Boxing In Britain: Five Towns ABC Hopes To Make Splash In Midlands

Newly-formed Five Towns ABC Coach Clinton Campbell is hoping members of his stable can secure Midlands Championships slots in thoroughout the new season.

“It’s going to be tough in our first season, but we are hoping to see champions in this gym over the coming years,” Campbell said.

Campbell and co-trainer Paul Dodd are former coaches at Hulton Abbey ABC, and Clinton insists that the time was right to setup their own stable.

“People have certain ways of doing things, and myself and Paul felt that we could teach the young lads here things maybe they weren’t learning at the Abbey.”

Despite their departures both have said that relations between the clubs are superb, and also with all the amateur clubs in the Staffordshire area.

“There was no problem with our decision to leave Hulton Abbey, and we still talk regularly with the trainers there as well as all the coaches for other clubs.” Campbell commented.

The gym situated in Bottleslow Street, Hanley has been open for training purposes since January, but Campbell has now registered it with the ABA, and can now look forward to his boxers competing in tournaments nationwide.

“One of our lads Jack O’Sullivan recently fought in a competition in Sheffield, and at fifteen years old has 35 fights under his belt. Then we have Daniel Allen who is 18, who just fought his first bought within the past couple of weeks, so we have varying levels of experience,” he said.

Campbell also revealed his admiration for boxers such as Sugar Ray Robinson, and insisted that teaching young aspiring boxers technique and speed over power would suit them better in the long run.

“If you look at some of the great boxers of this generation, Floyd Mayweather Jnr is quick and nimble but can mix it up, also Manny Pacquiao who isn’t a big guy uses his speed to his advantage.”

Co-Trainer Dodd 42, whose two sons Adam and James both train at the gym, is a firm believer that boxers who pay their dues within the amateur ranks have more chance of glory in the professional game.

“Look at some of the boxers who are just coming through now like Frankie Gavin, James DeGale and even Amir Khan, they have all had very distinguished amateur careers. I think that if any of our lads had thoughts about turning professional, I think we would ensure they had their shall we say education of the sport first,” Paul explained.

He also revealed how he first got the ‘Boxing bug’ when only a teenager at boarding school, saying, “I only had a small number of fights but experiences like stick with you, and once my kids showed an interest in the sport it re-ignited my passion for it. They both seem to really enjoy the fitness side of it, but also the sparring and actually ring work.”

Dodd has admitted that the club is unlikely to host its own show within the current season, but they are looking at next season when they can really step up the club’s profile in the Staffordshire area and beyond.

“There is the matter of costs for an event to take into consideration, and with us just getting off the ground I think it will take time to organise a good worthwhile event. The event recently at Jubilee WMC in Trent Vale and from other events I have been part of with Hulton Abbey, have shown me there is a also a decent fanbase for the sport in Stoke”, he said.