From a bet to a British title - meet Leicester's new champion

Some say fortune favours the bold, and in Sean Bruce’s case, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

Just over a decade ago, the boxer placed a bet on his local team – Leicester City – to win the Premier League in the 2015-16 campaign.

The rest is, of course, history.

However, after using his winnings from the miraculous gamble to buy a car, he is a champion in his own right following his British flyweight title triumph over Alfie Clegg via unanimous decision, walking out with his belt onto the King Power Stadium pitch on Tuesday night as Leicester beat Bristol City 2-0.

Bruce fought toe-to-toe with Clegg before beginning to land crunching hooks and body shots in the later rounds which ultimately gained him the nod from the judges on his debut in the division at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable,” Bruce said. “I had a great crowd come from Leicester, and they really spurred me on in the later rounds when it got hard in there. It was a night I’ll never forget.”

‘It’s not something I thought would be possible’

Sean Bruce is managed by Nottingham’s former WBF super-featherweight champion Carl Greaves [BBC Sport]

The 29-year-old’s love for the sport was ignited when he watched the film Rocky at a friend’s house, resulting in Bruce going to a gym in the South Wigston area of Leicester before he started training seriously.

Now, fights for the European and Commonwealth flyweight titles are on the horizon for Bruce, who has won eight and lost two of his professional bouts.

“Winning the belt was unbelievable, just a dream come true to be honest,” he added.

The odds were certainly stacked against him.

Last March, opponent Kaisy Khademi pulled out of a fight 20 minutes before his ring walk, while a few months later he was stopped after five rounds by Scotland’s Matty McHale in Glasgow.

“These experiences got me through this fight,” he said. “This is the first step to me changing mine and my family’s life.”

‘It was like seeing a younger version of myself’

Rendall Munroe was known as ‘The Boxing Binman’ because of his day job [BBC Sport]

Rendall Munroe at 2BX gym in Leicester. — Rendall Munroe was known as ‘The Boxing Binman’ because of his day job [BBC Sport]

Bruce’s trainer, former world title challenger Rendall Munroe, gained a cult following in Leicester as he balanced boxing with his day job as a binman.

Having fallen out of love with the sport, Monroe got his licence after being personally asked to coach.

Starting at 15, Monroe turned professional seven years later, managing to challenge Toshiaki Nishioka for the WBC super bantamweight title in 2010, before walking away from the sport for good at 32 after his fight with Josh Warrington in 2014.

“Me and Rendall have built such a bond over the years now, together we can pull through anything,” Bruce said.

“I told him that he’s changed my life after the fight and I meant every word of it.”

It was only after Munroe dropped Bruce with a body shot in sparring that the veteran trainer saw his talent up close.

“After the spar he said win, lose or draw, you’re good enough to turn pro,” Bruce said.

The British champion also trains with Munroe’s old strength and conditioning coach.

Munroe held European, Commonwealth and English titles – his protege has now claimed one of the only belts he never won.

He added: “I did tell him he could become a bit of a star in boxing. It was like seeing a younger version of myself.

“75% of this game is about mindset, and Sean was waking up early and finishing training late way before turning pro, so I thought if this is how far he’s willing to go on the unlicensed scene then what’s he going be like when he goes pro?”