Future’s Bright for Adaptive Boxing

Furture's Bright for Adaptive Boxing

Maverick Stars Trust and Boxxer teamed up once again to deliver a hugely successful adaptive boxing session in Salford.

On this occasion, the tables were turned with boxers and professional coaches being put through their paces by the staff and participants from the Yorkshire-based Kronik Warrior Adaptive Boxing Academy - the country's first and only adaptive boxing academy affiliated with England Boxing.

Click below to watch former world champions Anthony Crolla and Scott Quigg - along with current fighters Mikaela Mayer, Frazer Clarke and Adam Azim - get to grips with wheelchair boxing.

Moss Side Taking Shape

Moss Side Taking Shape

Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club has opened the first phase of its extension. The gym now has improved toilet facilities, a viewing area and kitchen.

With support from Maverick Stars Trust, the club continues to thrive and change lives in one of the nation's most deprived wards. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, is a passionate supporter of the club and is backing plans for further building works at the club.

Crolla Backs Maverick Success

Crolla Backs Maverick Success

It has been a busy year for boxer-turned-trainer Anthony Crolla, with his ever growing stable of successful professional fighters and a busy amateur boxing club, Fox ABC in Oldham. But the former WBA lightweight champion is especially proud of the gym’s Operation Warrior programme.

The Maverick Stars Trust initiative delivers free boxing sessions, team building days, guest speakers and mental health first aid for former service men and women. The project has proved hugely successful throughout the country and is being delivered in thirteen amateur boxing clubs.

The sessions proved so popular at Fox, that armed forces vets are now competing for the club, most notably Ashley Shaw, who was victorious in his bout at the ‘Hard Hitters’ event in Liverpool earlier this year.

Along with all the amateur activity, Crolla trains his band of fighters, including Rhiannon Dixon, James Moorcroft, and Jake James at his gym on the Limeside estate.

 

Missing your Kids? Box the Blues this Christmas

Missing your Kids? Box the Blues this Christmas

Maverick Stars Trust has partnered with a Lincolnshire boxing gym to provide a unique programme for single parents who will be without their children this Christmas.

The ‘Boxing Days’ initiative is the brainchild of former professional fighterturned-coach Amir Unsworth. All single parents, and those who would enjoy some company this Christmas, are invited to Amir’s Boxing Academy in Sleaford.   

“I had to go through court to gain access to my daughter in 2010. It took a while, and it was boxing training that helped to keep my head together,” Amir explained. “Now, I’ve got a two-year old and I’ve gone through the same again. It wasn’t a long time, I was stopped from seeing my daughter for six weeks, but I was training hard all the way through it.

“I know full well, when life is bad or things are getting to your head and things are not going good, get training! It’ll make your mindset positive.”

Along with boxing training, participants on Christmas Day will also receive a gift hamper (confectionary, gym accessories and other goodies) and refreshments. There will also be the opportunity for all to have a chat and share their experiences.

“I know what it’s like for parents not to see their kids at Christmas,” Amir added. “I know and I train through it. When times are hard, I train. When times are good, I train! It makes everything better. I will tell everyone my story on Christmas Day, and it should make them feel a bit better. I have been through the mill, but I’ve kept positive and kept training.”

Along with single parents, anyone who is feeling vulnerable or lonely this Christmas is welcome to attend the sessions.

For more information about ‘Boxing Days’ contact: Amir Unsworth: 07713 726 636

Moss Side Taking Shape

Moss Side Taking Shape

The first phase of a planned double extension at Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club is now underway.

Along with extending the gym area, the new construction will include a classroom, office and changing areas. The club is a long-term partner of Maverick Stars Trust and has delivered many community initiatives from the premises. The extension will ensure the gym's vital work continues, as head coach Nigel Travis explained.

"We need to invest in our kids from this area. This [extension] is like a levelling up, if ever there was one. We're trying to put our energy into this and hopefully we save the world one day at a time."

Click below to find out more from Maverick ambassadors Nigel and GB podium star Conner Tudsbury.

 

Champ Backs ‘Fit for Life’

Champ Backs 'Fit for Life'

World champion Paul Butler is backing a Maverick Stars initiative to help over 55's get in the gym and get 'Fit for Life'.

Boxing training is recommended by GP's as a way of battling stress, anxiety and the aches and pains that come with age. Wirral CP Boxing club in Ellesmere Port is partnering with Maverick to provide free sessions every Tuesday.

Butler - a two-time world champ - started boxing at Wirral CP aged just eight, and is still a very familiar sight at the club. When he's not training for title fights, the bantamweight boss coaches at the club and is fully behind its latest project (click video below).

'Fit for Life' details: Each Tuesday, 3pm Wirral CP Boxing club, 55 Station Road, Ellesmere Port, CH66 1NY Contact Peter: 07971 476605

Speaking Up for Ricky

A men's mental health initiative set up in memory of a Bolton boxing coach has proved a huge success.

Based at the Elite Boxing Gym in Halliwell, 'Ricky's Club' was launched with support from Maverick Stars Trust in December 2021. Named after Ricky Fletcher, who committed suicide after battling mental health issues, the project is the brainchild of head coach Alex Matvienko.

"He [Ricky] was a boxing coach here and an ex-addict. We rehabilitated him, he dropped a lot of weight and turned his life around. He did his ABA course and so on, but then he just sort of lost his way a bit, felt a bit lost and took his own life about nine years ago.”

“This [Ricky’s Club] was always an idea I had, but I didn’t have the team or the facilities to put it on. I’ve always been passionate about it, but come nine years later Charlotte from Maverick said, ‘let’s do it.’ We started this pilot last December and it’s been pretty incredible really.”

The free sessions encourage men from all walks of life to chat about any issues that may be affecting them. Whether struggling with addiction, depression or without any apparent issues, all are welcome to attend the group.

Ricky's Club is held at Elite Boxing, Wordsworth Mill, Wordsworth Street, Bolton. Sessions take place every other Tuesday at 7.30pm.

For more information: www.eliteboxing.co.uk     @eliteboxer    01204 493 563

Defib for Jennings Gym

Defib for Jennings Gym

Jennings Gym in Lancashire is the latest of 50 boxing clubs to be awarded with a defibrillator as part of Maverick Stars Trust's 'Keep the Beat' campaign.

The nationwide initiative is supporting clubs that may otherwise struggle to buy the vital piece of equipment. England Boxing insists all clubs must have a defib in place by June of this year. Sudden cardiac arrest in young people – including high-profile athletes – has increasingly been making headlines in recent years. Each year in the UK there are more than 30,000 ‘out-of-hospital’ cardiac arrests.

Dave Jennings and former world title challenger Michael Jennings, oversee a bustling gym in Chorley full of talented amateur and professional fighters. A series of community initiatives are also delivered at the club including training and education for children at risk of exclusion from school, and sessions for people in recovery from addictions.

Clubs Set for Defibs

Clubs Set for Defibs

Boxing clubs throughout the country have been awarded a vital defibrillator as part of the Maverick Stars 'Keep the Beat' campaign.

April, Shay and Savannah

The initiative aims to promote CPR techniques along with donating fifty defibs to amateur gyms. Headed up by Maverick ambassador April Hunter - who lost her cousin and best friend Paul Gardner to cardiac arrest in 2018 - the project is being run in conjunction with the charity set up in Paul's name, PGCPR.

The campaign also has the full support of April’s friend, world champion middleweight Savannah Marshall and Newcastle and Ireland goalkeeping legend Shay Given.

Sudden cardiac arrest in young people – including high-profile athletes – has increasingly been making headlines in recent years. Each year in the UK there are more than 30,000 ‘out-of-hospital’ cardiac arrests. The survival rate is less than one in ten. In some cases, performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival.                                             

Maverick Stars has provided the defibrillators to amateur boxing clubs most in need. It will help meet the requirement that every England Boxing member club will need to have access to and know how to use a lifesaving defib by 1st June 2022.

England Boxing Head of Community Development, Avoen Perryman, said: "For the fifty boxing clubs that the team at Maverick Stars Trust have selected to support with this amazingly generous offer, I just want to say congratulations and well done. It is great to see that your clubs will now have this key piece of equipment installed.

"To the remaining clubs who didn't make Maverick's final fifty, your regional Club Support Officers are on-hand to support and advise with securing a defibrillator in time for the June 1st deadline. There is also a new support page and guidance information available on our website.

"So often in our wonderful sport, we hear people say that 'boxing saved my life', and whilst that is true for so many, this vital piece of equipment at fifty new boxing clubs across the country could quite literally save lives for years to come.

"Thank you to Charlotte, and all the staff, volunteers and clubs that are part of the Maverick Stars Trust family. I know your efforts are greatly appreciated by EB's clubs."

Champ Backs ‘Keep the Beat’

Champ Backs 'Keep the Beat'

World champion boxer Savannah Marshall is backing a new campaign to save lives by providing vital defibrillators for boxing clubs.

Maverick Stars founder Charlotte Gilley, Savannah Marshall and April Hunter

‘Keep the Beat – Maverick’s Restart a Heart’ aims to raise awareness of CPR techniques along with donating 50 defibs to amateur gyms nationwide. The initiative is headed up by the charity’s ambassador April Hunter who lost her cousin and best friend Paul Gardner to cardiac arrest in 2018.

Middleweight titlist Savannah said: “I know many amateur clubs that just run on donations and funding; they don't even charge the boxers, so all these things help. They're [defibrillators] a lot of money so I can't imagine there'd be many clubs with the funding for their own. “

Sudden cardiac arrest in young people – including high-profile athletes – has increasingly been making headlines in recent years. Each year in the UK there are more than 30,000 ‘out-of-hospital’ cardiac arrests. The survival rate is less than one in ten. In some cases, performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival.

“To this day, I’ve really struggled with depression about him [Paul]. It’s a battle every day,” said April. “When Paul passed away, it could have been a simple thing of putting him on his side and clearing his airways and he might still be here today.”

Maverick Stars Trust is now committed to providing 50 defibrillators to amateur boxing clubs most in need. It will help meet the requirement that every England Boxing member club will need to have access to and know how to use a life-saving defibrillator by 1st June 2022.