The Waiting Game Continues

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

The Waiting Game Continues

Fighter-turned-trainer Jamie Moore has given us a sneak peek of the the new Walkden ABC in Salford - a boxing club set up in partnership with Maverick Stars Trust - although he's still waiting for an opening date.

Pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers can open from 4 July in England, when COVID-19 social distancing rules will be eased. But indoor fitness centres and gyms will remain closed until further notice.

The Walkden area of Salford has never had a boxing club before and the new gym shares a unit at Walkden Town Centre with with a youth zone that includes a five-a-side football pitch along with other indoor sport and leisure activities.

"I'm over the moon with it," said Jamie. "It was on the cusp of opening up and lockdown kicked in. We're waiting for all the madness to blow over and obviously there's been so much bad news and heartache but we can't wait to get going.

"A lot of the time there's nothing for kids to do. This is going to be a gateway for them. Turn left into the boxing gym or right into the youth zone - whichever direction they go in, it'll be right direction and they'll change their lives."

A very familiar face also popped in to have a look at the new Walkden ABC.  Former WBA world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla is currently looking for a new home for his amateur club, Fox ABC. The mill where the gym was formerly housed was destroyed in a fire at the end of March.

 

dave rimmer maverick stars

Big Plans for South Coast Boxing

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Big Plans for South Coast Boxing

A boxing club in a small Dorset town is punching above its weight with popularity in the sport soaring.

Wimborne Boxing Club, five miles north of Poole, has launched a series of Maverick Stars initiatives including 'Girls in Gloves' and 'Sting Like a Bee.'  Boxing is now chasing down the traditional big two sports in the area - football and rugby - with interest at an all-time high just prior to lockdown. The introduction of female boxing has proved particularly successful.

"At its peak, we were training close to 100 girls in the local area," said head coach Dave Rimmer.  "Prior to lockdown, we were seeing some great links with schools and other clubs."

Watch the video to find out more about the history of Wimborne ABC, the success of female boxing and plans to further boost boxing in the area.

 

Big Plans for Jennings Boys

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Big Plans for Jennings Boys

A gym in Lancashire is producing top amateur and pro boxers whilst providing a safe-haven for 'at-risk' young people.

The Jennings Community Boxing Academy in Chorley was, prior to COVID-19, a bustling gym full of eager youngsters learning their trade under the expert eyes of brothers Dave and Mike Jennings. The older Jennings enjoyed a fantastic pro career and competed for a world title when sharing the ring with legend Miguel Cotto in 2009.

Younger brother Dave, head coach at the gym, is now looking forward to working with Maverick Stars Trust.

Watch the video to find out more about the great work of the Jennings Community Boxing Academy.

A Man of Many Hats

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

A Man of Many Hats

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause chaos, Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club has come up with an innovative way of keeping its members engaged, fit and healthy.

The Manchester club has been hosting a series of online coaching sessions via Zoom meetings. Head coach Nigel Travis (much to the annoyance of his family) sits in front of his laptop, barking instructions to dozens of young boxers going through drills in tiny boxes on his screen. It's not an ideal situation, according to Nigel, but one that is very necessary.

"It's not about the quality [of the sessions] but about engaging with our kids on a daily basis," he said. "I want the kids to do three sessions a week. It was Ramadan when we started, so I had the kids that were fasting doing Monday, Wednesday, Friday and those that weren't fasting, doing Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday."

With some restrictions now eased, Nigel and the team of coaches from the club are also delivering weekly, socially-distanced, sessions in a local park.

Watch the video below for more on Nigel's ambassador role with Maverick Stars, the club's Food Community Hub work, the progress of GB amateur star Conner Tudsbury along with the return to the ViP gym of Carl Frampton and the rest of the pro fighters.

Million Dollar Crolla Is a Maverick Star

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Million Dollar Crolla Is A Maverick Star

Manchester boxing legend Anthony Crolla has joined forces with Maverick Stars as he looks for a new home for his amateur gym.

Fox ABC in Failsworth was destroyed in March when a suspicious fire raged through the mill it was housed in. Now the former WBA world lightweight champion is determined to rebuild the gym in partnership with Maverick Stars Trust.

"It's [the gym] saved so many young lads and girls from getting into trouble," Anthony said. "It gives them a bit of discipline. When the gym was burnt down, the kids were as gutted as I was, if not more. I promised them we'll make sure that we come back better than ever so I'll have to make sure I stick to that word."

Anthony's task of finding new premises has been hampered by the COVID-19 lockdown, but with some restrictions now eased, he's determined to get the club back on track - with support from Maverick Stars Trust.

The charity has worked with amateur clubs throughout the country - helping with funding bids, facilitating partnerships and delivering community enhancement projects such as 'Sting Like a Bee', 'Fight Like a Girl' and the Food Community Hub.

(picture: Jimmy Lewis (FOX ABC founder), Anthony Crolla)

Million Dollar Crolla is a Maverick Star

New Salford Gym Raring to Go

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

A new boxing gym aimed at providing opportunities for young people in Salford is ready to open its doors - just as soon it's safe to do so.

As the nation remains on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work has progressed on Walkden ABC - a joint venture between Maverick Stars Trust and ambassador Jamie Moore. The gym shares a unit at Walkden Town Centre with 'The Den' - a facility that will provide sport and leisure activities for local young people.

"The gym's all fitted out and ready to go now," Jamie said. "We've had all sorts of hurdles to get us to this stage, but I'm really excited now as I know it's going to change a lot of people's lives. Walkden's my area and it has always needed a boxing gym. I can't wait to get going when some kind of normality resumes."

In the meantime, Jamie intends to launch a series of training videos giving interested young people a chance to learn the boxing basics prior to the big opening.

New Salford Gym Raring to Go

King Arthur: A Champ in the Ring and on the Street

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

A new Maverick Stars initiative - 'In Your Corner', headed up by Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lyndon Arthur - is already proving a big hit with young people in north Manchester.

Lyndon, 29, has been providing support for those in need of a 'big brother' figure in his community. He's been acting as a mentor for one young man in particular, 16 year-old Nissar, who has struggled in lockdown and misses the focus and discipline his local boxing gym, Collyhurst and Moston, normally provides him with.

Lyndon is no stranger to life's hurdles - he was ten years old when his older brother Zennen was shot and killed - and understands the physical and mental stresses and strains that many young people are dealing with.

"I can relate to these life situations," he said.  "I'm someone the kids look up to, so they listen to me and enjoy working with me. He's always asking me 'when are you coming back?' So it's really good that he's interacting with me. We've been doing a bit of basketball and shadow boxing, but it's mainly about talking to him. It's good."

Along with his work with Nissar, Lyndon is preparing for his much-anticipated domestic clash with the highly-rated Anthony Yarde. The Londoner suffered tragedy during lockdown with the death from COVID-19 of both his father and grandmother.

The pair have both defeated Dec Spelman in their last fights as they continue to prepare to meet each other in the ring. 

"I don't see myself as the underdog," Lydon said.  "I've always had confidence going into this fight and nothing has changed."

Chantelle’s Fighting Hunger

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Chantelle's Fighting Hunger

Maverick Stars ambassador Chantelle Cameron is punching above her weight to ensure vulnerable families receive vital food packages during lockdown.

The Northampton super-lightweight fighter has taken charge of the charity's ‘Community Food Hub’ initiative in her home town to help combat hunger and isolation in disadvantaged areas. The initiative began in inner-city areas of Manchester and Liverpool but has now branched out to other regions.

“I really wanted Maverick Stars to run this programme in Northampton,” Chantelle explained. “I spoke to the charity’s founder Charlotte Gilley and asked if we could set it up here. She got it all arranged and now we’re helping people out.

“I’m working with Delapre Primary School, delivering food parcels to people’s homes and it’s a real eye opener. Some days it can make you feel really sad because you can see how people are suffering. But it’s a good thing to do and it makes you want to help them even more.

“I’m grateful that Northampton’s now getting support but I’m hoping that other people can get involved in what we’re doing so we can extend the project.”

Working with Maverick Stars Trust has been a good distraction for Chantelle during these uncertain times. Inactivity is the curse for all professional athletes, but Chantelle is doing everything she can to stay on course for whenever boxing returns.

“I’m doing lots of cycling and ticking over training-wise,” Chantelle said. “I’m also doing loads of mental training, how to stay positive and how to deflect negative thoughts. I’ve been using this time to my advantage to stay prepared.

“It’s frustrating as I was due to get a world title shot this month (May). It was all looking great, dreams were coming true for me, but it’s just another pause.”

If any local businesses are in a position to donate any dried food products (pasta/rice etc), please contact: enquiries@maverickstars.co.uk

Or please visit our just giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/CROWDFUNDING/JAMIE-MOORE-889

Thousands Fed in Lockdown

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

Thousands Fed in Lockdown

Maverick Stars has delivered food to nearly 15 thousand homes during the last five weeks of lockdown.

As the country continues to be gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, our team of ambassadors and volunteers have been on the frontline making sure those most in need are receiving food parcels. Maverick Stars has teamed up with 17 boxing clubs throughout England as part of the Community Food Hub initiative with teams operating in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire, West Midlands and Greater London.

The initiative, which has cost the charity £36,000 to date, is set to continue until mid-May. Please help us continue our work by donating to:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jamie-moore-889

Keeping Fed While School’s Out

Posted on by Dominic McGuinness

In these worrying and uncertain times, Maverick Stars has again stepped in to make sure hundreds of vulnerable children will stay nourished until the Covid-19 crisis eases and schools re-open.

The charity has enjoyed great success with its ‘Fit and Fed’ initiatives which combine boxing training and nutrition through the holidays to combat hunger, inactivity and isolation in disadvantaged areas.

‘Fit and Fed’ has now merged with the Maverick Stars ‘Sting Like a Bee’ programme which uses boxing clubs to provide opportunities to hundreds of young people at risk of knife crime and other anti-social problems.

Although boxing gyms are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, coaches are still making sure their young members are receiving food packages and training advice, whilst respecting social distancing.

Each participating club has been funded by Maverick Stars to feed 25+ young people each day for the next four weeks. Any boxing clubs interested in participating should fill in the form available on: www.maverickstars.co.uk

The latest Maverick Stars initiative is supported by mental health and homeless charities Manchester Mind and Back on Track Manchester.

Picture: Maverick Ambassadors [L-R] - Nigel Travis, Danny Wright, Jamie Moore, Aqib Fiaz, Eric Noi, Thomas McDonagh