FIGHTERS at Sheffield Boxing Centre have extended the glove of friendship to Terry Dunstan - despite his gangster background and long prison stretch.
The former European cruiserweight champion fights at Don Valley Stadium on Friday for the first time since December 1999.
In the intervening time, he has served an eight-and-a-half years for false imprisonment, blackmail and aggravated burglary.
It is an indelible black mark on the Londoner's character - but not one that worries boxers at his new Hillsborough base.
Super-bantamweight Ross Burkinshaw, who makes his own return to the ring on Friday after injury, says: "You have to deal with people as you find them yourself and he comes across as a really nice person in our gym.
"At Sheffield Boxing Centre, it doesn't matter what background you come from; you will be welcome if you are decent to those around you.
"I don't know what he did, but people say he has changed and he is certainly always willing to have a chat with the rest of the guys.
"How the public will take to him I don't really know we'll have to see."
Burkinshaw added: "Terry might be an old man at nearly 40 but he is fast and has good footwork, so I think his comeback will be a success. You never know he could get a shot at a title if he does okay."
Dunstan is scheduled to box at Don Valley against Featherstone journeyman Paul Bonson, a 36-year-old who has lost an astonishing 101 times in a 129-fight career.
Bonson was beaten on points by Manor Park's Jon Ibbotson at Doncaster Dome last month.
Tomorrow: The most important fight of Burkin-shaw's career.
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