Boxing club comes out fighting over accusations

FIGHTING his corner . . . Marvin Greaves with his young boxers at his gym

THE owner of Oldham’s newest boxing club is fighting his corner after being refused affiliation to the Amateur Boxing Association.

Pro boxer Marvin Greaves, who runs Team Greaves Boxing Club in Bourne Street, was disgusted by accusations that the club has been involved in unlicensed boxing events, has shown total disregard for public safety and has allowed women to box with men.

The North West Region Amateur Boxing Association (NWRABA) dismissed Team Greaves’s application because it said it had “significant evidence that clearly indicates bad practice in the sport”. The association would not reveal what the evidence was.

Mr Greaves is appealing the decision and blamed rivals in the town for smearing his reputation.

He claims his club has never taken part in unlicensed boxing and never allowed women to fight men.

The association’s executive also recommended that any future application to become affiliated should be viewed as “damaging to the sport.” It is also claimed the club’s bad practice in sport continues.

Kevin Williams, NWRABA honorary secretary, said the club had organised several unlicensed boxing events and they had someone “pretending to be a paramedic”.

“There were also frequent mis-matches in terms of weight,” he said. “We are so strictly organised in officiating — we have been for so many years. It only takes one bad incident to break a good reputation but it takes years to build up a good reputation.

“Unlicensed boxing and bad practice do much damage to the sport of amateur boxing and cannot be endorsed.”

He said the 15 elected members who made the decision have a combined total of hundreds of years boxing experience.

Mr Greaves said he was disgusted he hadn’t been told about the decision before being contacted by the Chronicle.

He said: “It’s ridiculous and I will fight back because that’s what I am — a fighter — and I will have so much support behind me. I’ve been knocked back because of what other people are saying. I wanted the affiliation in case I spotted someone with amazing potential.

“My gym is for training people to box and boxercise — there are no competitions. I’ve got CRBs, I’ve got my child protection certificate, I’ve got first aid, full liability insurance, the lot — all my certificates are on the wall.

“I did do unlicensed boxing years ago, but it was always for charity and had nothing to do with my gym and Team Greaves has never had a show for a man to fight a woman.”

He said countless parents had thanked him for turning their children’s lives around.

“People think I’m a nobody,” he said. “But I’m just trying to help people keep fit and get off the streets — and it’s working. Kids are not hanging round on the streets because they’re too tired.”

Mr Williams would not discuss what evidence he held against the gym but said Mr Greaves could appeal.

When asked why Mr Greaves had not been told the news, Mr Williams said he would discuss the case directly with him.