Anthony Ogogo insists boxing will always be his number one priority despite starring in hit BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing.

The 26-year-old recently underwent surgery after dislocating his shoulder in victory over Ruslan Schelev and was told he wouldn't be able to box for six months.

Strictly bosses offered Ogogo the chance to maintain his profile during his rehabilitation and, after receiving assurances from professionals he wouldn't aggravate the injury, agreed to do the show.

However, the Olympic bronze medallist insists he would give it all up now if he could box pain-free.

'I can't box for the minute and I'm still heartbroken about it,' he said. 'I'm really enjoying the experience but people who know me will know that all I want to do is box. If someone said to me that I could box tomorrow, pain-free and everything would be fine then I would leave the show tomorrow.

'But the sad fact is that I can't box at the moment - the situation is that after a long time out of the ring I came back and hurt my shoulder again. I was told that I can't fight again for another six months so I just thought 'what am I going to do now?'

'I had two options - I could either sit about any twiddle my thumbs for six months, moping about in the process. Or I can take this fantastic opportunity and do something constructive in the meantime.'

Ogogo has come in for criticism in some quarters for opting to do the show but defended his decision by insisting he had to put his family first.

'I haven't boxed enough due to injury and when you don't box you don't earn any money,' he added. 'This (Strictly) is a job - an enjoyable one and I've got to admit I'm loving every minute of it.

'But I'm like anyone else in that I've got to provide for my family – I've got a mortgage to pay like a lot of people. Just because I won an Olympic medal, they don't take that as currency down at your local supermarket.'

Don't miss Ogogo's Strictly Come Dancing column in Friday's EDP.