Brave dog saved in heroic rescue to star at bareknuckle boxing show

The dog who won the hearts of the nation after being trapped underground for more than a week has been invited to a bareknuckle boxing show by one her rescuers

A brave dog who survived being trapped underground for eight days is set for a starring role at a bareknuckle boxing show.

Rose, a Jack Russell, fell through a 12-inch gap in a rock face in Halifax on Thursday, September 26. With fire and rescue declaring a rescue operation too risky to attempt, a group of dog lovers rallied round in a bid to free Rose.

The determined crew spent days at the scene, with industrial tools brought in to excavate the rock. Meanwhile, water and food were thrown down to Rose to keep her alive before she was eventually freed last week.

Rose’s ordeal and successful rescue stole the nation’s heart, with the dog earning celebratory status. One of the rescuers is bareknuckle boxer Mark Tiffin, who fights on the BYB 32: Leeds Brawl show at the city’s John Charles Centre on Saturday night.

After hearing of Rose’s plight, Tiffin broke into training, travelling daily from his home in Knottingley, near Wakefield, and spending up to 15 hours a day at the site. “It was some poor kid’s dog, a family pet. The least I could do was try and get the dog out for them,” he told the Mirror.

The rescue was called off at one point when it was feared Rose hadn’t survived, but work soon resumed when the dog was heard barking again. Tiffin, 34, added: “The owner called us and we soon spun back around. On the Wednesday, we managed to get a machine with a jigger pick on the end. We used that for two days.

“For four days, the dog didn’t have a thing [to eat or drink] but we managed to see where she was after making a crack in the rock. I was feeding her and giving her water with a drainpipe and we managed to get her out. She actually ended up putting on weight!”

At the same time, Tiffin was cramming in training for his super-middleweight showdown against bareknuckle legend Paul Hilz. He said: “I’d go to training, travel home, then straight back to the rescue. I managed to still get it [training] done but I was more tired than I would have been.”

Rose will take centre stage again when she and young owner Logan, 12, walk Tiffin to the ring at the sold-out Leeds show. He said: “When the lad found out what I do, he was very interested. And because of how upset he was… I told him I would get the dog out and take him to watch my next fight. We’ve been given the green light by the venue and they’ll walk in with me.”

Victory over Hilz would pave the way to a future title shot for Tiffin, who credits the brutal sport for improving his mental health and keeping him out of trouble. The father of three explained: “Training and bareknuckle fighting is like medication for me.

“I’ve struggled for a lot of years [with his mental health]. I had a bad car accident in 2009 and lost one of my best friends. I’ve suffered since then.

“I used to be on a lot of medication but bareknuckle is my medication now. I’m off everything, I’m not taking any tablets anymore. If I wasn’t fighting, I’d end up being a menace.

“I’ve also had a lot of support from my friends, family and my sponsors, Cosa Nosta Wakefield, Deakin Autos and The Northern Cold Rooms. I hope it's a night to remember for them and Rose."

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