Boxing: Simmons decides not to go pro
Instead, the 26-year-old bronze medal winner will be taking a five-month sabbatical from ring action to secure his future by attending a five-week course in Newcastle later this month where he hopes to qualify as a personal fitness coach.
The former Scottish heavyweight champion said: "At my age, it is too late now to go pro as I would probably only ever end up fighting preliminary six-round bouts for less than a 1000 net so I have decided to stop boxing until the next Scottish championships in March 2011. Now my funding as a British squad team member has stopped, I have to secure my economic future.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"My plan is to qualify as a personal trainer then offer my services to Amateur Boxing Scotland in a paid capacity -then resume boxing in the Scottish championships next spring with an aim to making the London Olympics."