I ran 100-mile hell marathon in step-daughter’s memory – boxing comeback after ban will be easy
LIAM CAMERON ran 100 miles of hell to help him get back from the darkest depths of losing his career and his step-daughter.
In 2018 the Sheffield fighter was handed an incredibly harsh four-year British boxing ban when a metabolite of cocaine was found in his system.
And he suffered another devastating blow in 2020 when his step-daughter was killed in a traffic incident just two days before her 21st birthday.
Struggling to cope, the former Commonwealth middleweight champ battled addiction and survived an attempt on his own life.
But last year, as the sport welcomed him back and he started a four-fight win streak, he took on a Sheffield-Manchester round-trip marathon to raise money for a tribute to Tiegan and prove his fitness to return to the ring.
Ahead of his Friday night fight with Lyndon Arthur, live on Channel 5, Cameron told SunSport: “It was a crazy idea really, me and my pal Hassan just wanted to see if we could do it.
“We wanted to hit that ‘Welcome to Manchester’ sign and get back.
“Then we decided to make it more than a challenge and used it to raise £1,300 for a bench for Tiegan.
“It took the best part of 24hrs, with just a rucksack full of flapjacks and the last 10 miles were hell.
“I’ve been through some dark times, tough tests, but those last few miles were something else.
“Me and Hassan were both crying, confused, in agony. It ended up like a therapy session.
“But we did it, somehow, and being able to do that, physically and mentally, showed me a boxing comeback would be alright.”
Cameron has always protested his innocence but wisely has no desire to rock the boat with the British Boxing Board of Control after regaining his licence.
And the sport has welcomed him back to the light-heavyweight division with Eddie Hearn hosting him on a Matchroom show at Sheffield arena in March and now he headlines on terrestrial TV.
He explained: “At the time I did feel very alone and I felt like some people could have helped me a bit more but I understand the sport and that it’s a business.
“Since my comeback, I do feel like all the people that know about my story are willing me to win.
“I am the underdog, the outsider, the away fighter, but – especially in boxing – people love that guy and they want him to win.
“I first ever loved boxing because of the Rocky films and I think people always love a comeback fairytale story more than an undefeated success.
“I feel a bit sorry for Lyndon Arthur, he’s the Manchester lad on a home show in Bolton but I feel like I’ve got all of the backing.”