Mayor’s visit is knockout for boxing ace

A YOUNG champion boxer got a surprise visit from the Mayor of Rochdale.

Coun Ian Duckworth visited Hamer Boxing Club to congratulate Mehran Khan, 19, on his national super heavyweight belt triumph.

The Mayor said “Visiting Hamer Amateur Boxing Club was a real education.

“Boxing is much more than what happens in the ring. Training takes up so much of the members’ time, instilling discipline and the ethos that hard work pays dividends.

“Members are a mixed bunch from all ages, cultures and walks of life but they all root for each other, they are a true team and a lesson in community cohesion.

“Whilst talking to the parents, all of them said that the youngsters behaviour and schooling had soared since they have joined Hamer Boxing Club.

“Running such a club costs a lot of money and they have no external funding, I will be trying to find some sources of income for them in my last few weeks as a councillor and I hope others who read this article will join me, it will be money well spent.”

Hamer coach Steven Connellan said: “It’s very gratifying that we as a club gain recognition from our peers.

“All of our volunteers work very hard at this club whilst working with our young people. This club has been working with young people since the 1930s and is a very much needed fabric of our community. I trained here as a youngster and was guided by a great coach in Terry Hernon. Our club always requires funding to keep this great tradition going so that we can continue to ground our young people and help them along the right path in life.”