Aaron Chalmers admits booze battle as he coped | Boxing News

Aaron Chalmers has revealed that bare-knuckle boxing saved him from the “slippery slope” of alcohol introduced on by personal struggles. The 37-year-old Geordie Shore star is set to make his debut within the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship this Saturday in Dubai, the place he will face off in opposition to seasoned fighter Chasa Symonds.

However, simply a 12 months in the past, Chalmers was grappling with alcohol following a collection of personal points. In an unique interview with Mirror Fighting forward of his BKFC debut, Chalmers stated: “So, I’m going to be honest right. I was on a bit of a slippery slope. 2023 was a good year, I had four fights, I was pretty active, I fought Floyd [Mayweather Jr]. I had a bad knee injury but I still had three fights.

“Everything was getting in the correct direction, after which after my final battle in November – a few days later my cousin died, who was actually my best mate, my brother. He handed away and I simply went on a slippery slope. I began ingesting f***ing actually, actually badly. Drinking badly.

“And then leading into 2024, my son…As I was trying to get myself back on the straight and narrow, my son went into hospital. It was meant to be a routine head surgery, and he was in a coma and he was in Liverpool fighting for his life for eight weeks, and I just didn’t deal with it.”

“I was just drinking, the only way to deal with losing my cousin and then that a couple of months after, I was just drinking. It came to August, I was still in limbo, I was not doing anything. I was in limbo. I was trying to go in the gym and then I was getting to the weekend and I was drinking. I was having blow-outs.”

Chalmers opened up about his emotional turmoil after the loss of his cousin, Courtney Clift, who he thought-about his best pal. He commemorated Courtney’s reminiscence with a touching post on Instagram in November 2023, sharing how a “big hole” had been left in his life.

In addition, he revealed struggles confronted by his youngest son, Oakley, three, who was born with Apert Syndrome – a uncommon genetic situation impacting the cranium, face, arms, and ft. Battling via a difficult time with alcohol, Chalmers recounted how an sudden message from the BKFC offered him with the motivation he needed to return to the health club and provides up ingesting for good.

He defined: “Come August, I got a message off [BKFC UK president] Andrew Bakewell. The BKFC had said, ‘We would love to have a chat’, so I think it was Andrew first, then he put me in touch with David [Feldman]. So David Facetimed me, he was like, ‘We would love to have you on and blah, blah, blah’.

“He was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll get one thing sorted’, then a couple of weeks glided by so I simply forgot about it. So I used to be hitting the drink again and he rang me and he stated, ‘Right Aaron, let’s do it’. Rang me, provided me a three-fight deal within the September. And that was the turning level, I have never had a drink since I signed the contract.

“I think I just needed something to kind of get me out of the dark place, and obviously the bare knuckle was that. It hasn’t been an easy road, we’ve had a fair few fights… Like ‘I’m fighting this date, it’s not on, I’m fighting this date’. But I always think these things just happen for a reason, and here we are.

“We’re on a huge, huge weekend in Dubai. But I might form of wish to thank David and Andrew and the BKFC, as a result of, had they not have reached out at that time, f***ing who is aware of the place I might have been. I used to be in a bit of a misplaced trigger – was getting no boxing fights as a result of I wasn’t coaching, I wasn’t doing any content material. I wasn’t doing f*** all.

“They reached out, and aye, like I say, I haven’t had a drink since I signed that contract. So they kind of put me back on the straight and narrow. For me, I’m 37. This is probably the last big, big chance on the big stage. I’ve had many a chance over the years, but I think this is the last big chance.

“Obviously, they have the huge partnership with DAZN, Conor McGregor. So I feel that is the final large shot on the large time, so I’ve been grafting my a*** off, and hopefully I can show that on battle evening.”

Chalmers initially embarked on his combat sports journey while still featuring on Geordie Shore, with the MTV programme showcasing his move to Birmingham to train with ex-welterweight UFC champion Leon Edwards in preparation for his mixed martial arts debut. After achieving a 3-0 record in BAMMA, Chalmers transitioned to Bellator, improving his record to 5-2 before switching to the boxing world.

The Geordie made a successful start in June 2022, securing a points victory over Alexander Zeledon, before truly making his mark in 2023. That year, Chalmers faced off against Mayweather Jr, Kiefer Crosbie, Warren Spencer and Idris Virgo in the ring.

Now, the Newcastle-upon-Tyne native is aiming for success with BKFC, with experienced veteran Symonds – who has an 18-9 record in traditional boxing – welcoming him to the promotion. Speaking about his upcoming BKFC debut this weekend, Chalmers said: “He’s very, very skilled. I do not actually know an excessive amount of about him.

“From what I’ve seen, I know it’s a bit of a dog fight. Obviously this is going to be my first fight in 18 months so I’m excited. Everyone’s like, ‘You’ve never been hit with a bare knuckle,’ and I’m thinking, ‘I’ve been f***ing elbowed, I’ve been kicked, I’ve been kneed’.

“When you are in there, you do not actually really feel it. Like I say, I’m sure afterwards I’ll really feel it. Yeah, we’re simply making ready to be the best – probably the most fittest and the best I will be. But as for him, I attempt to not pay an excessive amount of consideration to what my opponent is doing, I simply take note of what I’m doing. We’ve received a game-plan and that is what we’re working in the direction of.”