YORK'S former lord of the ring Henry Wharton has revealed a stunning admission to the Evening Press.

As the anniversary of his first world title fight against the legendary Nigel Benn reached its tenth year today, Wharton said that given the chance he would never return to the fight game.

And he added that the nearly man tag thrown at a still illustrious career did not faze him in the least.

Besides losing to Benn on points in 1994 he also lost 12-round verdicts in further world title cracks against Chris Eubank later that same year and then to Robin Reid in 1997. They were the only three setbacks he suffered in a 31-contest professional record spanning almost a decade and ending with an unparalleled record as undefeated British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight champion.

Now working as part of a family roofing and window firm, while also training several fighters at the gymnasium in the grounds of his palatial home near York, the 36-year-old Wharton (pictured above) said he would never take up the chance to return to the ring if he could turn back time.

"No. I would never go back to being a boxer," he told the Evening Press. "Not with what I now know what you have to go through.

"It's relentless. I just don't know how much weight I lost in sweat, or how much blood I lost in sparring.

"I loved the sport like nothing else. I had worked all my life at it. Remember, I started my apprenticeship in boxing when I was just 13 years old. But if somebody could give me the chance to go through all that again I would say no.

"It's a once in a lifetime job and I have done that."

The buzz of being the main man also held no lure for the man, whose daring exploits propelled York to the vanguard of the world sport in the mid-1990s as part of British boxing's most distinguished pugilistic periods.

Said Wharton: "I don't miss that at all. I've never missed being that centre of attraction thing. I am a family person. I'm one of 11 children and I never really got involved in all that hype."

The one-time king of the European 12-stone division, who occupied world number one challenger status three times, had reconciled himself fully to not landing the ultimate prize.

"I'm really happy I was around at that time in boxing. It was exciting. It had an appeal. There's very few boxers I would turn the television on for now.

"The most awful thing in the world is thinking 'could have, should have would have...'

"It was always a dread in my mind that when I first turned pro' I thought I've got to give it everything I had, because if I don't then for the rest of my life I'll wonder 'could I'?

"That's why I have put it to bed. I fought for the world title. Thank-you, I didn't win it. But I gave it my best and I couldn't give an ounce more. I'm happy with that. I could not give any more.

"I feel proud of my career and I'm not going to punish myself over it."

Updated: 10:51 Thursday, February 26, 2004