Adam Harper takes on Anthony Fowler looking to complete a comeback Rocky Balboa would be proud of
BRITISH boxing’s most boring man Adam Harper is ready to write his own Rocky comeback story.
In 2018 the sport’s answer to tee-total Liverpool title-winner James Milner was an English champion.
But the super-welterweight had to hang up his gloves after a brain scan discovered the same condition suffered by Rocky Balboa in the iconic films.
Harper, now 32, was forced to rip up his licence and focus on putting his teaching degree to use.
But on Friday he jumps back into the deep end by taking on much-hyped Matchroom favourite Anthony Fowler in the second instalment of Eddie Hearn’s back- garden fight festival.
Harper told SunSport: “I have a condition that one-in-four people have, and will probably never know, called cavum septum pellucidum.
“It means some parts of my brain don’t fuse together properly.
“It doesn’t affect my day-to-day life and was there when I had my first ever boxing medical but we didn’t realise.
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“I scared me as it’s the same issue Rocky had and was told to retire.
“It cost me a couple of crucial years but now it has made me even more hungry to succeed.”
It was a brain illness suffered by Harper’s mum that paved the way for his return to the ring.
He added: “My mum fell very ill last year and that was the catalyst for me researching my diagnosis.
“I did a two-hour test with a neuropsychologist and they told me I was fit and healthy to return.
“I have never stopped training — I don’t drink or party or have any fun. I am utterly boring.”
Harper and the rest of the card have been shackled in quarantine at the Brentwood Holiday Inn since Monday, ahead of the outdoor show.
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But the Bath-born ace is sick of listening to Fowler’s hype and is just ready to fight.
He said: “I’m so f****** bored of hearing him.
“I’m boring because I’m dedicated but he’s bored me senseless.”