"I was IBF Light Welterweight Champion - and that covered a third of the world. Well, Well, being as the other two thirds of the world are covered in water, it ain't too bad" - Terry Marsh on Walsall Hospital Radio, Sunday January 29th 2006.

I read Terry's book with interest, remembering how his fights had been part of my weekend entertainment along with Wrestling

, comics and "Pure Strength" - televised strongman competitions.  I was quite young, so didn't really notice what was going on outside the ring, so reading his own account of his life and career were new ground for me.

Terry tell us how he aspired to bin in the Military, as I once did, and I identified with his motivations. His journey through the ranks of the Marines, his experiences in Northern Ireland make exciting reading. It's easy to see Terry shaping himself into the champion that he will become, developing his mental strength that will later be vital in his survival against the worst of situations. His account of his ultimate boxing victory is covered with surprising honesty, revealing the doubts that he had during the height of action. His subsequent dealings with the media, and financial arrangements with his management team were also enlightening, and not what I would have expected. Terry's departure from fighting following victory in his first defence is compelling reading. I never knew how bad it got for Terry and am sorry to say that I never gave it a thought.

Of course, Terry Marsh's story is as much about battling with unfortunate events outside his control as it is with pugilistic opponents. Luck seems to desert Terry with disaster seemingly following every positive effort. It is here that his strength of character and champion's attitude protect him from the

depths of despair that would surely have polished off many in similar circumstances.  Marsh's account of how he kept himself in shape whilst in prison is also notable, as it shows that even in the worst of situations exercise can play a valuable part of keeping healthy and maintaining a positive attitude. It would have been natural for some to have slumped into inactivity and depression. Terry's victory in the courts did little to bring him back into the public consciousness in a positive way.  The front page sensational headlines of the accusation were remembered long after the subsequent acquittal. Before the shooting of Frank Warren, Terry was promoting his own fight and becoming a regular on Television, but after he faced financial ruin the papers and media moved on to finding new people to build up and knock down.

For me, the story of his imprisonment was especially revealing because at the time I had been so dismissive of the whole thing, I had assumed Terry Marsh to be innocent and was proved right. I had no thoughts of what had happened in between. How would any of us have reacted in similar circumstances. That's the question that Marsh's boo puts to the reader.

Today, Terry Marsh is very active, working as a stockbroker and still doing celebrity things.  He's become a good friend of Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club, and I was delighted to interview him live on Walsall Hospital Radio.  We talked about Amir Khan, TV deals, celebrity television and the media. "To me, you're a super hero Terry, Judge Dredd and Big Daddy" I told him. "Well, I'm flattered to be mentioned in the same breath as Judge Dredd and Big Daddy" he replied.

Terry's book is available from his website <www.terrymarsh.biz>