The Scientist - Levi Vaughan reveals how he went from homelessness and depression to obtaining a biology degree and turning pro

Levi Vaughan turns pro and promises to donate 20% of the money from ticket sales to Cancer Research UK

Debutant Levi Vaughan has had to overcome academic failures and homelessness, but now the punching scientist has set himself a new challenge as he makes his professional boxing debut on the BCB Promotions May 10th show at the H Suite in Edgbaston.

The 26-year-old, who resides in Birmingham, came to the sport later in life, at a time when things outside the ring were spiralling out of control.

“When I was 18, I found myself in a position where I had to sofa surf, and this was a key factor in failing my A-levels in science, said Vaughan. I was in a bad place mentally and needed to conjure up some determination and focus, which boxing helped with massively. I crawled out of my depression and eventually managed to get into the University of Bristol to study biology in 2018, which was a 2017 QS world top 10 university. I had promised my family I could do so.”

After a very brief amateur career, Vaughan found himself stepping into the BCB gym in Wednesbury and was immediately taken under the wing of trainer-promoter Errol Johnson and Paul Mann. A recent trip to Tenerife with some of the gym’s biggest names has cemented that feeling of being part of the BCB team.

“Errol and Paul have been extremely welcoming. I was able to go to the Canary Islands with the team to train hard, and this was a brilliant learning experience.”

Vaughan’s grandparents were both renown chemistry teachers, and a career in the sciences seemed like an inevitable path to take. He found his calling working in the X-ray industry for cancer research.

“My grandfather passed away a couple of years ago, but he just about lived to see me obtain my degree in biology. Cancer affects almost everyone in some way, and I see that firsthand in my work. I will be donating 20% of the money from my ticket sales to Cancer Research UK”.

“I’m feeling confident that training is going really well, and of course there will be a few nerves. I’m grateful that I have a slot on the card and can’t wait to get in the ring on the night.”.

Tickets for the show on May 10th are now available, priced at £40 standard and £80 VIP ringside, from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com