But the Holme Wood native finally decided to officially hang up his gloves this week at the age of 32, having not fought since suffering a gruesome facial injury in a defeat to Elliot Whale back in December 2023.
Asked by the T&A how he felt about calling it a day, Tetley said: “I think I’ve known all along since that last fight.
“But it’s always been in the back of my mind that there may have still been a chance of a comeback.
“That’s why I’d not put out a statement before this, but the more I thought about it, I realised I hadn’t been dying to get back in the ring.
“It’s been nice to spar if I’ve wanted to and do some coaching but even in the exhibition I did recently, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t get a huge buzz out of it as such, so it’s probably the right time to retire.”
It was boxing as a teenager that slowly help Tetley turn away from trouble, as he recalled: “I was in police stations after getting arrested when I was younger.
“Obviously, Holme Wood doesn’t get the best name, and I was still doing dodgy stuff I shouldn’t have been while I was boxing in those early years.
“I’m proud to have overcome that, got away from it, and really focused on my boxing.”
Getting national recognition aged 17 as a young amateur was a key moment, Tetley saying: “I’d always wanted to box for England.
“I didn’t get the call-up even after winning a national title, but I eventually managed it.
“I think it was that that made me realise I might actually be okay if I knuckle down.
“I was going to call it a day after fighting for England, but my trainer persuaded me to see out the season.
“I won two more national titles between January and May 2011, then fought at the Three Nations in the June, where I medalled, and the Europeans that August.
“I got beat at the latter, said I was done, but then I got to go to the Commonwealth Youth Games, where I won silver.
“From there, I realised I might have something and I stuck to it.”
As for his highlights after turning professional in 2013, Tetley said: “Winning my first title at Elland Road was special, especially as the weigh-in was the day of my grandad’s funeral.
Darren Tetley, just after the death of his grandad Ernie, taking down Mason Cartwright to win a European WBO title at Elland Road in May 2018. (Image: PA)
“Having fights in Bradford was a highlight, then Wembley in 2022, boxing for the British title, was the icing on the cake.
“Being at Wembley Stadium, on the undercard of the main event (Tyson Fury versus Dillian Whyte), that was quality.”
As for what comes next, Tetley said: “I’ve got my qualifications, so I’m coaching the amateurs at Trident Boxing Club in Morley.
“I can pass on what I know to them and I’ve started playing a bit of rugby league as well.
“It’s nice to be normal again, because I’ve always liked rugby league for example, but you couldn’t exactly go to your fight sponsors and tell them you couldn’t box because you’d broken your leg playing another sport.
“The best thing about retiring, I think, is just being able to do normal stuff.”