Prizefighter - The Searing Autobiography of Britain's Bareknuckle Boxing Champion

The Searing Autobiography of Britain's Bare Knuckle Boxing Champion

Decca Heggie

• Publisher: John Blake
• eBook ISBN:
  9781786065476
• Year: 2017

'You can get a couple of years for beating the shit out of another bloke, or a couple of grand. I chose to do the latter'.
Decca's story is that of a bullied boy with an impossible dream. Of solvent abuse, violence, drug addiction, depression, boxing and bareknuckle fighting but - ultimately - redemption.
It begins on a council estate in Carlisle where, as the victim, of cruel bullies, a young Decanaesthetised himself from the pain and humiliation by sniffing solvents. In his mid-teens the fear fell away to be replaced by fury, as the bullies discovered to their cost. Memories of that frightened boy fuelled a rage that forged a fearsome street-fighter and future champion.
Working on the doors attracted more trouble but further enhanced his growing reputation. At the age of nineteen, life was good until the love of his life left him. Depression set in and prevailed. For almost ten years, he fell prey to a rampant cocaine habit, which provoked his demons, making him unpredictable and dangerous to be around. Serious jail time seemed inevitable.
Out of sheer desperation, his Dad arranged Decca's first unlicensed boxing match. He won and became instantly hooked. Having gotten fit, hungry, and off the drugs, he was lured into the bloody arena of bareknuckle fighting. Many brutal undefeated fights followed, as did two BKB heavyweight titles. A chance meeting with renowned boxing promoter Ricky English led to Decca's shot at the iconic 'Guv'nor' title. The rest, as they say, is history.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• CHAPTER ONE: BLACK EYES AND BLACK TIES
• CHAPTER TWO: INSPIRATION, EDUCATION AND CONFRONTATION
• CHAPTER THREE: HOME AND AWAY
• CHAPTER FOUR: B-BAD TIMES
• CHAPTER FIVE: LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS
• CHAPTER SIX: COPS AND BOTHER
• CHAPTER SEVEN: OSCAR NIGHTS AND OTHER FIGHTS
• CHAPTER EIGHT: SHAMROCK, SHENANIGANS AND A SAWN-OFF
• CHAPTER NINE: TWICE THE PRICE
• CHAPTER TEN: BLACK DOGS AND BLACK WIDOWS
• CHAPTER ELEVEN: BATTLE OF THE BALES
• CHAPTER TWELVE: WHAT PRICE FAME?
• CHAPTER THIRTEEN: OPPOSITION ALL THE WAY
• CHAPTER FOURTEEN: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
• CHAPTER FIFTEEN: BAD BLOOD AND BAD TIMING
• CHAPTER SIXTEEN: FERTILE GROUND FOR A FIGHTER
• CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE GUV’NOR
• Epilogue
• Plates
• Copyright