Time to Talk at Ricky’s Club

Time to Talks at Ricky's Club

A unique initiative encouraging men to get active and to talk through their issues has been launched at Elite Community boxing club in Bolton.

In partnership with Maverick Stars Trust, 'Ricky's Club' is named after Ricky Fletcher, a friend of Elite head coach Alex Matvienko, who took his own life. The sessions are available to anyone who feels they need someone to talk to or just to listen to. 

There were 5,224 suicides in the UK in 2020. "We just want to help anyone who is feeling isolated or those that maybe just need help in getting off the sofa and out of the house," Alex said. "Socialising is important, particularly as the pandemic continues to affect everyone."

The first Ricky's Club session takes place from 7.30pm, Tuesday, 21 December at Wordsworth Mill, Wordsworth St, Bolton BL1 3ND

Final Push for Timperley

Final Push for Timperley

Timperley ABC has launched a campaign to raise extra funds needed for a vital gym extension. Local MP Sir Graham Brady has thrown his weight behind the cause following years of red tape and rising costs.

It’s been four years of frustration for head coach Mark Davidson, who’s been working with Maverick Stars Trust founder Charlotte Gilley to secure the refurb which would allow more children from the Broomwood estate to train.

The tiny space can only accommodate 14 young boxers for each session and Mark has been forced to turn young people away and back onto the streets as a result. So far, with Maverick’s financial support, funding from sports bodies, club fundraising and local donations, Timperley ABC has managed to raise £450,000 for the extension. After overcoming planning and lease hurdles, the club has now been hit by increased building costs.

Sir Graham, MP for Altrincham and Sale West said: “It’s a very small space, a very crowded and tightly packed boxing gym. The club is achieving a huge amount. With the better facilities they’re working to raise money for, they can do so much more and I’m certainly happy to support that.”

The club is calling on local businesses or individuals to support this vital community hub and help raise the final funds it needs to complete the project. If you'd like to get involved, please contact: enquiries@maverickstars.co.uk

Time to Shine

Time to Shine

Birkenhead's Chloe Watson makes her eagerly awaited debut at London's iconic York Hall on Thursday. The 21-year-old, who trains under the guidance of boxing legend Ricky Hatton and fellow coach Blain Younis, takes on Hungarian Judit Hachbold.

A talented amateur who was part of the GB Boxing programme, Chloe won the youth Commonwealth Games and a GB title before a spell travelling led her to Australia. When COVID caused global chaos, Chloe stayed and trained down under before deciding to return home and turn pro.

Chloe, who trains alongside Maverick Stars ambassador Brad Rea, said: "I'm aiming for the top and I'm going to get there whether it's a year or ten year’s time. I'm just excited to put on a good performance and show everyone what I'm all about."

The Wasserman Boxing event, streamed live on YouTube channel Boxing Social, features other emerging talent including Harvey Horn, Martin Foru and Hosea Stewart.

Fabulous Fergo

Fabulous Fergo

Steven Ferguson claimed his first senior title after a thrilling battle in the Merseyside and Cheshire Elite ABA final. On a great night of boxing at Croxteth Sports Centre, the 26-year-old Maverick Stars ambassador, who has battled back from drug and alcohol addictions, came out on top against Old Swan ABC’s George Howden.

Steven 'Fergo' Ferguson and Maverick Stars founder Charlotte Gilley

It was give and take for much of the first round until a bit right hand from Howden resulted in a standing count for 'Fergo'. The Marybone ABC fighter quickly recovered and turned things around in the second round, scoring with clinical hooks and upper cuts. The third round was another hard-fought affair, with both men having successes, but the Kirkby man came out on top via split decision.

The victory marks an incredible turnaround for Fergo who struggled with addiction issues after leaving the army. With the help of Tom Harrison House - an initiative supported by Maverick Stars - he rediscovered his love for boxing under the guidance of Derry Mathews.

Bright Future for Female Coaches

Maverick Stars Trust is supporting ten female boxing coaches to deliver bespoke activities at their respective gyms. 

The latest initiative, where each coach receives £2,500 to create a programme based on their community’s specific needs, follows on from the residential weekend which took place at the home of GB Boxing in Sheffield earlier this year. Maverick Stars also supported that project – designed to help support and upskill female boxing coaches.

The coaches who took part in the residential course and have benefited from the extra Maverick funding, are:

Kate Newton – Rathbone (London), Igne Vaitkunaite – High Wycombe (Home Counties), Naadrah Hafeez – Gladiators (Yorkshire), Kara Mikolajczyk – Mikey’s (Midlands), Claire Salisbury – Jewellery Quarter (Midlands), Donna Harvey-Arnell – Ipswich (Eastern Counties), Louise Vidor – Bright Star (Midlands), Sally Webb – Priory Park (Midlands), Kerry Norfolk – Norwich City (Eastern Counties) and Samantha Fawcett – Warrington (Merseyside and Cheshire).

 

Title Bid for Fergo

Title Bid for Fergo

It will be something of a dream come true for Steven Ferguson when he boxes in the Merseyside and Cheshire elite ABA final this weekend. The 26-year-old Maverick Stars ambassador is focussed on a career in the ring after overcoming drug and alcohol addictions.

'Fergo' boxed as a youngster, but after a six-year spell in the army, his life descended into chaos. With the help of Tom Harrison House - an initiative supported by Maverick Stars which assists armed forces veterans struggling with addiction - he returned to the gym under the guidance of coach Derry Mathews, has lost four-and-half stone and is set to compete in his first senior title fight at super-heavyweight.

The Kirkby man said: "I'm boxing a lad called George Howden from Old Swan ABC in the final. It's always been my dream to be a boxer. Even when my life was chaos, I always believed I'd get back to boxing one day. I just want to experience as much as possible in the ring now."

Click the link below to watch Derry and Fergo (speaking before weight loss and a haircut!!)

Heartbreak for Conner

Heartbreak for Conner

It was heartbreak for Conner Tudsbury as his World Championships dream came to an end with a narrow points defeat in his quarter-final bout against Victor Schelstrate.

The Maverick Stars ambassador dominated his Belgian opponent in the opening round, controlling the contest with his jab and using his speed and mobility to great effect against the much bigger man.  Round two was a more even affair with both men having successes, but the judges favoured Shelstrate's work to set up a grand finale.  It was all square going into the third and final round, and while little between them, Conner ended up on the wrong end of a tight split.

A disappointing end for the 21year old, but it's been a huge achievement reaching the latter stages of a tournament he wasn't oirginally selected for. Conner took the opportunity to  step up to from light-heavy to cruiserweight in order to compete at his first major tournament and in doing so, he's proved he belongs at elite world level.

Super Chan’s a Unified Champ

Super Chan's a Unified Champ

Chantelle Cameron is one win from becoming undisputed world champion after beating Mary McGee to add the IBF title to the WBC belt she already held.

Both women played their part in a stunning fight, but it was the Maverick Stars ambassador who shone brightest taking a unanimous points decision at the O2 Arena.

The performance justified the top-of-the-bill slot on the Matchroom card and Chantelle will now face the winner of Jessica Camara and Kali Reis - who fight on 19 November in the USA - to decide the undisputed champion.

Highs and Lows for Maverick Stars

Highs and Lows for Maverick Stars

Delicious 'DJ' Orie

There were mixed fortunes for our Maverick Stars ambassadors at the World Championships in Serbia over the weekend.

Manchester's Conner Tudsbury followed up his opening round victory with a sensational performance against Rogelio Romero. The 21year old product of Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club, controlled his contest against the vastly experienced Mexican Olympian from the first bell.

Meanwhile, it was disappointment for Delicious Orie who narrowly missed out on a place in the last eight, losing on points in a competitive bout against Lazizbek Mullojonov of Uzbekistan. DJ can exit his debut World Championships with his head held high. It promises to be a big year for the man who learned his trade at Jewellery Quarter Boxing Club in Birmingham.

For Conner, it's on to the last 16's!

Devastating Delicious

Devastating Delicious

Delicious Orie put in thoroughly dominant performance as he kick started his World Championships with a stoppage win over Mexico’s Luis Gomez Meneses.

In his first AIBA Men's World Boxing Championships, ‘DJ’ controlled the first round with his jab before increasing the pressure, landing powerful right hand shots. After two standing counts in round three, the referee waved off the contest with just short of a minute remaining.

The Maverick Stars ambassador, a product of the Jewellery Quarter Boxing Club in Birmingham, will be back in action on Sunday against Lazizbek Mullojonov of Uzbekistan.