Coming into 2019, Ted Cheeseman reigned as British super-welterweight champion with an unblemished record of 15-0 at just 23 years of age.<\/p>\n
Bermondseys Big Cheese was now set to be fast tracked as an improving prospect and so found himself thrust into a European title bout against Spains Sergio Garcia.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The fight took place on February 2 the night it all came crashing down for Cheeseman.<\/p>\n
He was comprehensively outclassed by Garcia and beaten from pillar to post for 12 long rounds.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard retained his title by unanimous decision.<\/p>\n
As he returned to the dressing room, Cheeseman took trainer Tony Sims to one side in a private room and emotionally confessed to the secret vice in his life.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
For the last five\/six years Ive gambled heavy, he revealed publicly in a Matchroom Born Fighter interview four months later.<\/p>\n
Ive gambled a lot of money, I dont know if it affected my performance because I was winning.<\/p>\n
But it was always moneys coming, moneys going, moneys coming, moneys going.<\/p>\n
I was betting silly money, hundreds of thousands.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I always had just enough, I was always getting by because it was always coming.<\/p>\n
I had good sponsors, I was earning good money through fighting.<\/p>\n
It was killing me at some points, but knowing that I had another fight coming up Id think, Thats my purse, Ill get through the camp so Im sorted.<\/p>\n
Then in the end, it was like every fight was just a stake.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n
When I was selling tickets Im getting money, so thats a stake, Ill go and gamble that.<\/p>\n
All you ever do is chase what you lose.<\/p>\n
I wouldnt like to put a number on it but its in the high hundreds of thousands, maybe touching a million.<\/p>\n
Ive had a lot of money over the last five years, but Ive come from nothing so when you get it, it becomes an addiction.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the defeat to Garcia, he explained: That fight was a blessing in disguise because, if I won it, I wouldve went and got massive money for my next fight.<\/p>\n
I wouldve done the exact same thing again and by the time my career finished I wouldve ended up with nothing.<\/p>\n
After that fight I spoke to Tony and theres another man in the gym called Bryn and they both got me help.<\/p>\n
Ive been going to meetings and stuff and Ive been clean since then.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n
It has now been over a year since Cheeseman made a bet of any kind, however the rest of 2019 was still not smooth sailing for the youngster.<\/p>\n
He returned to the ring in June, dropping back down to defend his British title against Kieron Conway.<\/p>\n
Despite most believing hed done enough to win, the bout was scored a draw.<\/p>\n
Then, in October, Cheeseman put his belt on the line against the highly rated Scott Fitzgerald, who was fresh off a huge win over Anthony Fowler.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n
The bout was close and divided opinion, but Fitzgerald got the nod with a tight unanimous decision.<\/p>\n
Cheeseman fumed in the immediate aftermath and alleged corruption. Hed started the year 15-0, but ended it 15-2-1.<\/p>\n
In hindsight, he reflected: 2019 was a great life experience for me, a great experience in boxing.<\/p>\n
I learned a lot. As much as I didnt get the decisions I felt I should have, and took a big defeat, I learned a lot in that year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n
I was fighting through niggles, fighting through stresses.<\/p>\n
I didnt want to deal with none of that because the thing I was focused on was getting more money.<\/p>\n
Because I was so desperate as a gambling addict to push on and have the stake to gamble, I was putting my body through strain and not letting myself get to how it shouldve been.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Getty<\/p>\n
Now, Cheeseman seeking a fresh start as boxing returns for the remainder of 2020.<\/p>\n
The coronavirus pandemic has prevented him from returning to action as quickly as hed have liked, but thrown up new opportunities in the meantime.<\/p>\n
Sam Eggington has arisen as the opponent for the Big Cheese to headline Eddie Hearns first show back.<\/p>\n
It will take place in the Matchroom HQ back garden with the series titled Fight Camp.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n
He concluded: Without this lockdown I dont think this fight would happen, but now the times right so the fights happened.<\/p>\n
Were both in the same sort of direction, whoever wins pushes on into a good direction.<\/p>\n
I just feel Im the younger, fresher and more talented fighter.<\/p>\n
Ill be hungrier and more determined than Sam, Im all round better, so thats why I think Ill win.<\/p>\n
Saturday night will show whether Cheeseman is finally ready to get back on track.<\/p>\n
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See more here: <\/p>\n
Ted Cheeseman lost hundreds of thousands through gambling addiction, but has now gone a year without a bet - talkSPORT.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Coming into 2019, Ted Cheeseman reigned as British super-welterweight champion with an unblemished record of 15-0 at just 23 years of age. Bermondseys Big Cheese was now set to be fast tracked as an improving prospect and so found himself thrust into a European title bout against Spains Sergio Garcia. The fight took place on February 2 the night it all came crashing down for Cheeseman Continue reading