'I boxed for 12 rounds then ran a half-marathon the next day'

Craig Derbyshire, left, is a Commonwealth light flyweight boxing champion

A professional boxer fought 12 rounds to win a title before completing a half-marathon the next day and returning to work hours later.

Craig Derbyshire, from Doncaster, defended his Commonwealth light flyweight belt in Alfreton last Saturday before driving through the night to get to the start line of the Great North Run near Newcastle.

He finished 135th in the field of 60,000 entrants after just two hours' sleep, and the following day was back running his fencing business after another 10-mile run that morning.

"It's amazing how much more you can get out of yourself if you believe in yourself," the 34-year-old said.

Instead of taking it easy this weekend, Mr Derbyshire has the small matter of a 20-mile training run to complete ahead of the Berlin Marathon in just over a week.

"That's what I live by, I love the fitness side of it," said the father-of-four, who was running 100 miles per week in the month leading up to his fight.

While others were carb-loading ahead of Sunday's 13.1-mile (21km) race, Mr Derbyshire was cutting weight to make the strict 7st 7lbs (49kg) weight limit he fights at.

"I eat one meal a day most days anyway," said Mr Derbyshire, who stands at a diminutive 5ft 2ins (157cm).

"I normally do a 10-mile run in the morning, then I will do eight to 10 miles later, then I'll go boxing."

His preparations for the Great North Run were further hampered by a drugs test after his unanimous points victory over Liam Dring, which took place more than 150 miles away from the start line.

"My wife Gemma was tired so I drove all the way to Newcastle. We got there at about 02:30 in the morning but because I had drank so much water for the drugs test I didn't get to sleep until about 04:30."

Mr Derbyshire estimated he slept for about two hours before pacing his younger brother Kian to an impressive finish time of one hour and 16 minutes.

"It was great, I enjoyed it.

"I only ran steady, it wasn't a personal best - I think I could do a 1:12."

Derbyshire, right, took part in the Great North Run with his brother Kian and wife Gemma

Still sporting black eyes and bruises, the boxer of 13 years admitted he could "hardly move" at the start of the race, but joked that taking a "man-up tablet" had got him through.

"I said a few nasty things to myself and ended up pulling myself around."

He has now set his sights on winning a world title in the ring and qualifying for next year's London Marathon.

"I just love being active," said Mr Derbyshire.

"I got all my family into running. I love pushing people and showing them they can do more."

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