BRAVE BOYS
Wishaw boxers take the punches for charity
Getting into a boxing ring is a nerve-wracking moment for even the most experienced campaigners.
For eight courageous amateur Wishaw boxers, they had the experience of a lifetime when they stepped into the ring for the first time ever on Saturday night.
They were fighting in aid of Wishaw gym Rivals’ Knockout the Stigma event, hosted by owners Sam and Scott Allan.
And experienced kickboxing champion Sam revealed he was blown away by the bravery of the amateur scrappers, whose first time heading into the ring saw them fight in front of more than 350 cheering fans.
“It was an absolutely massive moment for them,” Sam explained.
“We had twelve fights on the night and eight of them were boxers from our gym taking on their first fight.
“There was 360 people there going absolutely bonkers for them.
“My adrenaline was going as they each went in.
“I was pumped up for them so who knows how they were feeling!”
Winning and losing didn’t matter on the night, as they all contributed to the show which raised an incredible £10,100 for local mental health charity Chris’s House.
And Sam revealed just why so many of the gym’s boxers were willing to fight for the cause.
He said: “A lot of the boys fighting on the night have suffered from depression and been affected by suicides in the town.
“Some have even been supported by Chris’s House in the past.
“So when the call for boxers went out they all jumped at the chance to give something back.
“For them to just let everything go and get into the ring in that environment was unbelievable.
“I’ve fought more than 100 times in the ring and I still get nervous.
“The crowd was spectacular. They all came through it together and it shows how strong people can be and how you can turn your life around.”
The event was the second running of the Wishaw Main Street gym’s mental health fundraiser.
And Sam revealed they have already booked the date of next year’s - September 5, 2020 - as they look to continue the assault on poor mental health.
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