Blackpool boxer and Seasiders fan explains why he ditched football to pursue his career in the ring ahead of Winter Gardens fight

The 28-year-old currently holds a 5-0-0 record ahead of his bout against Richard Helm on May 11, and admits he’s always thrived off competition as he aims to make his breakthrough this year.

Prior to pursuing a professional career in the ring, Hulme spent time with a number of non-league football clubs, including the likes of Fylde, Lancaster City and Kendal Town. Following a spell in Ireland with Athlone Town, he hung up his boots back in 2022 and chose to focus on boxing instead.

"I got my professional break in the League of Ireland, but after getting an injury, I got released from the club,” he explained.

"It was something I wanted to achieve, but I wasn’t getting any consistency so I went back to boxing, and I’ve been doing that since 2022. I’ve had a hiccup of injuries in the past 18 months, but now I’m finding some consistency and I’ve got a good sponsor behind me. As a kid I was fearless, but these knock backs have built my character to make me who I am. It’s been frustrating, but I’ve got an elite mindset, and I tell myself I can overcome things and achieve what I want.

"I’ve always been an athletic person who’s obsessed with winning. It’s been that way since I was a baby, I’m a twin, and I was always the smaller one, so from the womb I was always fighting with him.

"I was always sporty through school; I was never academic- competition is where I thrive. I think this next year in boxing will be my breakthrough.”

Hulme, who is a Seasiders fan, is passionate about the number of fighters currently coming through in the local area, with fellow Blackpool boxer Luis Wright also in action at the event at the Winter Gardens. The retired midfielder admits he’d love nothing more than to see a crowd dressed in Tangerine getting behind him and others.

"It’s just about getting people from outside our own circles to support us,” he added.

"There’s me, Will Galloway, Luis Wright and Jake Abrol- we’re all unbeaten prospects. A couple of us went to school together and grew up with each other- Will is actually part of my family, he’s with my cousin. Some people don’t realise what they’ve got on the doorstep, so having extra people behind us could take us a long way and make big nights.

"Our manager manages some big names in boxing, but he says his favourite place is the Winter Gardens. It’d be good if we could get a big name there, with me and the other boxers from the town on the undercard.

"Promoters don’t ask about how good you are, they want to know how many tickets you can sell, which is why sponsors play a big part. In my last fight I only came away with £250, but you’ve got to go through this to see if you’re tough enough to make yourself a prospect, every boxer goes through this.”