A LOCAL amateur boxing club is gearing up for its first-ever home show in Newton Abbot.

Seven Hills ABC, based in Torquay, will be showcasing its talented stable at Rackerhayes, home of Newton Abbot Rugby Football Club, on March 4.

The club is run by ex-World Champion Gareth Hogg, who was born and bred in Torbay. He set up the club to carry on the boxing life and give opportunities to younger people.

‘The club works to get kids off the streets and gives them something to do – that’s the main thing,’ says club secretary Adam Fletcher. ‘It gives them a great attitude, it teaches them respect, it teaches them not to fight but it also teaches them how to defend themselves if they ever get into a dangerous situation and it is great for mental wellbeing as well.’

Hogg has got a team of coaches around him and the club is the haunt of three national champions.

The club has been running around nine years and is open to anyone from five years up. It is an amateur boxing club, so it is not a boxing club where people can just turn up and box; you have to go through training, get carded and fight around England as an amateur with the hope of turning pro.

‘The idea is to raise funds for Seven Hills ABC,’ Fletcher explained. ‘It costs a lot of money to run a club. Everyone is voluntary, nobody takes a penny out of the club and we’re looking to buy a minibus for the club so that we can transport the boxers and the coaches around to all the different shows, which costs a lot of money.’

‘We have 35 boxers on our cards that fight all over the country every week,’ Fletcher continued.

‘To do a home show will generate a bit of income for us and hopefully attract the parents from the local community to see that boxing is actually relatively a safe sport conducted by lots of people with the kids’ health and wellbeing at their main interest.

‘All of the children are like extended family now,’ said Fletcher, who runs the Newton Abbot branch of men’s wellbeing charity Andy’s Man Club, ‘so it builds up their network of friends away from school.

‘Especially with kids who are being bullied; if they have a group of 35 boys and girls around them that all have the same interest and all enjoy doing the same thing, that’s where they get their real friends from.’

Tickets to the event are available to be purchased online – check out the club’s Facebook page for that – or on the gate on the night.

There is a limited capacity at the venue, so it is advised to buy online. Over-16s get in for £15, while under-16 tickets are £10. There will be a jacket potato stand and a fully licensed bar at Rackerhayes.

Furthermore, the club are looking for sponsors. Sponsors must have a passion for boxing and helping the youth, and their support will go towards buying the minibus and the vehicle will be decorated with sponsor logos. Please contact the club for more information