33-year-old was aiming to become the first Scot to win the British title at that weight and after an impressive first round, he was felled in round two by Askin, who was making his first defence of the title.
With just over a minute of the second round remaining, Askin landed a devastating left hand to Simmons’ solar plexus, and the Scot hit the canvas.
With Simmons unable to beat the count, he was forced to accept only the third loss of his professional career and it was, he admitted, a big disappointment, although he was quick to give Askin credit for his victory.
“It was a bitter pill to swallow on the night because going in, I was feeling confident and after the first round, I was even more confident,” the former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist said.
“But I think I maybe got a little bit too confident and a bit of complacency maybe set in because I ended up square-on after a left-hook and I got a dink in the solar plexus and it just took all of the wind right out of me. It was a mistake and these things happen – he won the fight and that’s that.
“I thought I was going make the count but then I heard the referee say eight and I thought, you have to be joking me, that’s not eight seconds!
“The count felt so, so quick and it wasn’t until about a minute later that the pain started to ease.
“The doctor came and see me and I’m fine, although when I stretch up, that part of my body is still a bit tender. I’ve done a few people with body shots throughout my career and they catch you right, they’re absolutely crippling.
“It’s easier to recover from a head shot than it is a body shot. I don’t think people who haven’t felt it themselves can imagine what it feels like – it’s hard to describe quite how sore it is.
“That point of your stomach at your solar plexus, you can’t tense it up so when you get caught there, it’s the money shot.”
Simmons had talked before the fight of how winning the British title could potentially be a great way to retire from professional boxing and the cruiserweight, who is also IBF European champion, admits that hanging up his gloves is still a very real possibility.
“I’ll take some time out and spend some time with my family but there’s a decent chance I’ll end up retiring now,” he revealed.
“I’d mentioned it before the fight that it was an option and while I’m not making any official announcement, I’ll have a think about things over the next few weeks and see how I’m feeling.
“I’ve been boxing for 22 years now and it takes its toll on your body – my body can’t take much more. Last November I saw a hip specialist and just a few weeks ago, I had a some joints put back in place.
“The years of hard training catches up with you and the injuries just get harder to shake off.
“I want to be able to do things with my wee boy as he grows up – I don’t want to end up having arthritis and not being able to do much.
“Whatever I end up doing, I’m happy with what I’ve done in my career. The reason I started boxing was to stay out of trouble at school and then I surpassed anything I ever expected.
“I’d never been abroad before boxing and I ended up travelling the world so if I do retire, I’ll have some great memories.”
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