Fists taped and drenched in blood, John Stephenson found himself in a field throwing punches in the most important fight of his life.
Days before his 50th birthday, the martial arts hall of famer, author and part-time actor found himself returning to the world of unlicensed bare knuckle boxing, desperate to earn the prize purse that would allow him to meet the family he never knew existed.
John Stephenson returned to bar knuckle boxing at 49 to earn the cash to meet his estranged family. Photo supplied
John had awoken the previous Saturday morning to a social media message, breaking the sad news that his estranged dad, also called John, had died.
The message was from sister Colleen, revealing the news that John – who splits his time between Spalding and Doncaster – had seven siblings he never knew existed.
“There was a lot to take in, but as soon as I heard, I knew I had to meet them. I was fighting for my new life,” John said.
John Stephenson in what he described as ‘fighting for my life’. Photo supplied
Refusing to quit in the bloody battle, which unfolded in the open air in Yorkshire, John gave everything; throwing and taking blows until his younger opponent quit the fight.
As his arm was raised in victory, John was bloodied and bruised, but his mission accomplished.
He had won enough cash to board the train and meet his family.
John with sister Sherrie. Photo supplied
After allowing himself time to recover, he set off on his mission of discovery.
Raised as an only child in Peterlee in the north east, John was still a youngster when his dad left home.
They only met up one further time, at his grandmother’s funeral, when John was a teenager.
John with sister Joanne and niece Olivia. Photo supplied
But the father and son parted ways with John unaware of the new life his dad had made for himself, or that he had four sisters scattered across West Yorkshire and three brothers on the south coast.
“I had an inking he may have moved on and had more children, but I never knew,” John added.
“I grew up as an only child as I didn’t know any different.”
Family members say John Stephenson looked just like his dad, also named John. Photo supplied
After leaving John and his mum Sue, John snr fathered sisters Colleen, Joanne and Sherrie, before Natasha was born from another relationship.
After moving to Portsmouth he became the father of three more sons, Ashley, Aaron and Josh with his latest partner.
John’s lifechanging message came after his father’s ashes were laid to rest in Durham.
John’s three brothers live in Portsmouth. Photo supplied
It was after the ceremony when his siblings made a pact to find the elder brother they had heard stories of but never met.
“At the wake Colleen and Ashley were talking and they mentioned John. Ashley said we should try to find him,” sister Joanne said.
“He was the missing piece in the puzzle. And the next day, lo and behold, Colleen found him.”
John is getting to know his family, including many nieces and nephews. Photo supplied
Like the rest of the family, Joanne is eager to make up for lost time with the eldest brother, who she lovingly refers to as ‘the fossil’ of the family.
“We were told about him growing up, but we’d never seen him or seen any real evidence,” she added.
“I saw a photo my dad had when I was about three but as I grew older I wondered was that really him or someone else?
John Stephenson has been inducted into several Martial Arts Hall of Fames. Photo supplied
“Until a month ago, he was like a fictional character that we’d occasionally hear about.”
Joanne had previously found herself compelled to search for John, even landing on his Facebook profile.
But with the homepage filled with videos of John’s achievements – from celebrity car pulls to nunchuck demonstrations – she told herself ‘there was no way one of my dad’s kids is a martial artist’ before continuing to scroll.
John with a world record certificate on the Last of the Summer Wine set. Photo supplied
However, there was no doubt left in the mind when the two finally spoke.
“He looks very much like my late dad, so it was quite daunting,” Joanne recalled.
“And he’s got the Geordie accent as well.
John Stephenson. Photo supplied
“When I first saw him on screen, on videocam, I was taken aback. It took some time to digest, but we’re getting on like a house on fire.”
For John, the past few weeks have seen him travelling the country to spend time with his siblings and getting to know his many nephews and neices, also introducing them to his daughters Skyler and Storm.
“It’s great to have a big family,” John said. “I’m still shocked but really loving it.
John Stephenson with a copy of The Guardian, his debut film. Photo supplied
“When I read the message from Colleen I knew it had to be true as all the information she gave me about my dad was bang on.
“I was anxious at first, thinking about what they would think of me. But we’ve had a brilliant time and I feel like I’ve known them all my life.”
Growing up without a father has led John to cram his life with a series of weird and wonderful passtimes, desperate to become a role model for his own children.
John Stephenson pulls the patrol car used in The Bill. Photo supplied
John trained as a boxer in his youth before moving on to kickboxing, his love for martial arts seeing him write numerous books on the subject, even earning the chance to interview Hollywood icon Steven Seagal.
He landed a role in the movie The Guardian, and also saw himself inducted into numerous Martial Arts Hall of Fames.
He also holds numerous world records, including one for the Machine Gun Punch, where he landed 300 blows in 30 seconds.
The next BA? John with the A-Team van. Photo supplied.
In recent years John and pal Mark Vallint have taken on a number of car pulls, with some iconic vehicles including the A-Team van, vehicles used in The Bill and Casualty, and the taxi used in hit movie Deadpool.
Doing this has also allowed him to set foot on the sets of Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine.
John also took on a 24-hour homeless challenge in 2021 to raise cash for charity.
John with the General Lee, the car used in the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. Photo supplied
His celebrity status has also seen him appear in the spotlight when an action figure of him was created, and songs were written in his honour.
John has also dabbled in the world of bare knuckle fighting, the brutal sport which allowed him to rise the funds to meet his long-lost family.
“I was in Doncaster and the friend I was with knew some fighters, and I told her i needed some money,” he explained.
Time for a cuppa and a car pull? John Stephenson outside Sid’s Cafe in Last of the Summer Wine. Photo supplied
“So I went down to the field, had the fight. I shed blood to get there. I was fighting for my life that day.”
After turning 50 earlier this month, John says that life-defining fight will be his final one as he bows out undefeated with a record of four wins from as many battles.
However, that’s not to say he won’t miss it.
John won his final bare knuckle fight. Photo supplied
“To fight bare knuckle, there’s no feeling like it,” he said.
“It’s a real adrenaline rush, I can’t explain it. It gives you a feeling – to be punched in the face is the most pleasurable thing.
“This sounds bonkers, I know. But it’s raw and real. It doesn’t hurt at the time, but it does the next day.
John Stephenson pays trbute to Last of the Summer Wine star Bill Owen during a visit to the set. Photo supplied
“My opponent was younger than me but there was no way I was going to quit.
“I respect him. I respect any man that does it. It’s dangerous, you’re one punch away from being killed.
“But I just had to beat him. If it wasn’t for fighting I wouldn’t have been able to meet my family. I’ve been estranged for 49 years, I’ve got to make up for lost time.”