Jimmy 'the Fist' First: Meet the oldest boxing prospect in Britain

«I'm the oldest prospect in the Britain,» says globetrotting Jimmy First before any question is asked.

With his 41st birthday in March, nobody is likely to argue with the Halifax boxer nicknamed 'Jimmy the Fist'.

First, who fights at lightweight, has won all 10 professional fights before his first championship bout in Leeds on 25 February. He meets Justin Newell for the vacant Central Area title.

First says he was a «stoner» for much of his 20s while backpacking in Australia, Thailand and Vietnam, smoking a lot of cannabis before taking up boxing at the age of 27.

After 26 bouts in the colours of Halifax ABC, he met manager Chris Aston who believed the then wine salesman was the right vintage to become a professional boxer.

«At 22, I was just a stoner on the beach who travelled about and worked,» said First, who now spends his spare time touring Britain in his camper van with girlfriend Paula.

When he returned after that travelling adventure, First played cricket, football and tennis until walking into a gym to pacify a friend.

He recalled: «I was working for a recruitment company and a mate of mine, Nicky Betteridge, was a massive Ricky Hatton fan.

»He badgered me to go to the boxing gym. I went to shut him up. I was not seeking boxing but after watching it on TV, I thought, 'I want to do that'.

«Boxing found me rather than I found boxing. After two months of training I started sparring. I would get hit, see red and go for it. It was either get hit and crumble or get hit and prove myself.

»There was a little devil inside that I did not know was there. I was never a fighting man.

«I won my first eight fights and was Yorkshire champion in the Under-10 bout Senior Novice Championship. I won the regionals to make the national