'Being homeless made me the boxer I am today'

A professional boxer who was made homeless as a child said it had made him the fighter he is today.

Jack Williams, 29, from Ipswich, will fight at Portman Road stadium on 7 June as part of an undercard match during the Fabio Wardley and Justis Huni fight.

He said he was "fit and ready" for the bout and told fans to expect "fireworks" during his display.

He said his "hard upbringing" was the reason for his success, and he "wouldn't change it".

"I ended up being homeless at the age of eight," Williams said.

"I lost my brother two weeks before becoming homeless, so my mum was still grieving at the time.

"We ended up in hostels, being on the streets, in a campervan, so we had a hard upbringing, but it's made me who I am today, and I wouldn't change it."

Williams is currently undefeated and looking for a third win at Portman Road against an opponent that is yet to be decided.

He added there was "no better platform in Ipswich than Portman Road", and he was appreciative to Wardley for including him on an undercard.

The boxer is coached by his younger brother, who he said, knew him "inside and out".

"I'm his little big brother because he acts older than me, he's got his head screwed on more than me... he acts more as my older brother than my younger brother," he said.

"It's been hard, but we've come out of it, we've both bought houses, and with boxing we can hopefully go all the way with that."

Williams told fans he would put up a tough fight during his Portman Road appearance.

"A lot of people haven't been through what we've been through, and you've got to knock me sparked out on that canvas to beat me," he continued.

"I'll keep coming, I've been in the trenches my whole life, so it's nothing new for me."

Younger brother and coach Jordan Williams, 27, agreed that the sibling's upbringing had made Williams "who he is today" and that his brother was a "ferocious" fighter.

He added that the Portman Road event was a great way for the boxer to showcase his skills.

"Not very many pros can say they've had all their professional fights in their hometown," Mr Williams said.

"Now to be at the biggest venue in the town, at the actual stadium, is obviously incredible."

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