THE ‘FIGHTERS’ documentary features an amateur boxer who wants to “inspire the world”.
Matt Edwards is boxing for the Alliance club, Archie’s ABC, after England Boxing denied him the chance to box because he has a prosthetic leg.
The 26-year-old from Portsmouth said: “I was travelling to work as a dry liner, a car pulled out and I woke up in hospital on Christmas Day with no left leg below my knee.
“It was a rushed operation because I had blood clots going to my heart. They said I needed another operation to take off the rest of my leg.
“I was 19 years old with no work sitting in a wheelchair. I went to the pub and played the clown. I was playing air guitar with my leg and trying to make friends.
“I was drinking a lot and then people gave me cocaine. I started hearing voices in my head, and bumblebees. I had a drug-induced psychosis and ended up being sectioned. They found 66g of cocaine in my blood.
“I rented out a flat when I got out and ended up depressed. Nobody was coming round to see how I was and I started thinking I didn’t deserve anyone coming round.
“My brother-in-law came round one day in 2019 and said: ‘Get your shoes on, we’re going to the gym.’
“The first time I hit the bag, my leg grew back and my head cleared.”
Edwards had nine white-collar fights before switching to amateur boxing.
Told by England Boxing bosses he would be unable to compete, Edwards was given the green light by the Alliance – and lost his first two bouts.
He has since put together a winning run and claimed a belt.
“Everyone stares at my leg when I get in the ring,” he said, “but it’s not my leg they have to worry about, it’s my fists!
“I’m fitter than most two-legged people. I did a 10k run in 40 minutes.
“I have been in such dark places and I want to inspire people with my story.
“Boxing saved me. I was riddled with anxiety and depression and it all disappeared because of boxing. I got the confidence to go swimming and that was where I met my wife.”
Edwards is also a father of two and added: “The ambition is to turn professional and inspire the world.
“I’ve spoken to the [British Boxing] Board [of Control] and they say there is nothing in the rules that says someone with a prosthetic leg can’t box professionally.
“I want to get as many amateur fights as I can first and then turn pro at 28, fight until I’m 35 and then open a gym to help disabled people.”
