BLACKPOOL light-middleweight Brian Rose has made an astonishing admission ahead of his title defence against Max Maxwell at the Winter Gardens on Saturday.
Opening his heart, British champion Rose revealed that he was totally unprepared he was for his last contest with Maxwell.
Rose admitted he had an attack of the “shakes” prior to losing to Maxwell in Huddersfield in May 2010, the sole defeat in his professional career.
The 27-year-old made the frank admission that he had still been feeling the psychological scars of his previous bout against Jason Rushton in Bolton – Rushton was badly injured in that fight and placed in a drug-induced coma.
Rose told Sky Sports’ Ringside programme: “For some reason, that night (against Maxwell) I just didn’t feel right. I was petrified. I had the shakes. I can usually control my nerves but that night there was something wrong.
“I was absolutely devastated that I could do that to someone (Rushton).”
Therapy with psychological performance specialist Emma James put Rose back on the right track.
He added: “It made me realise that I had serious problems and as we went on with hourly sessions she made me realise it wasn’t my fault.
“It was boxing and it was business. I love boxing again.
“There was a time that I fell out of love with boxing, but this time I’m going to be there mentally and he’s going to get the shock of his life.
“I will show everyone in Britain that I deserve to be the British champion.”
It will be Rose’s first defence of the title he won by defeating Prince Arron on points at Wigan in December.
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