O’Neill is hoping to unearth fresh talent

Months of hard work by volunteers have seen the old scout hut in Mason Avenue, Lillington, transformed into the new base for the club.

The once run-down hall is now equipped with changing facilities and boxing equipment thanks in part to donations of paint from Dulux Decorator Centres and £500 towards a new ring and five bags from Steve Mazurek, managing director of Mazurek Optica Services.

The facilites are a far cry from those at the club’s former Westbury Centre location, which needed to be put up and taken down again every session.

“A lot of people have put in a lot of effort to make it what it is - a community boxing club that’s cheap with a friendly atmosphere,” said head coach O’Neill.

“It gives us security. We’ve got a ten-year lease, though I won’t be here in ten years.

“I keep saying that I want to get out, but sometimes you can get that kid down whose a bit special and you hope they can go on to be the next big thing.”

The club is currently running sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights, with plans to attract a high-profile boxer for an official opening.

Contact Ollie O’Neill on 07730 392236 for more information.

n The three Cleary’s boxers who fought on the BodyPower bill at the Birmingham NEC all gained unanimous victories.

In front of the watching Ricky Hatton, Sean Greenfield overcame Solihull’s Jake Marsh, subjecting the veteran of 50 fights to a standing count in the final round, while Matt Archer avenged a previous defeat to Eddie Lewis (East Middlesbrough).

Myles Vale’s victory over Wye ABC’s Chris Reidy proved the highlight of the show, though, with the Cleary’s boxer’s all-action style attracting a large crowd ringside.

The improving Vale produced three rounds of relentless punching to gain the decision and take his record to 5-3.