Former WBC world welterweight champion John H Stracey visits Anfield amateur boxing club, and helps inspire the next generation of champions.
The boxing club is in a tough part of Liverpool, like many inner city areas, Anfield has problems with drugs and crime.
The boxing club was set up by Alan Walsh for a knife and youth violence reduction project using boxing as a vehicle for change. The boxing clubs slogan is ‘Real Men Don’t Carry Knives’.
Alan also runs knife and !crime prevention programs with local schools.
We understand that youth violence is a complex issue which cannot be fixed overnight, not all young people carrying knives are in a gang or from ‘bad homes’ lots of young people are afraid, and feel they need to carry a knife for self defence.
Youth violence has many root causes and risk factors. Poverty, neglect/lack of parental support, low education/ learning difficulties, domestic violence. Peer pressure and grooming are some of the reasons for joining a gang.
Anfield abc is a safe place where young people can train in the art of boxing, gain confidence, respect, discipline, and the importance of team work. Hopefully this will set them off on the right path for the future. I believe that boxing is very much like life itself, will lots of ups and downs, and we have to work hard to achieve any level of success. We understand thank not all if any, of our young boxers will be Champions in the squared circle, but with the skills we teach them, they will be Champions in life!
John H came to the boxing gym at the invitation of WBC referee Mark Lyson who also helps coach young boxers at Anfield abc, along with Alan, head coach Paul Cox, his daughter Sophie Cox, and Connor Parr, in the fundamentals of boxing, and teaches them to be the best they can be.
John H Stracey was absolutely fantastic, he spent a full 2 hours talking about his life in boxing, and his early days from humble beginnings.
He was very involved, in and out the ring, answering questions, giving advice, and overseeing sparring sessions. John also brought his WBC World championship belt for photographs with all the young boxers.
Hopefully John’s inspiring words and encouragement, will help our young boxers reach their goals.
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