A TEENAGER who won the fight of his life is preparing for his next bout.

Sam Haines, 18, of Foxhall Road, Didcot, went to the doctor before Christmas last year with a pain in his neck and pins and needles in his hands.

He was diagnosed with cancer and immediately began treatment.

But having bravely won that fight, he has no intention of taking it easy.

In two months, he steps into the boxing ring to take on a 6ft 2in, 17 and a half stone railway worker in a charity bout.

Sam is no stranger to the “sweet science” and is a member of a boxing club at Inspirations Health Club in Broadway, Didcot. But this will be his first public clash.

Sam said: “I had a huge lump on the left side of my neck and it was making it difficult for me to walk.

“The cancer had attached itself to my spine, and the doctors had to check that it had not done any damage to it. Thankfully it hadn’t.

“Radiotherapy was used to kill off the tumour and I had chemotherapy for most of last year, losing my hair as a result.

“The latest tests show that the treatment has worked – there is nothing there at the moment so I am in remission, but I won’t be given the all-clear for a number of years.”

Sam, who lives with his mum Lucy, 46, brothers Jake, 16, and Joe, 14, and sister Rose, 12, has been on a uniform public services course at Abingdon and Witney College and is planning to join the Army.

He said: “I am considering joining The Rifles. I definitely want to go into the infantry, and it would be great if I could go in at officer level.”

The fundraising bout at the Regal Centre in Wallingford on Saturday, September 17, is expected to raise about £1,500 for the CLIC Sargent charity, which helps children and young people with cancer.

Sam will take on fellow club member Chris Deacon, 37.

Sam expects to weigh in at about 15 stone, and is about 6ft 2in.

He said: “There are quite a few people I know who are going to be watching the bout and I’m more worried about putting on a good show than getting beaten. But I like most fighting sports, lift a lot of weights in the gym and have started training with Didcot Rugby Club.”

Sam said he wanted to raise funds for CLIC Sargent because its volunteers supported him and his family when he was a patient at Oxford Children’s Hospital.

He said: “I’ve seen at first-hand what a difference their volunteers make, so I want to do something to help.”

Will Griffiths, who runs boxing classes at the health club, said: “Sam has been through a hell of a lot and used to come in for training even when he was feeling nauseous through his treatment.

“This bout will be nothing compared to the fight he has already had.

“It will be a walk in the park compared to what he has been through.

“Sometimes Sam’s energy is still a bit low, but it is a personal goal for him that he can do anything if he puts his mind to it.”

Mr Griffiths said there would be six bouts of three two-minute rounds on September 17, and he invited Sam’s friend’s, supporters and well-wishers to come along and cheer for him.

He added: “We have approached CLIC Sargent to tell them that we are planning to help raise funds for their charity.”