Boxing Club owner pleas for a new venue

The owner of Cleary's Boxing Gym in Leamington Spa is looking for a new venue. Credit: ITV News Central

  • Blog by ITV News Central viewer Edwin Cleary

A boxing gym in Leamington Spa that's helping to train some of the country's potential olympians could be forced to close as it struggles to find new premises.

Cleary's Boxing Gym has been based at Wise Street for almost ten years, but work to start turning their building into student flats could start in as little as six months.

  • The gym's values...

Leamington has a rich boxing history which goes back to the 1950's. Boxing and the gym has a history of bringing communities together.

In our sport there has never been a problem with racism or any ethnic minorities.

I know boxing is not everyone's cup of tea but you can't dispute that it has a proven history in helping youngsters by keeping them off our streets.

Teaching them dedication and discipline - something that will help them in life.

Owner Edwin Cleary says his biggest concern if the gym doesn't find a new home is that youngsters's dreams will be destroyed. Credit: ITV News Central

  • Main concerns...

My biggest concern is that all our hard work will be undone. All of our team of volunteers has put in 100% over the years and youngster's dreams will be destroyed.

I've dedicated my adult life to helping youngsters and we've achieved miracles for all ages in the local community.

We currently have three boxers on the England program in EIS (English Institute of sport) Sheffield working towards the next Olympic Games. Also in our group we have male and female national champions, nine midland champions and a great name in the sport around our surrounding areas and towns.

These boxers and coaches will have to travel if they can to continue their careers elsewhere, but I worry this will lead them to quitting.

We also have hundreds of keep fitters, both youngsters and adults, who just come in to socialise and keep fit.

Credit: ITV News Central

  • A success story...

One success story is of Michael Jephcott, (Jeffers). Jeffers joined Cleary's Boxing Gym weighing around 20 stone and suffering from depression. He never stepped out his front door, which lead to him spending his days at home.

With his own hard work and determination along with a helping hand from the gym, he now weighs a healthy 10 stone - losing half his bodyweight.

This has helped with his self-esteem and he now lives a healthy lifestyle. He recently got married and received an award for his difficult journey and as a result has now completed a coaching course to become a qualified member of our coaching team.

He currently runs his own classes and helps others with similar problems to his.

Edwin has told ITV News Central that he hopes to find help and advice on how to find a new place that the gym can call home.