'Master not to drink and you can master anything'

Liam Cameron retired in 2019 when his drugs ban was upheld

Warning: This article contains an account of alcohol abuse.

In January, Sheffield boxer Liam Cameron celebrated two years sober.

Three years ago he was at the depths of despair, banned from boxing and drinking heavily.

One night he woke up in an ambulance after an "overdose". He would then lose his step-daughter, Tiegan, to a road accident in 2021.

"I was basically killing myself with alcohol," Cameron told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I can remember three years ago having no electric in the house and being that skint.

"Having drink problems. Losing Tiegan in a tragic death.

"That absolutely destroyed the family. To bounce back from that stuff, it shows you what my character is."

On Friday in Bolton, Cameron fights recent world title contender Lyndon Arthur for the WBA inter-continental belt.

The winner fires himself into big fights and into the conversation for major titles.

Cameron, 33, retired from boxing in 2019 when his appeal against a four-year doping ban was rejected.

The then middleweight tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolic acid that comes from cocaine.

The premature end to his boxing career sparked a lengthy period of depression for Cameron.

He felt the ruling "wasn’t fair" but at his lowest moment he found a purpose in boxing.

"It’s been hard, so hard," he said.

"[Drinking] was killing me slowly. Boxing has actually saved me back again. I don’t think I’ll ever have a drink again.”

Cameron returned to the gym and last October he beat Robbie Connor on points after a five-year absence from the ring.

His recent stoppage victories, his first since 2017, earned him the shot at Arthur, and Cameron believes a win over the seasoned light-heavyweight would be a "career highlight".

"Once you’ve mastered not to drink, you can master anything," Cameron said.

"I could get a massive contract if I win this fight. I could be in a big money fight."

The two losses on Arthur's 25-fight record were to domestic rival Anthony Yarde in 2021 and to unified champion Dmitry Bivol last December.

Regardless of his impressive comeback story, Cameron, who has 23 wins and five losses, will be a big underdog against Arthur.

But he says he will not be fazed by the challenge.

"It's like a fresh start [for me]," Cameron said.

"We’re two men with two arms at the end of the day."

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