Middleton boxing club fighting for success

Middleton Select Amateur Boxing Club

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Middleton Select Amateur Boxing Club is hoping for another successful year in 2014 to keep up their winning tradition.

A handful of youngsters have already gone through the ranks of the club and into the sport professionally, whilst a host of young boxers from the club have won national belts and titles.

Martyn Lynch, Head Coach and Chairman, explained:  “The club was started about 15 years ago on Kemp Street after an earlier club had disbanded. There did used to be a Langley Spartans boxing club but that was 20 to 30 years ago now.

“Tony Pyne, who founded the club, sadly lost his battle with cancer about eight years ago and he asked me to carry the club on so I’ve kept it going. We’ve got a massive membership and we’re in the process of buying the facility we use. We’ve made an offer to the Salford Diocese as the building we use is an old church.”

With the proposed purchase of their own site and a history of producing professionals, Martyn has big plans for the future of Select.

“We’ve had five or six leave us to go professional now. Matthew Ryan and Liam Taylor have won national titles and have now gone on to be professional. Liam has won all eight of his professional fights so far, so that shows we’ve had some outstanding young boxers come through over the years.

“We’re looking to maybe get some professional coaching and we’re looking to bring in more schools. I work in a school myself and I know that boxing can build up people’s confidence and self-esteem. We’re exploring lots of different avenues really.”

With continued success and national recognition many would forgive Martyn for focusing on his prized assets, but the club still remains family-orientated.

“We have kids as young as seven or eight and in some instances the parents actually train with the kids. We encourage everyone to get involved. We’re open to everyone; we have women and girls training with us too.

"Young Freya Jones recently lost in the final of the National Female Youth Championships and she’s only 13 years old.

“We’ve got a few Championships coming up in the coming months and we’re going to hold our home show at the Middleton Arena in March, but we go all over the North West and appear at other club’s shows as well.”