Blackpool's Brian Rose opens up on personal struggles during lockdown ahead of his long-awaited return to the boxing ring

The 36-year-old revealed to The Gazette he turned to drink after not training for six months as the country got to grips with the global pandemic.

Rose, who fights in Spain a week on Saturday, March 20, is thankfully back on track but the middleweight admits he had to seek help late last year.

He told The Gazette: “My mental health did deteriorate during lockdown.

“But I’ve got three kids and a wife – a lot of people haven’t got that. I do look at other people who are self-isolating and are on their own, so I hate to moan about my own problems.

“But I did really struggle. I like socialising with people. I’ve got my own gym, and I couldn’t go there and I wasn’t training.

“I found that I was drinking a lot and I really, really did struggle. I’ve never been one to drink a lot but I found myself drinking at home and finding any excuse to have a drink because I was down.

“I actually saw someone about it after Christmas, but as soon as I started training I was fine. That just goes to show physical activity can help anyone.

“My mindset since Christmas has been totally different. Waking up every day knowing I’ve got a structure and knowing I’ve got to be at the gym.

“Cold showers help me. It’s little things like that which help you mentally.

“I’m going to have to use training all my life to keep my head right because I’ve been doing this since I was nine. To just stop like I did...

“I didn’t train for six months and I was drinking but now I feel like a different person.

“I am probably using boxing for the structure, not just for the achievements and the money.

“I’m not doing this for the money. I’ve been through the phase where I had to fight to pay bills but now I’ve got other things going on.

“I don’t need boxing to pay bills but I just love the sport. I love having a fight and I love the structure of it.”

Should Rose win his first fight since August 2019 against Spaniard Lopez Clavero in Barcelona, the former world title challenger is targeting another tilt at the British crown – he retained the Lonsdale Belt after three successful defences of that title in 2012.

Rose added: “Ted Cheeseman is fighting James Metcalf for the British title, so that’s something I’ve got my eye on.

“I know my days at world level are probably over. Never say never – I might get an opportunity, – but I know I’m more than capable of winning a British title.

“I’ve done it before and I know I’ve still got enough left in the tank to do it again.

“That’s the aim – to win a British or even European title. I’m not going to be one of those boxers that carry on until they’re daft. I know my limits.

“Right now I know what I’ve got left to give to the sport.”

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