A FORMER paraplegic has proved he is fighting fit by returning to the boxing ring for the first time in over a decade.

Grant Putt from Ferndown became paralysed from the waist down in 2010 following an accident at work.

Five years on, he has regained full mobility, despite doctors warning him he may never walk again.

The 35-year-old will now be taking part in his first boxing competition in years in June and hopes to launch a professional boxing career.

“I used to box years ago as a child on an amateur level,” he explained.

“I started at the age of six and was competing by the age of 11. I stopped around the age of 21.

“It’s always been there in my family; my dad and uncle both boxed. When I had the accident, it became sort of my comeback to turn professional. This event is the start and I’ll be meeting a guy who runs a professional gym soon, so I’ll see how it goes from there.”

Grant will be taking part in the Ultra White Collar Boxing event at the BIC on June 6, where he will box against his opponent for three rounds. The event will also raise money for Cancer Research UK.

He said his determination to regain his mobility helped him to recover after his accident, in which he jumped over an open trench at a construction site and tripped over an electric cable.

“It took me three years to become mobile again. The first year I couldn’t feel anything from the waist down. But through lots of determination I slowly started getting my mobility back.

“I was back to 90% mobility after about two years. I went down to the seafront and over time started walking from one lamppost to another.”

He said he had been training hard in preparation for the boxing match. “I’m eating, sleeping and breathing boxing at the moment. I have to bulk up a lot, so it’s pretty much 50% eating and 50% training. I have to keep my core strong through lots of lifting, too.

“But I’m feeling confident,” he added.