My name is Gavin and I have had a passion for boxing since I was about 18 watching our greats in the 80s especially the middle and heavyweight scenes. About nine years ago at the age of forty nine I took my first step over the threshold of a professional boxing gym which was very daunting, did a middle aged man belong in such a environment? This is where I met a guy called Ian Jumbo Johnson who became such an inspiration in my life he is a very well respected figure in the British boxing scene and one of the top cut men in the business working around the world for the top boxers and champions.

Moving forward after ongoing health problems, open heart surgery, lower leg amputation and renal failure (should of had “Lucky” on my shorts) it was during these periods that the mind set Jumbo had taught me at the gym that got me through this. We then moved to Portland and I thought my boxing days were over. I then began going to the Veterans Hub a charity for veterans helping veterans and got myself involved in a weekly fitness class and low and behold started coaching boxing this is where I met my best mate Big D more about him later, during my time coaching we looked at how as the group could improve this service and after a lot of research this is when we met Q at Boxing Awards and a group of us undertook the Non Contact Boxing tutors course.

Q, what an inspirational man. Q Shillingford MBE is an absolute legend in the Royal Navy and also in the current GB Boxing team. Q is the main driving force behind the Boxing Awards programme, upon completing the course with Big D and hearing the concept and passion Q had it gave us the idea to set up The Community Hub Boxing Academy and try and give both the youngsters and adults of Portland and Weymouth a cost effective way of getting into boxing.

Big D where do I start! I first met D at the Veterans Hub and we became mates straight away, I am sure D would not mind me saying but he is heavily into his keep fit for his own mental health using the gym at the Hub at least three days a week as a minimum but tries his hardest to go daily, D joined in when I was coaching the boxing and he became one of my best pad men he just has such a lovely nature and is always laughing. Big D completed the tutors course with me with flying colours and is very keen to be part of this project we are like the modern Maverick and Goose we are Fatboy and Bear!!

So we have our plan we have our people we are currently applying for our charity status as we are going to operate as a not for profit charity with all money being raised being re invested in the club, we have our trustees Jim and Julie on board and they are going to be such a massive asset for us working in the background.

The funding raised will be used to buy the equipment for the initial start-up including gloves (adults and children’s)boxing pads, skipping ropes and also to fund additional training for new tutors.

The aim of the club is to teach not just the younger students but everyone the morals of a boxing gym self respect, respect for others, self discipline, empathy and trust.

all donations will be greatly received and will aid the club on getting a sure and steady start🥊🥊🥊🥇and you never know we may one day end up with a boy or a girl representing Team GB🥊🥊🥊

UPDATE

Thank you for the kind generosity to the Brethren of the Yeatman Biggs Lodge 2672 who have enabled the Community Hub Boxing Academy to get a sure start and for the stables of its members young and old to learn the art of boxing from its grass roots, there is a lot of hard work to put in but the rewards will last a lifetime