The boxer, who told him he would never fight again after developing a life-threatening blood clot, described feeling “euphoric” after winning his first professional fight.
Reuben Muston, from Reading, is believed to be the first boxer in the world to be granted his professional license after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.
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He was diagnosed with aplastic anemia after his nose stopped working for 24 hours during the 2022 national final fight.
He beat Jake Pollard on points at Harrow Leisure Center on Saturday and said it “really meant something special”.
He said he knew the significance of the occasion before entering the ring on Saturday, and the atmosphere in the London venue was “unbelievable”.
“I’m trying to prove to people that you can come back from anything and everything, really believe in winning that fight,” he said.
“I’ve had 200 of my closest friends and family who have been with me throughout the journey – they’ve seen me at my absolute worst, at my lowest.
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“When I win, it’s not just me, it’s everyone. It really means something special.
“We had the whole place dancing.”
“Unbelievable,” Muston said. “The feeling of having your arms raised when you win a fight is euphoric.”
He said he would fight again before the end of the year.
“It’s only the first step on the ladder – we’ve come so far, we’ve got a moment behind us that needs to be built and we’re getting better,” he said.
“I’m not taking my life for granted right now. I’m not sitting around. I’m not procrastinating. You know, I’ll take opportunities whenever they come.”
Muston trains six days a week while he waits for his first professional fight [BBC]
Then 18 years old, Muston competed in the highest level of amateur boxing when he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia.
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He underwent a stem cell transplant, using cells donated by his father, Danny, along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Returning to the ring after two and a half years, he did so, winning gold at the national championship.
Speaking after being awarded his license earlier this year, Muston said that despite his career being cut short, he “always saw myself coming back”.
Muston’s license was granted by the British Boxing Board, the governing body for professional boxing in Great Britain.
Applicants must pass an extensive medical examination, including blood tests and a brain scan, before a license can be approved.
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