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Page last updated at 13:55 GMT, Tuesday, 9 December 2008

Chris Todd column

By Chris Todd
Torquay United defender

Chris Todd
James has got his first fight as a pro coming up in Bristol this coming Sunday so I'm really nervous at the minute. In fact, I'm more nervous now with this fight coming up than I was going to see the doctor!

My fianc�e Gemma and I have just been away for the weekend to try and get away from it all.

It's been a busy few weeks after my diagnosis with training and treatment so we went up to London to watch Enzo Maccarinelli beat Matthew Ellis at the ExCel Arena.

We're quite close to Enzo as my brother James trains at the same gym in Newbridge. He trains alongside Joe Calzaghe and is guided by his father Enzo.

James has got his first fight as a pro coming up in Bristol this coming Sunday so I'm really nervous at the minute. In fact, I'm more nervous now with this fight coming up than I was going to see the doctor!

But I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure he'll be fine. I don't know much about the lad he's fighting, but he's also making his professional bow.

James is 20-years-old and is a hell of a boy. He's doing well and has been with the Calzaghe camp for a long time.

His style didn't really suit amateur boxing, he's more of a brawler, and gets up and at them. He's tough and rugged and they've always wanted him to turn pro as he'd suit the pro game.

The Calzaghe camp have been brilliant to me. I spoke to Maccarinelli on Saturday and he says he's trying to sort out a special football match in the summer, with the likes of Joe Calzaghe and even Ricky Hatton playing. You never know, we might even be able to play at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea!

I couldn't believe it, and asked them "are you serious?" They said they'd like to do it and if it happens it'll be brilliant.

Enzo Maccarinelli
Chris Todd was in the crowd as Enzo Maccarinelli won his fight

Health-wise my white blood cell count isn't up or down, but that might be down to the illness I got last week off Gemma.

This week I've got to try and stay away from any bugs and hopefully the tablets will kick in. I've got a few aches and pains on my side and hip and a little bit of swelling in my ankle, but other than that it's been great.

I've started getting a bit more involved in training. I've done a bit of shooting and heading work but no contact work.

It's been great to get back involved in the training-ground banter. One of our coaches says these tablets I'm on are definitely working because I hit the target all day!

It'll be nice to get a win at Eastbourne on Tuesday, we need one just to keep the run going. But the team is doing well at the moment so I'm sure they'll come back with the goods.

Chris Todd was talking to BBC South West's Brent Pilnick.

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see also
Buckle cheered by Gulls display
08 Dec 08 |  Torquay
Torquay 0-0 Cambridge Utd
06 Dec 08 |  Non League
Maccarinelli stops Ellis in two
06 Dec 08 |  Boxing
Chris Todd column
02 Dec 08 |  Torquay
Chris Todd column
26 Nov 08 |  Torquay
Todd aiming to be back in March
26 Nov 08 |  Torquay
Thomas backs Todd to beat cancer
25 Nov 08 |  Torquay
Gulls squad shocked at Todd news
20 Nov 08 |  Torquay
Todd reveals leukaemia diagnosis
19 Nov 08 |  Torquay


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