Belshaw: Horrific car crash will spur me on to Prizefighter glory - 22/09/2009

SCOTT Belshaw believes a horrific car crash that left him fighting for his life will spur him on to Prizefighter glory.

Belshaw, 24, is one of the outsiders to win Barry Hearn’s third Prizefighter Heavyweights event but admits he is happy for the opportunity and lucky to be alive.

Scott Belshaw has fully recovered after a bad car crash two years ago. Picture: Lawrence Lustig

“Two years ago I had a bad car crash and it broke my knee cap in half,” said Belshaw.

“It was three days after my sixth professional win, a first round KO against Chris Woolas, when a lorry pulled out in front of me.

“The engine came in and crushed my leg and the medics thought I wouldn’t survive.

“I was taken away on a stretcher and they thought I’d broken my neck but luckily I hadn’t, I’d only broken my knee cap.

“But I’d also twisted my ligaments and tendons in my leg so they also said I wouldn’t run again.

“I was only in hospital for a couple of days but in a cast for four months and it took me seven months to get back in the ring.

“I’m quite knowledgeable about health and fitness as I’m a qualified personal trainer so I built myself up progressively getting flexibility back in my leg.

“But I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to continue boxing and I lost a lot of momentum.

“I don’t take anything for granted anymore and it’s definitely been a humbling experience, but you learn from it and come through hardships as a better person.

“Now I’m fit and healthy and my knee doesn’t give me any problems and I’ve got my career ahead of me.”

Belshaw, a former Irish Amateur Champion, meets 2000 Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison in the first round with Harrison stating he would retire if he did not win the eight-man, one-night tournament.

Prizefighter Heavyweights III will be staged on October 2 at London’s ExCel and Belshaw has a chance to erase memories of a humiliating second round stoppage against Tyson Fury in May.

“This will be a great opportunity to show people that I’m not a mug,” added Belshaw.

“I’m more hungry for this than at any time since I turned professional and losing to Fury is still a thorn in my side.

“I’d never been dropped by a body shot before but I hadn’t boxed for a year and hadn’t sparred since Christmas so I was rusty.

“Northern Ireland is a small place and everyone recognises me so it was torture after that defeat.

“I had a lot of bad press and people said I was finished so now I have a chance to redeem myself on October 2.”

Prizefighter tickets cost £40 and £80 and are available from See Tickets on 0871 220 0260, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900." target="_blank">www.seetickets.com" target="_blank">www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.