Gym forced to close

Champion fighter Marc on look out for premises

A DUNDEE kickboxer has vowed to battle on after his popular gym was forced to close.

Champion fighter Marc Navarro is looking for new premises after shutting his facility in Fairmuir Street because of water damage.

Hundreds of people of all ages and levels of fitness from across Tayside used the gym for fitness training as well as specialist boxing and mixed martial arts coaching.

But Marc, 30, said he would get over the “blip” and is on the look out for new premises.

The gym opened two years ago and Marc said he said he believes it’s the “right time, right decision” to walk away from the current unit.

Marc announced the shock news to friends and clients after recent wet weather caused further flooding.

Following the announcement, he received a raft of messages of support from people across the city.

Marc said he had already been offered help by friends as he begins his search for a new unit.

He added: “I know lots of people in the city and already quite a few of them have seen the situation and they’ve offered to help.

“It’s all quite fresh so I need to sort everything out.

“I’ve got a new boxing ring that was due to come but I’ve got nowhere to put it.

“We train young kids and we can’t have them in when it’s like that.

“I’m paying about £2,000 per month for the rent plus the water bills, business rates, electricity bills and everything else on top of that. I think it’s the right decision for me to leave it and move on. We’ll get over it.”

Marc has been a veteran of the local combat sports scene for more than a decade — having competed in boxing, MMA and K1 kickboxing.

He took home the K1 European title and was also due to travel to Italy for a world title attempt earlier this year — however his opponent suffered an injury and the bout was scrapped.

Recently, Marc headlined the first ever United Combat Championships — an event held at Dundee Ice Arena that he also promoted — stopping Sweden’s Mikael Brilling in front of a packed house.

Marc Navarro is seeking new premises for his gym.