Life after a brain injury - boxer Coghill opens gym

Connor Coghill was forced to retire from boxing with a record of 14 wins and one loss

When a fighter suffers a career-ending injury, or even worse, the boxing fraternity will usually rally behind one of its own.

In October, Connor Coghill’s world came crumbling down after the British featherweight suffered a bleed on the brain during a defeat by Hopey Price.

Coghill was one of the lucky ones. It was a minimal bleed which did not need an operation, although he was told he should never box again.

“I took it on the chin, but I’ve had dark days over the past six months – I still have them now – where I think about what could have happened,” Coghill tells BBC Sport.

The gift of time and the support of good people, however, is a great healer.

Promoters, managers, fellow fighters and fans clubbed together as a fundraising page raised enough money for Hull’s Coghill to open up a boxing gym in his home city.

“My retirement has come early and now I can teach others to do what I loved doing,” Coghill adds.

“I’m blessed to have a career which can last forever now.”

‘I miss sparring the most’

Coghill has been a man on a mission since his 15-fight career – with just the one defeat - came to a premature end.

The 29-year-old wasted no time in attaining his trainer’s licence, finding a unit for his gym and acquiring a ring, bags and equipment.

“I wanted to retire at 34 or 35. My plan was then to be a coach. But I just had to bring those plans forward,” he says.

For all his optimism and grand plans, however, Coghill – who has undergone monthly brain check-ups – still “gets down” at what could have been.

“I see my old team-mates, like Jimmy Flint who beat Campbell Hatton this month, enjoying the success and that kind of makes me miss it,” he says.

Coghill “misses sparring the most” but says he will never give into the temptation,

“I feel like I could fight again but I know it would be stupid of me to do it and let everyone down,” he adds.

“My family are more worried than I am. If I forget something in the house, like my keys, my mum panics and tells me to go to hospital and get checked.”

'Educational' trip to the States

As he begins the next leg of his boxing journey, Coghill is training adults and children of all abilities and has also been helping out friend Ted Jackson, who makes his debut this summer.

“Fortunately because I was still so active in my career, I’m passionate about it. I want to train the others how I was as a fighter, passionate and loving it,” he says.

Coghill’s ultimate dream would be to lead a fighter from his or her debut to a world title. He will lean on former trainer Stefy Bull, by supporting him in the corner in upcoming fights.

“I also want to meet and work with as many trainers as possible, maybe even go to America and do some one-to-one stuff with coaches out there,” Coghhill adds.

“It’s now my time to travel a bit and get some education. I must be one of the youngest trainers in the country. I just want to learn and be the best.”