Solomon Dacres has given up rugby because it hurts too much and now he wants to be the new Anthony Joshua.
Joshua twice won the ABA super-heavyweight title as an amateur – and that's the target for Dacres in Liverpool this weekend.
The 22-year-old from Birmingham says he has no regrets about quitting rugby after powering through to the ABA quarter finals at the Echo Arena.
He had trials for England U20s and was at Worcester Warriors Academy for a spell before drifting into the National League and playing in the back-row for Bromsgrove and Birmingham and Solihull.
Big brother Nile is currently playing for Plymouth, but Solomon has taken a different path.
“I played rugby and boxed for a couple of years,” said Dacres, “and there came a time when I had to choose. I had become a bit disillusioned with rugby.
“I had been playing the game since I was 11 years old, but I was picking up so many injuries and ended up losing a bit of motivation.
“I tore my shoulder, got cracked ribs and there seemed to be a different injury every week.
“Boxing is a tougher sport, but there's so much wear and tear when you play rugby.
“I was forever getting banged up. The worst injury I've had from boxing is bruised knuckles!
“I never really had many scraps on the rugby pitch. I used to keep my discipline and anyway, nobody ever really started on me.”
Given that Dacres stands 6ft 5in tall and weighs a hefty 100 kgs (15st 10lb), that's hardly surprising.
He's also proved in his 19 amateur bouts – 14 wins – that he packs a mighty punch in his right – and left – hand.
“I feel a lot happier boxing,” said Dacres. “I did a bit of boxing when I was 15. I went to the gym and learned the basics, but I was playing so much rugby I had to give it up.
“I always wanted to come back to boxing one day.”
A couple of years ago, Dacres went back to his first love at Warley Amateur Boxing Club – ironically based at the local rugby club – and his rapid rise culminated in him capturing a national title earlier this season with a first-round knock-out.
“There are definitely improvements to be made,” said Dacres, “but I'm going to stick at it and they will come.
“I do want to turn professional in the future, but I want to achieve as much as I can as an amateur first.”
MATTHEW BOZEAT
