Each Friday we pay homage to a boxing ‘unsung hero’. The lifeblood of the sport - the men and women who have contributed so much and asked for so little, who have saved lives and transformed futures.

Nominated by multiple champion and former world title challenger Martin Murray, this week we turn our attention to Dom Hodnett, head coach at Wildcard ABC in St Helens. The club is the heartbeat of the community and like just every boxing club throughout the land, Dom and his coaches work tirelessly to help young people learn to box, but more importantly, to stay on the right track.

"He set his first gym up in a youth centre and he only had a tiny little hole that he could use on a night," Martin said. "He had to set the ring  up every night, set the bags up every night and then take it all down because it [the room] was used for something else. He did that every night.

"He started making a real difference to the community, making such an impact they moved him down the road, but it was still a small space. Again, there were that many kids coming through his doors, changing peoples lives in a rough area, he was moved again and he's got a cracking space now. He's in there every hour God sends. He gives a lot and it's just to basically help people. It's selfless what he does.

"I've been there. A boxing gym saved my life. I've been in jail four times - I've been down that wrong path. I managed to sort my head out. Obviously I wanted to change, but the place that sorted me out was a boxing gym."

Pic credit: BBTV

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