Bradford man shares dark past on eve of huge boxing bout

Peter Naylor, a former Bradford (Park Avenue) and Halifax Town footballer, is fighting in the England Boxing National Amateur Championships down in London today as he aims, following regional success last month, to become the number one heavyweight (92kgs and over) in the country before turning over pro.

WATCH: How Peter got on in his huge fight

The 36-year-old’s rise up the ranks has been far from plain sailing though, with a stretch in HMP Wealstun tainting the promising sportsman’s early life.

Peter served two and a half years of the five-year sentence he was handed in 2009 for possessing a firearm.

His wife Holly and two children Ruby and Kobe, as well as rediscovering his love for boxing, have played a crucial part in getting him back on the straight and narrow.

“Boxing has helped me massively. It keeps me out of trouble,” Peter told the Telegraph & Argus.

“It has been difficult growing up, so I am lucky to have made it this far.

“I went to prison a decade ago for firearms. I got given five years and ended up doing two and a half.

“It is not the best place to be. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. It was the life that I chose at the time. I have just fully turned my life around since.

“Boxing has come back around and it has just gone onwards and upwards from there.”

Last month, Peter (stood with trainer Kevin Rourke) became a NAC Yorkshire Champion

Growing up in Wibsey, Peter excelled at both football and boxing, eventually signing a scholarship to become an apprentice at Halifax.

It was at The Shay where he signed professional forms to play under future Premier League manager Chris Wilder.

“I signed a two-year pro deal,” he said.

“Once that was up they didn’t renew my contract, so I started playing for Bradford (Park Avenue). I didn’t enjoy it and went downhill a little bit.

“All I had done was play football my whole life and box as well. It took a downward spiral from there because it was difficult. I struggled.”

Peter would flirt with the idea of attempting to become a professional footballer once again but his heart was never fully in it.

Instead, it would be the squared circle that felt more like home.

“If football was not full time, I didn’t want to do it. I am one of those people who has to be all in.

“I used to box whilst I was in my apprentice days to just keep fit. Once I came out of prison, I went back to boxing but then stopped when the gym I was at shut.

“Before the pandemic, I got a phone call asking why don’t I go down and do a bit. I said I was a bit big but I’d give it a go. I started going three times a week and went from 24st to 18st, 3lbs now.

“I fought a white-collar boxer who was supposed to be decent with his undefeated record and I stopped him in 1 minute 40 seconds. I stopped another two guys and got the bug for it.”

Peter has since sparred with some of the country’s best pros, including Doncaster’s Dave Allen, impressing ex European champion and world title challenger Pat Barrett so much so that the Mancunian will be helping him transfer to the paid ranks.

First things first however is hopefully gaining success this weekend.

On his chances and what it would mean to his family, Peter, who trains at Vanzies Boxing Academy during the day and Rourkey’s Gym in the evening, said: “My family would love it if I was to win it all.

“I am boxing George Howden on Saturday. I should beat him and get into the semis on Sunday (the final is at Manchester Central on April 23).

“I should beat everyone who is there. I am number one in Yorkshire and now I want to become number one in England.

“I still have plenty of years in me. I have never lived a bad life. I have not drunk alcohol for 12 years. I am not old for a heavyweight. We now box without headguards, so it is like being a professional boxer anyway.

“With the boxing now, I help kids out and it is something that I really enjoy. I currently work as a personal trainer. Once I turn professional, I am going to go full-time with the boxing.”

And what advice would Peter give to someone else fresh out of prison?

“It is not all over. You have just got to want to do something."