A FORMER world champion boxer is to play himself in a stage version of the touching inspirational story behind his historic title fight.

Glenn McCrory, the region’s famous cruiserweight fighter, is returning to his hometown of Stanley in County Durham, to take part in Carrying David next year.

North-East playwright Ed Waugh has penned the screenplay, based on the McCrory’s autobiography of the same name.

It tells how as a young man growing up in Annfield Plain he would carry his disabled adopted younger brother to school on his back.

McCrory said David, who died in 1996, aged 29, helped him find the inner strength to defeat Patrick Lumumba in front of home crowd at the Louisa Centre in Stanley on June 3, 1989.

He said: “I came from nothing to win the world title and my inspiration was my handicapped brother who I used to carry to school from five-years-old until 11.

“He was also written off from 14, that he was going to die imminently, and he lived until he was 29.

“He was my inspiration for never giving up on the world title, and he was ringside when I did. I was flagging in the eighth and ninth round, but when I looked up and saw his face I knew I had to keep going.

“He lived longer than they thought he would and I won the world title I had been told I would never win.

“I got the pats on the back and the plaudits but his story was harder than mine.

“It is like Rocky meets My Left Foot.”

McCrory, who recently played the lead role in The Birds in Leicester Square, hopes the show will visit other theatres around the country, and said he would ultimately like to see it on Broadway in New York.

He is also releasing his book next year and is in talks to have his story made into a film.

But he is now planning to get in shape by dropping two stones to get under 15 stone for the show at the Alun Armstrong Theatre in Stanley Civic Hall in May.

McCrory said: “I am going to try to look 27 years younger, which is going to be hard, but I am going to try put on another epic performance.”

McCrory, 51, who has five children, and three grandchildren, became a presenter with Sky Sports after boxing, and has had several acting roles in shows filmed in the region.

He said any profits from the Civic Hall play will go to help pay for treatment for Stanley youngster Daniel Rainbow who has stage four neuroblastoma.

McCrory said: “We are taking any wages or profit. Once costs are covered the money is going to go to young Daniel’s family to help him win his fight.

“It is perfect to hold it first in the Civic hall because Stanley made me and this is payback.”

Carrying David, starring Glenn McCrory and directed by Adam Morely, will run at the Alun Armstrong Theatre, Front Street, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 0NA, from Tuesday, May 24, to Saturday, May 28.

Tickets, on sale now, cost £12 (£10 concessions) and can be booked by calling 01207-299110.