When Josh Dunlop says that boxing saved his life, he really means it.
A boxer for Scotland and a former club champion in his youth, Josh took the wrong path and fell into a spiral of despair.
Josh Dunlop fighting his old rival Clay Davidson in 2017. Picture: Daniel Forsyth
He entered a seemingly endless battle with addiction and his world entered a very dark place – he simply couldn’t find his way out.
His bad lifestyle choices led to a previously fit and healthy Josh weighing in at almost 21 stone, with a 40-inch waist.
At one point, he considered ending it all, but a burning desire to fight back was still there and his sporting background gave him his survival instinct.
He says he has Elgin Amateur Boxing Club, and their head coach Paul ‘Ratch’ Gordon to thank for him being able to tell his recovery story.
Not only did he return to boxing, but last week he was back in the ring for the first time in almost nine years in a 74kg bout – nine stones lighter than at his worst point.
His life turned around, Josh Dunlop wants to make his mark in the boxing ring once again. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
“I would never wish it on my worst enemy,” said Josh, now aged 29 and living in Cullen.
“It’s never nice to admit a battle with my addiction and other things going on in my home life.
“Life wasn’t going well for me, and I’ll never shy away from that.
“Boxing really has saved my life. Without it, god knows where I would have been.
“Especially Ratch, everyone at Elgin Boxing Club and my close friends and family, they have really supported me to get me back to here.”
Back in 2014, Josh Dunlop (back left) was part of an emerging. crop of young Elgin ABC boxers along with Liam MacLean, Calum Wilson, Jack Reid, current pro Fraser Wilkinson and former Commonwealth Games fighter Megan Gordon (front). Picture: Daniel Forsyth
And here is a very nice place indeed for Josh, back to prime fitness and health.
More importantly for him, having split from Rebecca, his fiancee and mother of his young daughter Lottie-Mae during his worst times, they are back together now that he has overcome his demons and returned to the right path.
“I’d been properly sober for six months, and we got back together because I proved that I was back to being in a great place again – and that I was able to be a better father to Lottie-Mae.
Another huge step forward was made at the end of April when Josh stepped through those familiar ropes and fought an exhibition bout in Kincorth against home boxer Clay Davidson – the last man he competed against nine years earlier.
Most preciously, Rebecca was there to see him in his sport for the very first time, and wants to see all of his future bouts.
Better days for Josh Dunlop who’s back at Elgin Amateur Boxing Club. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
“That meant a lot to me,” Josh said.
Josh was a young boy from Fochabers when he first took up boxing and came under the wing of ‘Ratch’, the head coach at Elgin ABC who quickly spotted his potential.
“I’ve known Josh since he’s been a kid,” Paul said. “He was one of the first ones in the club when he restarted again, so I’ve known him from a child, to a boy, to a man.”
Josh is in no doubt about the positive influence his coach has had on his life.
And when he began on the road to his recovery and started boxing again with some of the club’s Buckie-based boxers, the chance came to fully resurrect his career.
Boxer Josh Dunlop has returned to the sport at Elgin Amateur Boxing Club following a troubled few years in his personal life. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
“The young lads really inspired me massively, and I knew I didn’t just want to be watching – I needed to get back in that ring.
“Ratch said he would put me through my medical and I did that last November.
“Then he said ‘I’m going to give you four months to prove to me that you want this’.”
Another part of Josh’s recovery was landing a good job with an oil firm in Shetland, and he says every day he wakes up on the islands, he reads a message from his coach.
“He’ll be asking what training I’ve done in the morning, what training I’ve done at night, what I’ve eaten, and he makes sure every week that I’m still sticking to the plan.
“He’s always there for me. He doesn’t mollycoddle you if he thinks you’re going to be a waste of time, but he knows if somebody is struggling, he will be there for you.
“I’ve known Ratch for the best part of 18 years now, and he’s not just a coach – he’s a father figure, he’s a friend as well and he does care about me.
“Without him I wouldn’t be where I am, that’s for sure.”
Josh also coaches at Elgin ABC and wants to be there for anyone who might hit a low point in their life.
“People don’t know how dark a place it can be, and you have to reach out to someone.
“I’m so open about it now and I always want folk to know the severity of what it can do to your life. I’ll never be ashamed to admit that.
“I’m probably in the best shape of my life now and that’s thanks to all the support I’ve been given.
“Sport, and organisations like this club can help you too. I’m always there to support folk as well, so if anyone does want to reach out to me, doing a wee training session with boxing or whatever it takes, I’m here.
“I know just how hard it can be.”
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