Jazza in the CommUNITY launches in Liverpool

Jazza in the CommUNITY Launches in Liverpool

Jazza Dickens has launched a new initiative in Liverpool to help families of addiction.

In partnership with Maverick Stars Trust, 'Jazza in the ComUNITY' is offering a free eight week course to help parents in recovery rebuild relationships with their children.

Having been through issues caused by addiction with his father Colin, the issue is close to Jazza's heart and this initiative is something he has always wanted to do.

“I’ve suffered the effects of years of substance abuse,” Jazza explains. “I want to show people how me and my Dad built our relationship. It’s one thing being inside addiction, it’s another completely different thing being outside of it. It’s worlds apart. It’s hard to function together when all you know is one way.”

The programme will be based at the Derry Mathews Boxing Academy on the edge of Liverpool city centre. Families will be encouraged to attend the free sessions, aimed at providing exactly the kind of support Jazza longed for when he was a child.

“The parent can feel forgiven. The child will always forgive the parent,” Jazza says, “It’s just having the tools to do it and the support. That’s the main thing. Not only does the child need to feel they’re cared for and loved and they can go forward with their life, but the parent can also do that too.”

Happily, Colin is now eleven years in recovery and the bond between father and son is evident as they laugh and chat whilst standing inside one of the boxing rings at the gym located upstairs at Marybone Community Centre

“We used to play snooker one day a week to help build our relationship,” Colin says. “When you come into the real world after you stop using, you’re faced with ‘who am I?’ You’re faced with shame and guilt and lots of sadness at how you behaved.  You’re hit with the reality that your son witnessed all this stuff.”

Colin’s story is one of pain and regret, but also love. After several stays in detox units, it was a dramatic turn of events that eventually led to his moment of clarity and the long road to getting clean.

“I’d walked out of six detoxes,” he says with a shrug. “That last time I had a house fire. I was in hospital for three days and I came back home to my house and the windows were burnt out upstairs and I sat there thinking, ‘what’s become of my life?’

“Jazza, he’d moved out by now as I’d moved to another level of addiction. All the boxing England stuff and trophies went up in that fire, didn’t they lad!’” Colin says, turning and smiling at Jazza. “All the boxing stuff you won; it all went in that fire. I can remember crying, thinking, ‘what next? What else am I going to lose?’

For more information, contact Colin Dobie on 07450 268161 or colindobie2099@live.co.uk

DJ Hungry For More After Olympic Experience

DJ Hungry For More After Olympic Experience

Delicious Orie (DJ) is even more motivated to reach the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after spending time in Tokyo as bronze-medallist Frazer Clarke's sparring partner.

A Maverick Stars Ambassador, DJ has high ambitions over the next Olympic cycle.

"It was amazing, I miss it already," said DJ. "The atmosphere was immense, the environment was very positive, everyone was so supportive and it really felt like a family within the whole of Team GB.

"That feeling got me thinking, I want to be a part of this at Paris 2024. It's only three years away so I want to get as much experience as possible, but my aim is to get to those Olympic games."

Despite lofty ambitions in the ring, DJ is staying grounded outside of it, going along to his local boxing club to help out whenever he can.

"South Wye Boxing Club is like family to me," he said. "I'm not calling myself a coach at all, I just wanted to give some words of encouragement and try a give a few tips from my experience."

Train Like a GB Boxer

Train Like a GB Boxer

Maverick Stars ambassador Conner Tudsbury and James Perry have launched a new initiative at Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club this week, giving kids the chance to train like a member of Team GB.

Running over two weeks, sessions include nutrition tips, Olympic style training and meal preps.

We would like to thank Naturally Nourish Meal Prep for supporting us and providing free meals for the project.

Unsung Hero – Peter Hayes

Unsung Hero - Peter Hayes

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.

This week it's the turn of Peter Hayes, nominated by friend of Maverick Stars Trust Derry Mathews

Peter managed England's boxing squad at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and was part of the country's elite set up in some capacity for over 20 years.

Nominate your boxing unsung hero via the contact page at:

www.maverickstars.co.uk

Or message us via:

@maverickstars1                     maverickstarstrust

Unsung Hero – Reece Bretherton

Unsung Hero - Reece Bretherton

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.

This week it's the turn of Chorley ABC coach Reece Bretherton, amateur trainer of future world title challenger Jack Catterall.

Reece first became involved in boxing in 1961 and has been working in the sport every since.

Since then he has gone on to coach at Chorley ABC, North West Counties and England Schoolboys, as well as taking squads to Denmark and Russia.

"Reece is in his eighties now and still going down to the gym a couple of nights a week," said Jack.

"It's never been about praise for Reece. I spent eight years training with him and the discipline and life lessons he has installed in me, I hope I can pass them on to the next generation."

Nominate your boxing unsung hero via the contact page at:

www.maverickstarstrust.co.uk

Or message us via:

@maverickstars1         maverickstarstrust

Jazza Finally Gets World Title Shot

Jazza Finally Gets World Title Shot

Jazza Dickens has at last been given a date for his maiden world title shot against former opponent Kid Galahad.

The fight takes place on August 7th at Matchroom Boxing's fight camp, almost eight years after Dickens suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of the Sheffield fighter in 2013.

Jazza, who is working on an initiative to help families of addiction with Maverick Stars Trust, believes the time is right for him to finally get his hands on major honours.

"By fighting the only man to have me on the floor, that redemption story is something that makes it more exciting," he said.

"I'll show my family and supporters what it takes, the hard work it takes to turn something around like that and believe in yourself. If you keep believing in yourself, you can do anything you want."

Unsung Hero – Les Welsh

Unsung Hero - Les Welsh

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.

This week it's the turn of Les Welsh, head coach of Empire School of Boxing in Blyth, Northumberland.

Nominated by former world champion Glenn McCrory, Les, alongside his wife Margaret, not only do extraordinary work in the gym but have fostered numerous kids over the years, setting them on the right path for life.

"I know about the work they've done because I've already nominated them for an award," Glenn said. "The gym is fantastic, they are all really close-knit and it's just great for the whole area."

"He [Les] is one of those guys who makes it not about him all the time, he always puts other people first."

DJ Joins Commonwealth Games Collective

DJ Joins Commonwealth Games Collective

Delicious Orie has joined the team tasked with encouraging members of the public to volunteer at Birmingham's Commonwealth Games in 2022.

The Maverick Stars Ambassador took part in the media launch of the 'Join the Collective' campaign, aimed at recruiting 13,000 people to help out at the games.

"It was good to be a part of it all," said DJ. "I enjoyed being in the mix with the guys who put the games together behind the scenes".

A member of Team GB's boxing programme, Delicious has ambitions of his own to compete at the games.

 

Unsung Hero – Asam Fiaz

Unsung Hero - Asam Fiaz

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.

This week it's the turn of Asam Fiaz, who helps to coach world level fighters alongside Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis whilst maintaining his amateur boxing commitments with NTX Gen ABC.

His brother, Aqib Fiaz, is one of the top talents British boxing has to offer, and he owes a lot of that to the work done with Asam.

"For me, Asam's probably one of the most selfless people I know," Aqib said. "I can't even explain how much he has helped me, but along the way he's helped so many amateur boxers."

"He doesn't do it for money or anything like that, he does it because he loves the game."

Im Hamza is an amateur boxer at NTX Gen ABC, and he heaped praise of his head coach.

"I took five years out of boxing and with Asam's help I built my confidence up to return and reach the national finals in my first year back," he said.

"He doesn't get the credit he deserves, and I would like to say thank you to him for believing in me."

 

Cameron Vows to Steal the Show in Vegas

Cameron Vows to Steal the Show in Vegas

Chantelle Cameron has vowed to remain as one of Britain's World Champions when she fights Melissa Hernandez on Saturday May 29th.

Cameron, a Maverick Stars Ambassador, won her WBC super lightweight title in October against Adriana dos Santos Araujo with a shut out points decision.

The fight takes place on the undercard of Devin Haney's bout with Jorge Linares, and a win for Cameron could set up huge domestic clashes with Katie Taylor, Natasha Jonas and Terri Harper.

“It’d be lovely to stop her, and if I do that, I want it to be a proper stoppage, not the referee stepping in, I want to stop her on her feet,'" said Cameron. "But I’m not looking for it, Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis have been amazing with my tactics, so I am not going to go in there and ruin my plan.

"She’s a tricky opponent, she’s slippery, smart, experienced, and if I go in there looking for a KO she could nick it on points, and that’s not happening, that belt is coming back home with me."