A 13-year-old boy from Bexley, southeast London, has been forced to give up his dream of becoming a professional boxer after a benign spinal tumour left him paralysed from the waist down. James Lewis had been training at a boxing gym twice a week since the age of five, but his life changed dramatically in March 2021 when he woke up unable to feel his legs.
James's father, also named James, described the moment his son tried to stand and 'fell to the floor like jelly'. Scans later revealed an 18cm benign tumour entwined with his spinal cord, which had haemorrhaged and was compressing the cord. The tumour is too dangerous to remove surgically, so James has undergone multiple operations and chemotherapy treatments to manage his symptoms.
The tumour has caused James to lose his balance and footwork, ending his boxing aspirations. However, he has taken up fishing, which his father says has been 'truly amazing' for him as it remains accessible despite his condition. In January 2026, James underwent his most recent surgery after losing function of his legs, bowel and bladder. He is currently in rehabilitation and has not yet regained feeling in his legs.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise £4,500 for an electric wheelchair. James's father said the diagnosis was 'the worst news you could ever really have', but praised his son's resilience. James is expected to restart chemotherapy after completing his rehabilitation programme.
