Boxing clever

KNOCKOUT . . . Young boxer Luke Davies (12) with coach Frank Nightingale

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BRITISH boxing is undergoing something of a resurgence with top professionals such as Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, David Haye, Amir Khan and Carl Froch.

Seven amateurs flew the flag for the country at the Beijing Olympics while locals Ronnie Heffernan and Thomas Stubbs have their sights set on the 2012 games in London.

And their success is proving an inspiration to budding boxers at Failsworth School who give up their lunch break to practise jabs, uppercuts, left hooks and parries.

The school’s Boxing Academy, funded with a £3,000 lottery grant, has been running since September and attracts more than 40 pupils, with girls as well as boys getting in on the action.

It also provides an alternative to youngsters who might not want to play traditional school sports like football, rugby or netball.

Training is taken by Pride in Oldham winner Frank Nightingale from Failsworth Amateur Boxing Club who is supported by his wife Pat.

She explained: “If we can get them interested at lunchtime, hopefully it will bring them into the club at night and take them off the streets.

“Years and years ago all schools used to have a boxing team. Now schools are trying to bring back boxing and the Amateur Boxing Association is helping them to do that.

“I do not think think it’s just boxing, people are trying to get youngsters more interested in sport in general. I have always maintained if you are participating in sport, it can keep you on the straight and narrow.

The academy involves a year-long training programme looking at fitness, health, healthy eating, discipline and boxing training.

But as well as the health benefits, Pat says it has also had a positive effect on pupils’ behaviour, concentration, confidence and school work, adding: “What people do not realise is to do this sort of training, you have to be dedicated. It gives pupils a lot of self-esteem and confidence to go on and tackle other things.

“Parents have actually said to us since they have started the boxing academy, their children have started to improve academically.”

Frank — who boxed under the name Andy Lowe — was North West County Champion at the age of 16 and his first professional fight was at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall.

Over the years he has inspired hundreds of youngsters and his determination to continue coaching while battling cancer was recognised with a Pride in Oldham Award last month.

An ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) qualified coach, his wife stressed that safety was paramount: “Anywhere there is any boxing training carried out it has to be done under strict supervision according to ABA rules and regulations.”

School learning mentor Joanne Potts added: “This activity is great for our pupils. They learn about fitness, discipline and respect. Frank is a great coach and a superb role model for the pupils.”