The 31-year-old boxer – who has now quit drinking – told how he hit the bottle after his controversial no-contest fight with Julio Cesar Martinez in 2019 but it and though he insisted he was never addicted to alcohol, he knows it had a “spiral effect” on his mental health.

Asked if he had an alcohol addiction, he told Boxing News magazine: “I wouldn’t say that but it has affected my judgement and been something that’s been more present in times when it shouldn’t have been.

“After the controversial ‘world’ title defence that was made a no-contest, I was probably only sober for about five days the following month.

“In between camps, after I became a ‘world’ champion, I was drinking occasionally here and there along the way but during the months that it went on, it messed me up so much mentally for a long period of time.

“It would affect other areas of my life as well and it was a spiral effect which would affect my anxiety. I couldn’t go to social events without drinking and if someone was looking at me, it would make me paranoid…

“Social media had a big impact on me after the fight. I read too many things along with [drinking].

“It was a real dark space, but that time has gone.”

Charlie is now feeling much stronger and more focused after giving up booze.

He said: “Battling through and coming through the other side means that I can go to any event where alcohol is present now, full of people, and not even think about it.

“I don’t feel anxiety anymore, or awkwardness, or worrying what people thought of me…

“Battling those demons and coming through makes me feel like a totally different person.

“I am much stronger and determined and it is my time again. Everything happens for a reason.”