A Mansfield man is in training to regain the world record for being oldest active boxer when he fights on December 12.
Steve Ward previously won the Guinness World Record in 2011 at the age of 55 when he defeated Derby fighter Greg Scott-Briggs.
However since then his record has fallen to a 57-year-old American, Mike Palmer.
Said Steve: “It’s going to be hard fight but it’s got be done because that record belongs in England, it shouldn’t be in America.
“Boxing was founded in England, Queensbury rules was founded in England and the record’s coming back to England.”
Picture: Steve when he was starting out
He’s set to fight Jody Miekle in Shirebrook a full 38 years after his first boxing bout.
When he takes to the ring he will be 59 years old but he remains confident.
Steve has fought 47 professionals fights going through a total of 295 rounds, winning 15 of the bouts.
However as an amateur he won 136 out of 148 amateur fights for the Avenue and Saxon club in Alfreton.
He added: “It upsets me to think about a time when I’m not boxing.”
Golden Oldie: What was happening in the year 1977, when Steve made his pro debut
- Best of My Love by The Emotions was number one
- Muhammad Ali is still world Heavyweight champion.
- The average house price in Britain is £13,650 and a gallon of petrol cost just under 80p
- Elvis Presley died
- The first Star Wars film was released
- The last person was executed by guillotine in France
- The silver jubilee marked the 25th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne
