WHEN it comes to injuries, luck hasn’t exactly been shining on Ross Burkinshaw, especially over recent times. Last May he was retired from a televised fight against South African, Klass Mboyane after just four, torrid rounds of action, his elbow the problem on that occasion. Then, while in preparation to bounce back from the Mboyane defeat, he aggravated a long-term shoulder problem in sparring, and that complaint from last October has served-up a grimmer prognosis than the former Commonwealth champion had initially expected.
“I’ve not made a full decision [on retirement] yet, but it’s not looking good with the shoulder as the recovery has gone on,” Burkinshaw explained to Boxing News. “I’m behind with my physiotherapy and everything and my surgeon would like me to retire. My wife would too but I’ve got to convince myself yet.
“[The shoulder] has come out of the socket at the front and chipped bone away. I’ve had to have a bone graft and two pins put in place to try and keep the shoulder in. After almost eight years, it’s come out about six or seven times and I’ve had to have three major operations on it.”
Though, ‘when a door closes, a window opens’ is how the old saying goes, and Burkinshaw has already begun delving into new ventures with promoter and family friend, Dennis Hobson. Together they have launched the new ‘BossBox’ fitness venture in their home city, the running of which ‘The Boss’ is heavily involved with on a daily basis.
“I have a big clientele already. Mums and dads, kids who are interested in the fitness, circuit training side of things,” he explained with enthusiasm. “Then I have some pros in there and some potential amateurs, so it’s all go on that side of things!
“I just want to build it into a good business, so I know that if that [retirement] decision does have to be made, I’ve got something behind me. Two months ago I had no plans at all for a future other than boxing, but now I could end up doing this. The Mboyane defeat niggles at me and I’d love to put it right but decisions need to be made. Whatever ends up happening, I’m grateful to absolutely everyone around me, I have an excellent group of people around, and for that I’m very blessed.”
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