TO say that 2016 has not been kind to Wiltshire boxers would be an understatement.

In 2015, the male prize fighters in the county were booming. However, fast forward 12 months and those fighters have been slashed in half to five, with two of them having to retire on medical grounds.

Nick Blackwell’s exit from the sport was felt by all following the 26-year-old being placed in a medically induced coma after losing his British middleweight crown to Chris Eubank Jr.

The Trowbridge fighter went on to make a remarkable recovery, however, in late November, an ill-advised sparring session in Devizes left Blackwell back in another medically induced coma, only to wake-up three days before Christmas.

Swindon cruiserweight Lawrence Bennett was another made to step away from the squared-circle when a routine brain scan picked up an anomaly forcing him out of not only his English title rematch with Matty Askin but also from the sport completely.

Joining Blackwell and Bennett in retirement is former IBO inter-continental champion Kelvin Young, while Garvey Kelly and Danny Bharj both left the profession.

With Boxing News releasing their annual British rankings, Swindon’s super-middleweight Jamie Cox is again the leading light for male fighters in the county.

The 30-year-old returned to the ring in October against Martin Fidel Rios, with the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist securing a points win, following a scrappy war in Bolton.

Despite seeing his world ranking with the WBO and WBA disappear, Cox remained the seventh best 12st fighter in the country according the boxing magazine.

Malmesbury’s Joe Hughes has dropped four places in the super-lightweight division to 16th after he lost and regained his English title in the past 12 months.

Unbeaten cruiserweight Luke Watkins, who is expected to fight for the Irish title in March, has jumped to 20th in the 200lb rankings after being 31st this time last year.

Watkins’ stable-mate Sam Smith has dropped five places in the Boxing News light-heavyweight division despite winning both of his fights last year.

However, Ryan Martin, who has now joined Watkins and Smith at Paddy Fitzpatrick’s gym in Ferndale Road, has moved up seven places in the welterweight category to 54th despite only having one bout, in June, during the past year.

Journeyman Joe Beeden, who was in the super-featherweight division last year, has stepped up in weight and is 95th out of 103.