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Back from the wilderness

Simon Smedley
10/ 9/2008

DANNY Harding is back in hard training and can’t wait to finally get his promising career back on track once again.

Reddish-based lightweight prospect Harding, aged 27, has had a frustrating period out of the ring since his eye-catching victory over Chris Pacey at the Altrincham Leisure Centre in April, 2007.

That win took his perfect record to six from six bouts in the paid ranks, and many in and around the boxing fraternity were starting to sit up and take note.

However, since then it’s been a disappointing tale of niggling injuries, a change of trainer and a split from his promoter/manager Steve Wood, and Harding almost quit the fight game altogether.

The scenario has turned full circle now though, Harding is training with Bobby Rimmer at Stalybridge, he’s set to sign a 12-month promotional deal with Wolverhampton-based Errol Johnson, and he’s been pencilled in to make his ring comeback on Saturday, November 8 at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan.

Harding told the Express: "Being out of the ring for so long has really been doing my head in, but there’s light at the end of tunnel again at last.

"I’ve been training hard at Bobby Rimmer’s gym, it’s full steam ahead again now. You’ve just got to keep persevering haven’t you?

"Loads of people have been asking me when I’m fighting again and that’s been a frustrating part, but now I can finally give them some good news. It is going to be a bit strange though, because I’m going to have win all my old fans back again now."

Harding is happy to have made the switch to training with Bobby Rimmer after Openshaw’s Bob Shannon decided to call it a day and Salford’s Oliver Harrison opted to concentrate much more of his time on the promotional side of the boxing business.

Rimmer’s stable includes big names like Michael Gomez and Matthew Hatton - brother of Ricky - and Harding’s new promoter Johnson has a clutch of decent fighters on his roster, who include former British welterweight champion Young Mutley.