Untapped areas UK/Ire boxing

[peter barlow]

If we're to go off the theory that deprived areas produce more boxers then in England you'd expect there is untapped potential talent in areas like Blackpool and Middlesbrough. Also Burnley, Blackburn, Bradford.

Is there much happening in these areas? Brian Rose from Blackpool still on the go.

[peter barlow]

Portsmouth is another area that seems like is unexplored talent wise.

Over here I reckon Derry, pretty deprived area struggling to think of much since Paul McCloskey. I'd also throw in Dublin not deprived as such in most areas. But for sheer size and history, the Pro Boxing scene is not producing much. Most of the best Irish boxers in recent years aren't even Dubs.

[D4v3]

Was surprised to find out Kal Yafai was Birmingham’s first world champion, working class city of over a million people you’d have expected it to have produced a fair few, Liverpool Manchester Sheffield Edinburgh all smaller with more world champions

[peter barlow]

Was surprised to find out Kal Yafai was Birmingham’s first world champion, working class city of over a million people you’d have expected it to have produced a fair few, Liverpool Manchester Sheffield Edinburgh all smaller with more world champions

That's mad, I would have thought the same. Frankie Gavin never reached that level. I suppose success breeds success like in places like Sheffield. Good gyms and training can be an issue.

Seems to be on the up now Birmingham, a lot of shows and prospects coming through.

[D4v3]

Was surprised to find out Kal Yafai was Birmingham’s first world champion, working class city of over a million people you’d have expected it to have produced a fair few, Liverpool Manchester Sheffield Edinburgh all smaller with more world champions

That's mad, I would have thought the same. Frankie Gavin never reached that level. I suppose success breeds success like in places like Sheffield. Good gyms and training can be an issue.

Seems to be on the up now Birmingham, a lot of shows and prospects coming through.

Joe Costello was another top amateur who I thought would do big things as a pro, pretty sure he got injured out the ring though

[dookus]

Considering it's long had the several of the poorest areas in Europe (let alone England), the almost total lack of professional boxers from Cornwall surprises me. Although maybe the lovely beaches dissipate the rage

[peter barlow]

Considering it's long had the several of the poorest areas in Europe (let alone England), the almost total lack of professional boxers from Cornwall surprises me. Although maybe the lovely beaches dissipate the rage

I wouldn't be that familar with it but I wonder does it lack large enough urban centres. May also be again a lack of good or many boxing gyms. No football team of note either.

It's quite hard to penetrate rural areas too. I'm from rural area in Ireland, boxing would be more popular here plenty of clubs in small towns and villages. But it's hard to keep the lights on, the numbers wouldn't be there. And anyone moving up to any standard would need better gyms and training elsewhere.

[Bleak]

I’d like to see where I am from In Stoke bring a few more good lads out .We have had decent lads in quite recent times like Chris Edwards and Scott
Lawton . Nathan Heaney flying the flag right now though.

[peter barlow]

I’d like to see where I am from In Stoke bring a few more good lads out .We have had decent lads in quite recent times like Chris Edwards and Scott
Lawton . Nathan Heaney flying the flag right now though.

Stoke certainly another. Nathan Heaney carrying that flag now for sure, talk even of him fighting at the stadium? Issue will be if he steps up. Warren needs the Stoke football crowd because he does so many tickets, seems like he'll be protected

[peter barlow]

I’d like to see where I am from In Stoke bring a few more good lads out .We have had decent lads in quite recent times like Chris Edwards and Scott
Lawton . Nathan Heaney flying the flag right now though.

What are the gyms like in Stoke? Is there many?

[dookus]

Considering it's long had the several of the poorest areas in Europe (let alone England), the almost total lack of professional boxers from Cornwall surprises me. Although maybe the lovely beaches dissipate the rage

I wouldn't be that familar with it but I wonder does it lack large enough urban centres. May also be again a lack of good or many boxing gyms. No football team of note either.

It's quite hard to penetrate rural areas too. I'm from rural area in Ireland, boxing would be more popular here plenty of clubs in small towns and villages. But it's hard to keep the lights on, the numbers wouldn't be there. And anyone moving up to any standard would need better gyms and training elsewhere.

Yeah very good points. Mostly it's small towns and villages, not many boxing gyms, and people don't have £40 to spend on tickets for small hall shows anyway. Nearest promoter of note is Chris Sanigar 150 miles away in Bristol.

[Bleak]

I’d like to see where I am from In Stoke bring a few more good lads out .We have had decent lads in quite recent times like Chris Edwards and Scott
Lawton . Nathan Heaney flying the flag right now though.

What are the gyms like in Stoke? Is there many?

Hulton Abbey (Which is now in City Centre)
Impact (Scott Lawton’s Gym)
Queensbury (probably the best known one )
There are quite a few of them gyms that have just popped up as they do, ones that I don’t think have Am boxers more white collar in Stoke

Near by Newcastle Under Lyme has Both Silverdale and Orme (Heaney Boxed here i think )and then Leek has Keatsy (former area champion)Boxing Academy. There may be more but those are the ones from stoke and surrounding area I know of.

[peter barlow]

I’d like to see where I am from In Stoke bring a few more good lads out .We have had decent lads in quite recent times like Chris Edwards and Scott
Lawton . Nathan Heaney flying the flag right now though.

What are the gyms like in Stoke? Is there many?

Hulton Abbey (Which is now in City Centre)
Impact (Scott Lawton’s Gym)
Queensbury (probably the best known one )
There are quite a few of them gyms that have just popped up as they do, ones that I don’t think have Am boxers more white collar in Stoke

Near by Newcastle Under Lyme has Both Silverdale and Orme (Heaney Boxed here i think )and then Leek has Keatsy (former area champion)Boxing Academy. There may be more but those are the ones from stoke and surrounding area I know of.

That's pretty decent I'd say, having the ex pros around like Lawton and with their gyms can really improve things.

Heaney as well is a help locally I'd say because it gets people talking and interested. He's also liable to get prominent positions on allegedly cards due to ticket sales.

Separate from in the ring but the fact Heaney can sell thousands tickets shows there is interest locally in the support. I know people say football but everywhere has a football club they don't sell tickets most of the time.

[KiwiRider]

I don't know why the expectation that poor areas might produce great boxers is all about?
Even if the gym is free, which it never 100% is, the boots/gloves/wraps aren't and neither is the transport or accommodation needed to get to the gym or compete in any amateur bouts even within the area.
Poor families gonna front up for a pair of boxing boots that will be grown out of in a year, over the cost of just surviving?
Nah, ya dreamin.

[Bleak]

I don't know why the expectation that poor areas might produce great boxers is all about?
Even if the gym is free, which it never 100% is, the boots/gloves/wraps aren't and neither is the transport or accommodation needed to get to the gym or compete in any amateur bouts even within the area.
Poor families gonna front up for a pair of boxing boots that will be grown out of in a year, over the cost of just surviving?
Nah, ya dreamin.

Agree with some parts of that and that’s the reason some of these children are out there on the streets being exploited. There is only so much boxing can do. Some of the children you refer to do end up in boxing gyms but In some cases in as part of a pupil referal unit, or something social services fund for a limited amount of time.

[peter barlow]

I don't know why the expectation that poor areas might produce great boxers is all about?
Even if the gym is free, which it never 100% is, the boots/gloves/wraps aren't and neither is the transport or accommodation needed to get to the gym or compete in any amateur bouts even within the area.
Poor families gonna front up for a pair of boxing boots that will be grown out of in a year, over the cost of just surviving?
Nah, ya dreamin.

I'd disagree mate, most fighters come from lower economic backgrounds or working class backgrounds. Doesn't mean their living on the streets or unable to afford food or boxing gear.

Kids don't really need all that money to compete or train, trips away yes but there is always fundraising etc by clubs. It's not a very cost prohibitive sport.

Of course there's plenty of fighters who come from very wealthy backgrounds too. Only need to look at Benn Jr and Eubank Jr, there's many many others. Not saying it makes a difference either, but there is more interest in deprived areas imo.

[peter barlow]

It's not just boxing either they do say the same for football. But I'd say it applies more to boxing.

[KiwiRider]

I don't know why the expectation that poor areas might produce great boxers is all about?
Even if the gym is free, which it never 100% is, the boots/gloves/wraps aren't and neither is the transport or accommodation needed to get to the gym or compete in any amateur bouts even within the area.
Poor families gonna front up for a pair of boxing boots that will be grown out of in a year, over the cost of just surviving?
Nah, ya dreamin.

Agree with some parts of that and that’s the reason some of these children are out there on the streets being exploited. There is only so much boxing can do. Some of the children you refer to do end up in boxing gyms but In some cases in as part of a pupil referal unit, or something social services fund for a limited amount of time.

If I couldn't cycle the 32kms round trip to the ymca, on the bike my dad got from the dump, I would never have got the chance to even train.
Poor might equal tough, but poor also puts a lot of things in front of sports. Be it survival or addictions.

[peter barlow]

I don't know why the expectation that poor areas might produce great boxers is all about?
Even if the gym is free, which it never 100% is, the boots/gloves/wraps aren't and neither is the transport or accommodation needed to get to the gym or compete in any amateur bouts even within the area.
Poor families gonna front up for a pair of boxing boots that will be grown out of in a year, over the cost of just surviving?
Nah, ya dreamin.

Agree with some parts of that and that’s the reason some of these children are out there on the streets being exploited. There is only so much boxing can do. Some of the children you refer to do end up in boxing gyms but In some cases in as part of a pupil referal unit, or something social services fund for a limited amount of time.

If I couldn't cycle the 32kms round trip to the ymca, on the bike my dad got from the dump, I would never have got the chance to even train.
Poor might equal tough, but poor also puts a lot of things in front of sports. Be it survival or addictions.

For sure I'd agree there

[mickey1975]

Middlesbrough and Bradford have very good amateur gyms. Some up and coming pros in Bradford too.

[peter barlow]

Middlesbrough and Bradford have very good amateur gyms. Some up and coming pros in Bradford too.

From what I've read Boro is a tough place. Lee Duffy had a fierce reputation

[mickey1975]

Middlesbrough and Bradford have very good amateur gyms. Some up and coming pros in Bradford too.

From what I've read Boro is a tough place. Lee Duffy had a fierce reputation

Middlesbrough is extremely rough. The Duffy story has grown recently because of the books written on him. By all accounts, they're all true.

[stu 27]

I’d like to see where I am from In Stoke bring a few more good lads out .We have had decent lads in quite recent times like Chris Edwards and Scott
Lawton . Nathan Heaney flying the flag right now though.

What are the gyms like in Stoke? Is there many?

Hulton Abbey (Which is now in City Centre)
Impact (Scott Lawton’s Gym)
Queensbury (probably the best known one )
There are quite a few of them gyms that have just popped up as they do, ones that I don’t think have Am boxers more white collar in Stoke

Near by Newcastle Under Lyme has Both Silverdale and Orme (Heaney Boxed here i think )and then Leek has Keatsy (former area champion)Boxing Academy. There may be more but those are the ones from stoke and surrounding area I know of.

Your point about the white collar gyms is the same in Birmingham,loads about now at the detriment to amateur gyms

[mickey1975]

What are the gyms like in Stoke? Is there many?

Hulton Abbey (Which is now in City Centre)
Impact (Scott Lawton’s Gym)
Queensbury (probably the best known one )
There are quite a few of them gyms that have just popped up as they do, ones that I don’t think have Am boxers more white collar in Stoke

Near by Newcastle Under Lyme has Both Silverdale and Orme (Heaney Boxed here i think )and then Leek has Keatsy (former area champion)Boxing Academy. There may be more but those are the ones from stoke and surrounding area I know of.

Your point about the white collar gyms is the same in Birmingham,loads about now at the detriment to amateur gyms

I know a very good amateur looking for sparring in the West Midlands. He's lived up here for a while but returned home. He will spar pros at any level as well. 10st.

[peter barlow]

Considering it's long had the several of the poorest areas in Europe (let alone England), the almost total lack of professional boxers from Cornwall surprises me. Although maybe the lovely beaches dissipate the rage

I wouldn't be that familar with it but I wonder does it lack large enough urban centres. May also be again a lack of good or many boxing gyms. No football team of note either.

It's quite hard to penetrate rural areas too. I'm from rural area in Ireland, boxing would be more popular here plenty of clubs in small towns and villages. But it's hard to keep the lights on, the numbers wouldn't be there. And anyone moving up to any standard would need better gyms and training elsewhere.

Yeah very good points. Mostly it's small towns and villages, not many boxing gyms, and people don't have £40 to spend on tickets for small hall shows anyway. Nearest promoter of note is Chris Sanigar 150 miles away in Bristol.

Would there be much happening in Bristol itself mate? Two of the bigger cities that stood as not being mentioned much are Bristol and Edinburgh. Big enough populations. Never been but my impression is there a bit touristy/posh and full of university students.

I know Josh Taylor is from near Edinburgh. He's a Hibs fan and wants to fight at Easter road. Wonder why his fights are mostly in Glasgow not Edinburgh though.