Boxing clubs make a move

Kirkby’s two boxing clubs have a new home.

Knowsley Vale and Kirkby Amateur Boxing club have relocated from Kirkby Sports Centre to the ju-jitsu building adjacent.

This new venue offers bigger and better training facilities for both clubs. Trainers and officials are delighted with the move.

Kirkby ABC currently has more than 50 young boxers attending each night along with many senior amateur boxers, and numbers attending Knowsley Vale are not far behind.

Both clubs have been based at Kirkby Sports Centre for more than 30 years, and Kirkby ABC has produced two world champions – John Conteth and Paul Hodgkinson.

Both clubs have had boxers who have achieved ABA champion status and represented England at many different grades.

Most of the trainers have been involved with the clubs since the very beginning, with ex-boxers coming through the ranks and staying on as qualified Amateur Boxing Association coaches.

The vests of ex-world champions and fighters who have boxed for both clubs now hang on the walls inside the new training building and are signed by the boxers.