Bolton boxing scene booms
4:02pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in Boxing By Liam Chronnell
BOLTON is showing no sign of ring rust as the amateur boxing scene continues to boom.
The sport has exploded locally in the last 18 months with the town now boasting nine clubs — compared to two just over a decade ago.
Back then Bolton Lads Club and Halliwell were the only two affilitated to the Amateur Boxing Association.
When Tommy Battels’ Halliwell gym was forced to close, the fight game locally looked to be dead on its feet.
But, spurred on by Amir Khan’s Olympic success in 2004 when the teenage sensation won silver, boxing is now thriving.
And, according to Bolton boxing development officer Mark Liptrot, boxing’s growth in the area is unparralled to anywhere else in the country.
“It’s been incredible,” said Liptrot, who has also played a major part in the sport’s success since taking up the new position in January 2008.
“Bolton is leading the way in terms of national growth, but there are still areas — like Horwich, Westhoughton, Kersley, Bradley Fold and Little Lever — that we can develop further.
“We’ve now got nine clubs in the town, we’ve got another one, Lions ABC, in Great Lever which will be affiliated in the next couple of weeks.
“We’ve also been really busy in the schools as well. We visit them a lot and, since I took over, we’ve given tasters sessions to 3,290 children.
“It’s great for the kids — apart from the exercise aspect to boxing, it gives them discipline and focus, and helps keep them off the streets.
“Amir’s success was definitely what sparked the interest in the sport and we just tried to build that.
“We’ve also got European champion Jamie Moore living in Walkden and former world champion Enzo Maccarinelli now training at Elite in Bolton — we’re just going from strength to strength.”
Khan’s stunning display in the Olympics in Athens as a 17-year-old had inspired children across Bolton to pull on the gloves.
And Khan, pictured, who takes on Ukranian Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA world lightweight title on July 18, has been delighted with the sport’s rapid growth.
“Everybody is talking about the amount of boxers there are in the town,” said the former Commonwealth champion.
“I did a presentation at Castle Hill Leisure Centre and the kids aged seven, eight and nine-years-old did really well. I sparred with them on the pads and I was thinking to myself when I was their age I was never that good.
“They are challenging their aggression into a positive sport and helping them at school. That is exactly what happened to me.”
Khan’s own gym, Gloves, which celebrated its first anniversary back in January, is indicative of boxing’s growing popularity in Bolton, with more than 500 people coming through the doors every week.
The Prince Street community centre and boxing club run 12 different classes a week — all for just a £1 — and is open seven days a week.
But it is not just in the number of clubs in the area which demonstrate the sport’s good health.
“The number of coaches we now have is great,” said Liptrot. “When I came into the job, we had just six level one coaches and four fully qualified, now we’ve got 25 level one and nine fully qualified.
“As well as all the coaching courses, we’ve run two tutor courses, basically for people looking to take the first step on the ladder. It’s non-contact boxing but has been really popular and we’ve had 86 people, including females, on them in the last 18 months.”
Liptrot’s impact has been every bit as influential as Khan. Part-funded by the council and ABA, his job was initially for 18 months but has now been extended for three more years.
The 35-year-old, more commonly known as Tucker, has made great strides as boxing development officer, co-ordinating a group which brings the nine clubs together under one umbrella.
Moreover, in is his other role as registrar on the North West region ABA executive, he has been responsible for helping local clubs becoming affiliated, as well as bringing several national competitions to the town for the first time this year.
Liptrot said: “The development group has been great. We meet regularly and they all know they can pick up the phone to me if they need anything.
“In the past, the clubs all operated individually, which they still do, but we’re all pulling together now.
“With being on the executive, along with John Hart, who is the regional coach, it means Bolton are well represented on the 12-man committee which has obviously helped.
“A lot of the clubs used to get knocked back when they went for affiliation for silly little things like no first aid kit or fire extinguisher, but I’ve been able to help them with that and that has seen the number of clubs grow dramatically.
“We’ve got some really talented young boxers here too: Chris Blinkhorn and Haroon Khan, both of who have been involved with England, won the junior ABA finals and we hope will make the next Olympics, while Ben Cunliffe has trained with the Great Britain devolopment team “In the seniors, Danny Boswell is North West champion but we would like to get more coming through and following in Amir’s footsteps.”
With so many clubs now in the town, there could have been problems with rivalry — but nothing could be further from the truth, according to Jerry Glover, Bolton Lads and Girls Club chief executive.
“The more the merrier,” he said. “The more top quality facilities in Bolton the better it is.
“We have more than 150 coming down on a weekly basis and 20 carded fighters.
“It’s such a great sport for teaching youngsters the value of discipline and focus.
“It’s been incredible and long may it continue.”
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