Tommy Martin has revealed the real reason for his absence from the ring.

The St Neots fighter has not been seen since his WBC International and Commonwealth light welterweight war against John Wayne Hibbert on January 30.

Martin lost for the first time in his 14-fight professional career when being stopped by his vastly more experienced opponent in the final round of a thriller at the Copper Box Arena in London.

And he has now admitted for the first time that he suffered a bleed to the brain in the wake of that title showdown.

And while he received the all-clear from doctors, the 22-year-old is still awaiting permission from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoc) to resume his career.

In an interview with the iFL.TV Youtube channel, Martin said: “I haven’t told anyone up to now except for my close friends and family, but I’ve had a bleed on the brain.

“I feinted and got rushed into hospital straight after the fight, but was allowed out the following day.

“A couple of weeks later I was still getting headaches. I went into the gym to do a bit of shadow boxing, but I wasn’t feeling right and my trainer, Barry Smith, took me straight back to hospital.

“They found the bleed and I was kept in for a week, but I’m all good now.

“All my scans have been sent off to the board for their neurologists to look at and it is just a case of waiting for them to say I can fight again.

“Hopefully I can get the green light this week or next to get back into the ring again.

“It feels like I’ve been out forever and I’ve got to thank my fantastic sponsors Junction 17 Cars and Care Building Services, and also MGM Marbella who have done absolutely everything they can for me.”

Martin won the English and WBA Continental belts during a 13-fight winning run at light-welterweight.

But the defeat to Hibbert has prompted him to step down a division at lightweight when able to get back into the ring.