Jimmy First - the 41-year-old undefeated boxing champion who had his hand run over and still kept winning

Less than a month ago, the Brighouse-based lightweight was set for a quiet end to 2022 after moving his professional record to 14-0 with three wins and a Central Area title triumph in the last 12 months.

But then out of nowhere a fourth bout of the year emerged when he was approached by promotional company Boxxer and offered the chance to fight live on Sky Sports against 17-0 Cori Gibbs in a lightweight contest in Bournemouth.

The catch? His manager was only informed of the opportunity 10 days out from the first bell.

However, First - who only turned pro aged 36 - is not one to shirk a challenge.

And after eight hard-fought rounds, First's arm was raised as the victor on the south coast.

Gibbs had points deducted during the contest for losing his gumshield but even if those points were kept, the fight would have ended as a draw.

"It was great to get a big win on the big stage,” First told The Yorkshire Post.

"It was a week and three days - basically I walked into the gym and saw my trainer and he said there was a fight on December 17 if I wanted it.

"We didn't make a decision straightaway, we had a look at him and we thought could we beat him?

"He had a bit of recent inactivity but I have fought three to four times every year.

"You have to take these opportunities, because if you don't try you don't know.

"Who dares wins - you have got to go for it.

"We dragged him into deep waters and I swam better than him.

"It was not just about technical boxing, we dragged him into a bit of a war. That grit pushed me through.

"We were in his face all night. I am pleased to get the win.

"It was annoying with the gumshield but we remained professional and got the job done.

"The referee would have scored it as a draw without the point deductions. I was in the fight all the way. He saw things on the inside.

"Cory Gibbs is a very good boxer but if I had a full camp, things would have been very different again I am sure."

It has been somewhat of a bizarre year for First.

In March, he knocked out Justin Newell, who was 13-0 ahead of the fight, to win the Central Area title before following that up with two more wins.

He was due to fight in July but on the day of the contest, a freak accident ruled him out of action for a number of weeks.

He continued: "I had a bizarre accident when I had a car run over my hand on the day of a fight.

"I was meant to be fighting in July and went into Halifax to get some chicken and rice. As I got parked up I went to put a pound in the parking metre but it slipped out of my hand and landed in front of the back wheel of a parked car.

"But as I went to pick it up the car moved and rolled over my hand - on the day of a fight.

"It was my friend as well who was in the car as I went to the window and told him he'd just driven over my hand!

"I came home and my hand was swollen. I went to the hospital and had an x-ray and it was three fractured fingers.

"I have had a mad year with some good wins, a few months recovery and coming back to win on Sky Sports."

Now in his 40s, how did First arrive in boxing so late?

He didn’t set foot in Halifax Boxing Club until he was 27 and had his first amateur contest at the age of 29.

After 26 bouts, and plenty of consideration, he decided to make the step into the professional game aged 36.

The Yorkshireman has since immersed himself in the sport, sparring with the likes of Josh Warrington and Maxi Hughes and has spent time training in gyms in the Philippines, Mexico, Cuba and the Canary Islands.

His win over Gibbs has now shot him into contention for more titles, as he eyes a shot at the English or British belt in 2023.

"Hopefully there are some big plans - there could be a big title coming and some big fights. The future is looking good for 2023," he added.

"My manager has already been talking about potential offers. Maybe I can go and fight for an English or British title and then me and Gibbs could have a rematch."

Now aged 41, when does he think about hanging up his gloves?

"I am still learning and I am still fresh. I was not at my best for that fight with Cori Gibbs as I only took it on a week's notice, I had not got the correct sparring in," he insisted.

"It is a rough sport and a tough sport and taking knocks to the head - you do think about injuries later on in life. But I want to keep going, I want a few more big fights and a few more paydays."

His win over Gibbs proves that for First, age really is just a number.