Boxers benefit from generous donation
A donation from the family of a late boxing fan in Oban has helped buy new equipment for the youngest members of Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club.
The late Jim Bradford was a great fan of the sport, attending bouts as often as he could. He also watched every televised match and was an avid reader of boxing magazines. In his teens he took to the ring himself, becoming West Country Champion.
He also followed the fortunes of Lochaber Phoenix Club through the local paper and knew a couple of the boxers who travelled from Oban to training sessions in Fort William.
Because of these connections and being the closest club to Oban, his family decided to donate money from a collection made at his funeral to help it buy much-needed new equipment.
Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club coach Phil Bradley said the money had been very welcome and was already making a difference for the young boxers at the club. ‘This donation was very useful to us and enabled us to buy new head guards for our younger members which will help them in their training and in future bouts,’ he said.
‘Two of our young boxers, Josh Dieguno and Josh Hunter, did very well at the recent Forgewood Boxing Club show in Motherwell and we hope they and a few other members of our young squad will compete in the forthcoming Scottish Championships in the Central Belt, where the club has always acquitted itself very well in the past with victories at all levels and age groups.
‘We really appreciate this donation and thank Mr Bradford and his relatives for thinking of us.’