Floating like a butterfly on new boxing floor
MOWI Community Fund helps pay for vital new gym equipment
‘After more than a decade of continuous use,the old canvas was beyond repair and needed to be replaced
While the world’s greatest boxer Muhammed Ali may have ‘floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee’, members of Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club can wax lyrical on the power of salmon for helping them master boxing skills, writes Iain Ferguson.
Thanks to a donation from the Mowi Community Fund, the club has bought and installed a new canvas floor in the training ring at its Corpach gym.
Since its formation around 12 years ago, the Lochaber Phoenix club has taken the amateur boxing world by storm, winning many trophies and producing champions at all levels in competitions against the best in the country – all this while being one of the most remote clubs with the smallest membership.
Key to this is not only the great Lochaber talent but also the high level of all-round training given by the coaches from day one.
Much of this award-winning skills’ development means working in the ring on movement, stance, delivery and footwork in a realistic boxing bout environment.
Young boxer Cameron Whyte from Spean Bridge has been with the club since the early years and has held championship titles at every age group in his category and represented Scotland in the National Squad.
Since leaving school, Cameron has worked for Mowi, so it was appropriate he accepted the new canvas on behalf of the club by touching gloves with Jayne MacKay, community engagement officer, Mowi Scotland. Jayne however, declined the opportunity to spar with him.
Coach Aidan Donnelly said: ‘After more than a decade of continuous use, the old canvas was beyond repair and needed to be replaced.
‘The ring is in constant use. A good quality canvas floor is vital, but also very expensive.
‘We are very grateful to Mowi for funding the new cover which we hope will see service for the next 10 years, maybe even helping the club produce a few more champions.’