Canvey middleweight Chris Goddard showed inspirational determination to claim a comeback win just seven weeks after recovering from meningitis.

The apprentice electrician from Benfleet came down with the illness in late September and required hospital treatment for three weeks.

But the highly-rated 20-year-old began his bid to regain fitness straight away at Canvey Boxing Club’s new gym at Charfleets Industrial Estate, and on the weekend he returned to the ring in the quarter-finals of the Senior ABA Novice Championships in Romford.

And he was delighted to come away with a points win over Finchley’s Sam Osbourne as he forced his bigger opponent back with hooks and right crosses in a three-round contest.

Canvey coach Glen Dainty called it a “remarkable” effort from an “inspirational” young boxer.

He said: “He came down with this illness but, like a lot of young men, was too proud at first to go to the doctors until his mum made him go. He was diagnosed with the early stages of meningitis and needed three weeks of hospital treatment.

“But he has always be conscientious and hard working and he worked so hard to make a remarkable recovery which saw him return to the ring just seven weeks after his release from hospital.

“He was a bit rusty, but he is a quality open class boxer, and that win will give him a big boost in confidence. And it came as no surprise to me that he won because, like so many of our lads here, he is an inspirational young man.”

Goddard returns to action on December 17 when he represents Essex against a Home Counties team at the Harlow dog track.

Canvey’s Joe Cook was also in action on the weekend as he made the trip to Oxford to box a 57kg bout with Luton’s Lew Diviney.

And after an even opening round, Cook dominated the next two with come away with a 20-8 points win to book a place in the national semi-finals.

For information on membership or sponsorship opportunities at Canvey ABC, call Mark Peters on 07956 558347.