Peckham fighter Johnny Garton planning comeback bout – as he looks to answer questions over his future in fight game
Johnny Garton is set to make his ring return in September – and will use that bout to judge if he still wants to be a boxer.
The 32-year-old from Peckham lost his British welterweight title to Chris Jenkins in March.
And Garton will be back in the gym after he gets back from his summer holiday.
The South Londoner had won the domestic strap with an 11th-round stoppage of Gary Corcoran in October.
“I needed a break before I had my last fight and I think that played a major role in what happened on the night against Jenkins,” said Garton, who has won 23 of his 26 ring outings.
“I just didn’t feel myself in there. There was no snap. And after three or four rounds I found it even harder. Where I was getting frustrated with myself an injury I had for the last couple of camps popped up.
“I was forcing everything and I couldn’t get a flow.
“I was gutted. I felt like I just gave the title away.
“I’d like to get another crack at the British title but first I want to get back in there and see how I feel. If it isn’t there in my next fight then that’s probably me done. But if I feel back to myself then I will give it a crack and see whatever I can get.
“I still feel I have got more to offer. The break has done me good.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Corcoran. He turned up and beat me, fair and square. I had no excuses on the night.”
Garton says injuries are part and parcel of training camps.
“I’ve always gone in the ring with something wrong,” he explained. “I hurt my rib just before the Corcoran fight and in training for the Jenkins one. It just started hurting in the actual fight.
“I also had a problem with my right shoulder. I had golfers elbow in my left elbow. My hands were sore. Even doing the pads before the fight my hands were hurting. They were swollen and bruised afterwards.
“But I’ve fought through things like that before, not a problem.
“I don’t think it would have been a problem this time but where I was getting frustrated in there, everything started to bother me a bit more.”