Illness and Injury no match for Islander Tom Duff

Tonight in Plymouth Tom Duff [2(0)-0] returns from illness and injury to take on durable Pole Robert Studzinski [3(2)-39(5)] at the Guildhall over four rounds.

It’s been a long twenty-one months for Duff since his last bout and once again, as he always does, he will have a sizeable journey to the ring.

The middleweight hails from the Channel Island of Guernsey and while professional boxing is a major commitment for anyone, it has proven to be been an especially tough vocation for Duff.

The islander spoke to Irish-Boxing.com ahead of his comeback bout and told how he comes from a boxing family, with his father Don hailing from Dublin while his grandfather Jack was a pro fighter who boxed at fairs in the 1940s.

A self-described box-fighter, Duff has already emerged victorious from the toughest test of his career to date. The 37 year old explained how “I’ve been out the ring for a while as I ended up with shingles which really knocked me back.”

“Then I had tendinitis in my wrist caused mostly down to my job as an electrician.”

“Now thankfully recovered and feeling healthy ready to box again!”

Location too has been an issue for Duff who admits that “boxing out of the Channel Islands isn’t always the easiest.”

“Selling tickets can be a little difficult at times.”

“I really need advanced notice on boxing dates as travel arrangements and accommodation also need to be sorted.”

“I commute to Paddy Johns Gym in Bristol when I can for training and take bits back to Guernsey that I need to work on in the gym.”

“There’s decent facilities available and boxing has grown as a sport here recently.”

It’s been a tough few years for Duff who is now delighted to be back. Reluctant to make big claims, he is happy just to be in the ring and he outlines how “with being out of action for a period of time, my plans now are to get busy and see where the sport takes me.”