Ring to robes

Martial arts fighter wins battle over self-doubt on way to academic success

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A former boxer who stepped back into the ring to secure success in two martial arts disciplines has admitted fighting his self-doubts has been his biggest challenge as he graduates in Stirling this week.

Dechlan Nicoll, originally from Livingston but now living in Alloa, is celebrating after completing his BSc Psychology degree at Stirling University following a gruelling period where he has balanced his studies with full-time work and a brutal training schedule.

The 33-year-old jumped back into the ring after completing his boxing career to try and achieve success in the worlds of Muay Thai and kickboxing-a journey which led him to become a World Kickboxing Organisation (WKO) C-class heavyweight world champion in both disciplines.

The tireless fighter balanced training around his semesters at university - and even a full-time job as an autism practitioner.

Dechlan said: "I felt like I had something left in the tank. I trained hard throughout my second year and really threw myself into a training camp at the end of the semester.