A TROWBRIDGE man left the boxing ring with his head held high after doing his bit to raise awareness for a rare genetic disease and £2,600 for charity

Dan Murphy completed three rounds at a charity boxing match at the Bath Pavilion on Saturday, with his dear friend Matt Godfrey - who he has been a carer for since 2010 to help him with his tuberous sclerosis complex condition - cheering him on.

Despite losing the fight to someone nearly two stone heavier than him, the 29-year-old was delighted that he had helped raise awareness of the disease, that causes benign tumours to grow on the body’s vital organs, raised thousands of pounds for the Tuberous Sclerosis Association and made Matt proud.

"It was one of the highlights of my life. It was like I was in my own Rocky Balboa film, fighting a guy who was five weight classes above me, I will never forget this," said Mr Murphy, who works for Care Choice.

"Matty, as I call him, was so happy to be there. It was an epic experience. We looked very dapper in our suits before the fight.

"I am so chuffed and grateful that we managed to raise more than £2,600 and for Matty to be there with me with his friends and family, was just perfect.

"What was phenomenal to hear was that people told me they wanted to try boxing after seeing me and even asked about being a carer too, that blew me away."

Several times a week, the two 29-year-olds go to Larkrise Community Farm, learn at Wiltshire College together and do all sorts of fun sports and activities.

Mr Murphy said that the fact that he had to fight someone bigger and stronger than him made the night even more memorable.

"On the night I was told people who were heavier than me did not want to fight me because they had seen me in sparring, so this light heavyweight took me on. It was a great fight," he said.

"I dominated the first round and was leading in the second but I took some heavy shots in the second. The third and final round was the decider and he took it on points but we fought until the bell, it was very close.

“White Collar Boxing, which is what I did, involves people who have never boxed before and you have to raise some money for charity, it was amazing. I would love to do it again."

Maxine Smeaton, CEO of the Tuberous Sclerosis Association, said: "There are so many elements to this story which are fantastic - the relationship between Matt and Dan, the way they work together, how Matt’s family and Matt and Dan’s friends have all come together to support them.

"And, perhaps most of all, the incredible commitment Dan has made to supporting Matt and raising money for the Tuberous Sclerosis Association. We are very proud to be part of their story and cannot thank them all enough."

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/daniel-murphy1988