The Comeback - From life threatening accident to world champion

Angelo Antonio
Age: 24
Born in Portugal - Raised in Ipswich

On Saturday July 8th 2017, Angelo Antonio's world turned upside down. A promising young mixed martial artist not only had his career cut short, but nearly his life. A head-on car collision with a drunk driver left Angelo paralysed from the waist down, he was lucky to be alive.

With an MMA record of 6 wins and 2 losses at 18, Angelo was on the road to success. But when the tragedy happened it looked like his career in sport was over. Angelo was left not being able to walk for 12 months with no feeling from the waist down, this would be his ultimate test of strength and resilience.

He was used to pushing his mind and body to the limit every day, Angelo was now wheelchair bound and had no hope of ever walking again, let alone getting back to peak physical fitness.

“A setback only paves the way for a comeback” - Evander Holyfield

After the worst 12 months of his life, Angelo decided he couldn’t live his life this way. It wasn’t his destiny, he had more to give. With the help of his close family and friends, and finding the once unbreakable mindset he used to rely on daily, he began his comeback.

Through hours of research and endless medical appointments, Angelo set about proving everyone wrong who told him he’d never walk again. Enduring shock therapy on his legs for many months, a flicker of feeling returned into his right leg. This was all he needed, the comeback was now well and truly on. The therapy continued, as well as introducing other techniques like acupuncture and reflexology into his legs for hours each day.

The more time went on, the more feeling Angelo got back in his legs. He was getting stronger by the day. The key to his recovery was making small improvements. Step by step, he was defying the law of nature. There was nothing that could stop him once he was able to stand unaided. The plan was put in place, and the road to becoming world champion was now back on.

Who was to going to tell Angelo that this was unattainable? He was proving people wrong every day, in no time he was walking again. His walking became faster, this then turned into a jog, which then turned into a run. As if by miracle within 6 months of when he first got the feeling back in his right leg, Angelo decided to do the unthinkable and put the gloves back on.

The stamina was returning and he could feel the power once again, making up for lost time Angelo left nothing in the gym. The comeback to peak physical fitness was complete and the road to becoming Portugal's first ever world champion had begun.

Having reinvented himself as a boxer, Angelo has decided to leave MMA in the past and focus on the art of boxing. Still mesmerising people with his story as one of the greatest comebacks many have ever seen- Angelo is only just getting started!

A true inspiration to everyone.

Follow Angelo’s journey here https://www.instagram.com/angelo.aj.antonio/ @angelo.aj.antonio

Keep an eye out for the full interview with Angelo on our social channels this month @freetrain

#comebackszn

#bebetter