Ikeme will be taking part in a charity boxing event in Liverpool alongside fellow former Wolves players on Friday.
Former Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme says he has already had his “toughest fight to date” - but hopes his charity boxing match will inspire others who’ve faced similar battles.
Ikeme, who played over 200 times between the sticks for Wolves, was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July 2017.
In 2018, the former Nigeria international announced that he was in “full remission” following a year of intense chemotherapy and confirmed his retirement from professional football aged just 32.
‘I’ve probably had my toughest fight to date’
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Now, Ikeme will enter the boxing ring when he fights ex-QPR, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City defender Bradley Orr in a charity boxing event on Friday.
“I’ve probably had my toughest fight to date already and hopefully that was my last one as well,” Ikeme explained in an interview on Sky Sports News.
“But hopefully doing these sort of events will inspire somebody else who might be going through it.
“It was eight years ago and sometimes I forget it even happened to me, but I’ve come a long way since then.
“I’ve also tried to do as much charity work as possible since then. I did the London Marathon last year for the children’s hospital in Birmingham and now we’re raising a lot of money for the two charities in Merseyside.
“So I always try to do something every year that takes me out of my comfort zone while raising money for charity.”
‘A Night to Remember II’ will take place at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool and funds will be distributed between two Merseyside-focused charities: Children’s Charity Merseyside and Autism Merseyside.
With ex-Wolves shot-stopper Graham Stack organising the event alongside Pro Project Promotions - fellow former Old Gold stars Adam Hammill and Chris Iwelumo are also on the card.
Former Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo will also be taking part in the event. (Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)placeholder image
Former Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo will also be taking part in the event. (Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images) | Local Library
Iwelumo will take on Swansea City cult hero Lee Trundle while Hamill is set to face ex-Coventry City midfielder Steve Jennings.
Pro Project Promotions’ have set themselves the target of surpassing £120,000 in funds raised on the night and Ikeme has said that his latest charity venture has given him as “different focus” in his life.
“It gave me a purpose in a different way. I’d been retired for nearly eight years so I’ve kind of found my new routine in life,” he continued.
“You just need that edge in life sometimes to have that thrill that we used to have when we played football.
“Doing this boxing event, getting in the ring and getting out of my comfort zone has definitely got me up in the morning with a bit of a bounce.
“A bit tired at times as well [he chuckles] but it’s added a different focus to my life that I needed.”
Tickets are still available for ‘A Night To Remember II’. Click here to visit the website.
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