Danny Costello: I took heroin all through my career

[bennie]

DANNY COSTELLO stopped thinking about Mother's Day 17 years ago but next Sunday will be the most important day of his life.
It is the day when he will find out if his past life has put an end to his boxing future.
Costello was one of British boxing's top amateurs 10 years ago but now his professional career is on hold. Next Sunday Danny must convince members of the British Boxing Board of Control he is deserving of a boxing licence and one final chance to realise his dream.
He said: "If the board refuse my licence I will have nowhere to go. Boxing has been my life for 15 years and getting in the ring has saved my life several times."
When Costello was just 11 his mother Mary died and from that point until just four years ago, he lived a truly wild and reckless life.
He added: "By the time I was 14, I was boxing at night and using heroin by the day. I was surrounded by drug users but as the years went by I kept winning amateur titles.
"All my friends in south London at the time were using hard drugs and most of them are now dead. I know if I had not been in the gym I would be in the ground with most of them."
The brilliant little flyweight won two ABA titles in 1994 and '95, a bronze medal at the European juniors in 1993 and a bronze medal the following year at the Commonwealth Games in Canada. His future in the pro ranks looked bright but few people knew about his secret life away from boxing surrounded by junkies and criminals.
When it was time to turn pro in 1996, Costello finally did something sensible and left south London and moved to Liverpool to be close to his manager John Hyland.
He revealed: "In London I only had my uncle Kenny and auntie Margaret to try to help me and in Liverpool I had John's full support. It was going okay for a time but I was being treated too well and I started to abuse the people who cared for me again.
"I never knew how to handle anything nice and before long I was at the WMCA and surrounded by people that knew all about drugs and street life. I went from one hell to another but John stood by me and in 2000 I finally turned the corner and met Nicola. Now I have two beautiful children and I have been clean since 2000."
As a pro, Costello had lost one in six fights but it took him nearly eight years to compile his record.
He was due to return to the ring last year but the local boxing board refused him a licence because of his past life. The news devastated Costello, which is why the boxer and Hyland will go before the Board next week and try to get a licence so the fallen fighter can finally show just how good he is.
Costello said: "I've never trained like I've been training the last two years and I know I can get a serious title in a very short period of time if I'm only given the chance.
"I want to prove I'm a good father. I want to fight for my two kids because I know I can still win a title and give them all the happiness I never had."

By Steve Royce

[TerribleTerry]

Always wondered what became of this 'sure thing' prospect.

I hope he has fully overcome his demons and can make his mark on the domestic scene.

[bennie]

Always wondered what became of this 'sure thing' prospect.

I hope he has fully overcome his demons and can make his mark on the domestic scene.

Will keep tabs on this and let you know. D-day, as you know, is next Sunday. Boxing News are also doing a story on this.

[KOJOE90]

If the guy has cleaned his life up, then I hope he is given the chance to rebuild his career and provide for his family by being able to Box.

[TerribleTerry]

Anyone know the outcome of this hearing?

Was a decision made there and then or do we have to wait for a verdict?

[bennie]

Anyone know the outcome of this hearing?

Was a decision made there and then or do we have to wait for a verdict?

As promised, Terry, having been keeping tabs on the outcome of the Board appeal, but no decision has been reached as yet.

[richter-scale]

anybody know what weight he's at these days...? really hope he gets a chance to prove himself and his potential.... i know what it's like when you really want to box but the people in the suits won't have it. i here he was a wasted talent. lets hope he proves us all wrong and fulfills he's potential.

[bennie]

anybody know what weight he's at these days...? really hope he gets a chance to prove himself and his potential.... i know what it's like when you really want to box but the people in the suits won't have it. i here he was a wasted talent. lets hope he proves us all wrong and fulfills he's potential.

Bantamweight, Dale.

[richter-scale]

anybody know what weight he's at these days...? really hope he gets a chance to prove himself and his potential.... i know what it's like when you really want to box but the people in the suits won't have it. i here he was a wasted talent. lets hope he proves us all wrong and fulfills he's potential.

Bantamweight, Dale.

Thanks pal... Depending on what happens to nicky, he may end up boxing for the vacant british???

[bennie]

anybody know what weight he's at these days...? really hope he gets a chance to prove himself and his potential.... i know what it's like when you really want to box but the people in the suits won't have it. i here he was a wasted talent. lets hope he proves us all wrong and fulfills he's potential.

Bantamweight, Dale.

Thanks pal... Depending on what happens to nicky, he may end up boxing for the vacant british???

I see Tommy has signed up Damean Kelly? That could be interesting for your good self over the next six months.

[richter-scale]

Bantamweight, Dale.

Thanks pal... Depending on what happens to nicky, he may end up boxing for the vacant british???

I see Tommy has signed up Damean Kelly? That could be interesting for your good self over the next six months.

YEAH, me and tommy have already talked about the possibilaty of boxing both jason and damien kelly this year!

[stujones]

Thanks pal... Depending on what happens to nicky, he may end up boxing for the vacant british???

I see Tommy has signed up Damean Kelly? That could be interesting for your good self over the next six months.

YEAH, me and tommy have already talked about the possibilaty of boxing both jason and damien kelly this year!

It might be better to go for Kelly first, been a bit inactive in recent years (I think that what cost him alot vs Pachecco). Mind you, I do think he's top class.

[Chambers]

It would be a travesty if the BBBC denied him a license due his past experiences. I know a number of people who take heroine and although the majority of them are trying to get off it, I only know one person who has been successful (after a number of attempts). It takes a monumental effort and if Danny has been clean since 2000 he deserves his license and it would be nothing short of cruel and heartless to deny him a shot at his dreams due to mistakes he made under exceptional circumstances when he was 11 years old.

I really hope the BBBC panel who decide whether or not he gets his license are in touch with the real world and understand what he has had to go through to get where he is today. If he does get rejected I will be e-mailin/writing a scathing letter to the BBBC

Good Luck Danny

[Chambers]

Has anybody heard the result of the appeal?

[bennie]

Has anybody heard the result of the appeal?

The result is due in later this month. Apparently, things are looking optimistic.

[THEBUTCH]

Danny was a cracking amateur at the Hollington ABC and was unstoppable as a flyweight in his last three seasons in the ABA's. He recorded some excellent wins over top amateurs such as Damien Kelly(very close) and Darrell Easton.

I wish him all the best with his appeal and hope if he gets the green light to resume his career he can salvage something. I could see a showdown with Nicky Booth being a scorching affair if Danny ever got himself in a position to challenge Nicky (and Booth is still British Champ ofcourse) .

[millwallno2]

any1 now of danny costello and were he is living.............wayne white

[bennie]

any1 now of danny costello and were he is living.............wayne white

The last we heard, he had fallen in love, was off drugs and living in Liverpool with his partner.

[bennie]

Oh, it says that in the piece.

[Glyn Leach]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Bennie. Would just like to wish Danny well.

[Buncey]

I thought that I recognised the start of the article...I was Steve Royce of the Sunday Mirror for about 15 years!
I see that this has been pulled back from obscurity by somebody posting for the first time. I'm always nervous of TV documentary makers coming on here and starting threads like..."does anybody know where Colin Derrick is...does anybody remember Danny Costello."
If it is an old friend of DC then it is fine, but if it is a little tosser from a film/TV company then I suggest that he/she gets the f*** away.

Adios/

[Glyn Leach]

Oooh! Was that your piece that's quoted then Bunce?

[winkveron]

If he's been clean 10 years then he MUST get his license back, 2nd chances and all of that.

How old is he now?

[Glyn Leach]

Coming up 35 according to some site called boxrec, last fought May 04. Originally posted in 04 too it seems, not sure why Bennie brought it back now but wish Danny well nonetheless.

[bennie]

I didn't bring it back.