Radcliffe Elite Amateur Boxing Club fighters to compete at Dobbies

Radcliffe Elite Amateur Boxing Club has organised its first action-packed bill of fights since before the pandemic, which will take place at Dobbies Sports and Social Club on Thursday, April 27.

There are set to be 16 of the Radcliffe club members fighting at the event at the Radcliffe Moor Road venue, ranging from youngsters aged from 11 up to seniors in their 20s.

Excitement has been building at the club in the run up to the event, with a crowd of 250 people set to cheer on the competitors.

Former boxer Ady Lewis, from Radcliffe, who won British and Commonwealth flyweight titles in 1997 and went on to win British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles in 2000, has been training fighters at Radcliffe Elite ABC for 20 years.

Ady helps to to run the club, welcoming children, adults and older people through the doors to help them exercise or train. 

He said the young fighters are looking forward to entering the ring on the night.

Ady, 47, said: “A lot of the fighters will be having their first proper fight and they are all a bit nervous but that’s normal.

“It should be a good night and it will be a good atmosphere.

“We now want to have two or three events like this a year.”

READ > Delight after boxing club moves into new gym

Ady Lewis with Radcliffe Elite ABC members in the gym (Image: Newsquest)

The club recently moved to Victoria Works on Sion Street after previously being based on Wolsey Street.

After seeking help to make sure the club stayed active, sponsors, donors and parents all teamed up to help find a new venue. 

And Ady said the move has gone “really well” with many using the facilities regularly.

His dad Denzel plays a major role in the match-making side of the club and echoes Ady’s positivity.

He added: “We have been very busy in the gym, it is full all the time.

“The interest for it is there in the town. When we put the tickets on sale they sold out quickly.”