Boxing academy enjoying ‘golden period’ in its history

TALENT: Madi Gittins

By Rick Lyon

Hull’s oldest boxing club is boasting the “best crop of young boxers in its history” after a £1m refurbishment knocked membership numbers through the roof.

The full refurbishment of St Paul’s Boxing Academy, on North Church Side, Hull city centre, was completed around 18 months ago after the club fell into near disrepair due to neglect of the building.

But with the gym now sporting state-of-the-art facilities, it has seen membership rise by around 25 per cent since reopening, from less than 400 members to well over 500.

As a result, the club – which was formed in 1948 – is now experiencing a glut of young talent as local boxers seek to emulate the achievements of the city’s pugilistic elite such as Luke Campbell MBE, Tommy Coyle and rising star and GB team member, Harvey Lambert.

Head coach Mike Bromby said the club had really taken off again since the renovation was completed.

“We have the best crop of young boxers coming through in the club’s history,” he said.

“There are youngsters like Madi Gittins, Ted Jackson and Charlie Leason, who are doing incredibly well. Both Madi and Ted and looking at places in Team GB and Charlie won at the National School Championships last year.

“We’ve got four boxers in the England Boxing Youth Development Championships, four shows coming up before Christmas and we’re boxing in Guernsey and Ireland before Christmas.

“We’ve got boxers coming from all over the world to train here – Australia, Ireland, Denmark, and more, and even world champion boxers ringing up the club asking if we can send people for them to spar with. It really is a golden period in St Paul’s history.”

Mike added that as well as the increased membership adding to the number of young boxers coming through, expertise and contacts were also playing a vital role.

He said: “St Paul’s has been training boxers since the late 1940s and has produced countless champions. So, there’s a goldmine of expertise in the club.

“This means we can take the youngsters further, find them the best fights and help them understand how hard they need to work to fulfil their dreams, whether that is to be a world champion, or simply to be more confident within themselves.”

Rising star and currently St Paul’s most successful female boxer, Madi Gittins, has been training at the club for 10 years.

The 18-year-old said the renovation work had made a huge difference.

“It’s much easier to train now because before, the roof was falling in,” she said.

“The showers and lockers really help and the parents used to have to sit on the floor which took up a lot of space. Now they have an upstairs area to use, it’s much better.”

She added that the coaching at the club was fantastic.

“If you have a fight coming up, they focus on you,” she said.

“Also, the coaches know what you need to do to develop because every boxer is different and that really helps you get better.”

Dave Garness, Deputy Chair of Trustees for St Paul’s Boxing Academy – a charitable incorporated organisation – said the club had also extended its reach into the wider community to work with other sports clubs and organisations.

He said: “We’re now open seven days a week and in the daytime we welcome organisation such as Hull and East Yorkshire MIND, Hull KR youth team, local football teams, and others.

“On the training side, we offer more than just boxing. We have members from age four to over 60 who come for strength training, fitness, conditioning, to lose weight and improve their health.

“St Paul’s welcomes all. Whoever walks through the door is part of the family.”

Based in a former dance hall in Trinity Square, St Paul’s Boxing Academy underwent a £1m refurbishment in 2020, funded by local businesses, individuals, and Hull City Council.

The club, which is the biggest amateur boxing gym outside of London, continues to rely on donations from businesses and individuals to operate.