Category: Wales
Date: 08.03.2006
Printable version
The tough, working class area
of Swansea, Townhill, and the Gwent Amateur Boxing Club (Gwent ABC),
are the focus of an uncompromising behind-the-scenes look at the
world of amateur boxing to be screened on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Wales digital service Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
2W.
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In Fighters (Friday 10 March 2006, 9.00pm) we follow the fortunes of four amateur boxers aged 17 to 18 from the Townhill area - Ricky
Owen, Matthew Bolt Adam Farrell and John Phillips - as they prepare for the National Boys Clubs Championships quarter and semi-finals.
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How they progress over the five months the documentary
team follow them is crucial to their development as both boxers and
young men.
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"It's a tough old district, but you find the majority of people up here are first class citizens," explains Terry
Gray, the head trainer at Gwent ABC.
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Since taking over the club Terry has trained 227 Welsh
champions and 14 British champions at schoolboy and senior level.
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"Basically I want to teach these lads to stay out of
court and grow up to be decent members of the community," says
Terry.
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In the documentary we also hear the views of Swansea-born WBU Cruiserweight Champion, Enzo
Maccarinelli, who has befriended one of the young fighters, John Phillips.
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"I turned professional at the ages of 19. But looking back, If I'd have had the same chances as a budding young amateur fighter like John here, I'd have taken it," says Enzo.
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"If
he gets the chance to go to the Olympics, I'd tell him to go
for it."
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And Mike Durke, Chief Executive of the Phoenix Centre and Regeneration Project where the club is based, believes there is far more to the club for the youngsters than just learning about boxing.
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"Because of the rules in the club, these youngsters go there and learn that there is a reasonable way to behave and they learn respect for other people in the community," says Mike.
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"It's
not just about boxing and physical fitness, they know they can
achieve and they know they can move on."
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Fighters can be seen on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO Wales' digital service Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 2W on Friday 10 March
2006, 9.00pm.
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 2W is available on digital satellite, cable and
Freeview.
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NP
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