DUNFERMLINE boxer Gordon Brennan admits he was “devastated” after the final bout of his career ended before it had properly begun last Saturday.

The Trench Boxing Club fighter had been scheduled to headline the SK Boxing Promotions ‘Raging Bull Fight Night Two’ event with David Taylor at the Alhambra as he prepared to pull off his gloves after 18 years in the ring.

However, Brennan’s opponent withdrew from the event just two days prior and Taylor’s Manchester-based club put forward Joe O’Hara – a veteran of more than 100 fights – to take on the local favourite instead.

But soon after the opening bell for the fight O’Hara – who had been having issues with one of his shoes – left the ring to the bewilderment of Brennan, who was soon told by the match referee that the Englishman would not be returning.

Brennan told Press Sport, “It was pretty weird and I’m still not sure what the final reason was. He had slipped out of his shoe once and was fiddling about with it before I went to my corner but then I turned around and he was gone. I had been told that he was coming back so I got gloved up ready to go but the referee then told me he wasn’t coming back. I’ve been around boxing circles for 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like it at any level.

“I was devastated in the ring because I’d trained hard and changed my training plan yet only threw seven punches. I had sold a lot of tickets and wanted to put on a show because it was my last fight and was in Dunfermline. But this was something that came from the Manchester team; SK can only match me with guys who they think are suitable and this guy has had over 100 fights like I have. They assured the promoters he would be able to fight. Sam wouldn’t have taken it on otherwise.” Brennan, who won the British Boxing (BBU) Light-Heavyweight title in last year’s inaugural event, will be coaching the next generation at his Camdean-based club but has not ruled out returning in the future.

He continued, “You can never say never but it’s finding the time to train. Right now I work full-time and have the coaching side of things so I can’t commit the time to train. I don’t want to train to reach only 80 per cent and lose to guys I know I can beat. Sometimes I can have 60 guys in on a Monday night so it’s hard enough taking classes! But I’m really happy with what we’re doing just now.” Event promoter Scott McArthur, of SK Boxing Promotions, commented, “Unfortunately, O’Hara did not provide Gordon with the test he was looking for but based on how Gordon has looked in training, an inside-the-distance victory was on the cards no matter who he was up against.” The evening still proved to be highly successful and featured several excellent knockouts.

A selection of junior contests and exhibition bouts preceded the title fights and the chief supporting clash saw Perth native Ryan Lyall – who trains in Dunfermline – go up against Glasgow’s Marc Kerr. Lyall, also a renowned kickboxer, delayed his professional debut in order to take part and the bout lived up to its hype with a keenly contested five-round clash. Kerr had to show a strong mental attitude as Lyall looked to tie him up and frustrate him throughout, but in the end Kerr’s aggression saw him take the points victory.