Tommy Frank: The fight I wish I'd taken
Former Commonwealth and British title holder Tommy Frank looks back on his career with just one regret
Ten years ago, this month, Sheffield's Tommy Frank launched a boxing career that was to deliver glittering titles and memories that will last a lifetime.
He debuted against wily Estonian journeyman Sergey Tasimov at the Magna Centre, Rotherham, the first of 20 professional fights.
In a golden period between 2018 and 2023 he fought for and defended Central Area, Commonwealth and WBC International belts, winning the British flyweight title in 2021.
He proved himself as a proud and steady domestic talent, operating out of Sheffield Boxing Centre.
Like any professional boxer, there were highs and lows.
And today Tommy, who now runs his own boxing academy from the former Frecheville Methodist Church, revealed some of the regrets which went alongside the titles and glamour.
'Super' Tommy packed in campaigning after a first-round stoppage to the highly-talented Galal Yafai in Birmingham, three years ago.
"I didn't go out the way I wanted. That bugged me for a while. I didn't want to hang up the gloves the way it turned out. But it had been coming."
Tommy, from Intake, had won the Commonwealth at 25, and the British aged 28.
"I suppose I was in my prime at 25 and that was when my confidence was at it highest. I didn't have to care about anything else other than boxing.
"Looking back, I wish I had got bigger fights around that time.
"I wish I'd taken the Sunny Edwards fight around 2019 but my manager and promoter (Dennis Hobson) had wanted to take a different route and put it on the back burner so it could eventually be built up with a big title.
"It is one of my few regrets not standing firmer on that and saying: 'This is what I want to do' but I was probably level below him, to be honest, and went with Dennis' advice.
"I am not saying it was wrong advice, it was probably the right advice.
"And I am not saying I would have beaten Sunny, he was a class amateur and had a lot of a natural talent. But at that age I probably had my best chance of beating him.
"A couple of years later he went on to win the world title and was leagues above me."
Frank admitted he'd had a feeling he was on his way out of the sport some time before he actually quit.
However he takes joy in recalling the early stages, including his first outing against Tasimov.
"It was brilliant debut at Magna. I had a really tough old journeyman against me. But I had Glyn Rhodes, Matt Mowat and Les Tomlinson in my corner and I won it on a points decision.
"So much has happened in the sport since then. The biggest change in boxing is probably social media - it has gone through the roof and brought the sport to a wider audience."
These days, the family man describes himself as "very happily retired from the ring" and is building his fitness business in Frecheville and elsewhere across Sheffield. He also helps people with dementia.