NEWPORT Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Mo Nasir, will open a new boxing gym this month.

Boxing instructor Mo Nasir, 27, will open a new boxing gym, Mo's Boxing and Fitness Academy, with an official opening by MP David Davies on August 23.

This follows the success of the ex-boxer's current gym on 122 Commercial Road, Newport, that has seen Mr Nasir train many youngsters in the Pill area.

The Yemen-born boxing star won the bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and has trained the entire Newport County first team squad, but on any given day Mr Nasir sees a total cross section of society.

Mr Nasir said: "After I stopped boxing professionally I decided to open my own boxing academy and it is getting very popular, so I decided to expand with this new gym.

"The project started on July 5 and has taken 39 days to complete.

"I have had no funding and have carried out all the wok myself along with help of family and friends."

The opening event beginning at 12pm will see the impressive work carried out by Mr Nasir on the new at 50 Alexander Road.

Mr Nasir added: "The building had no plumbing electricity so we were grafting from 7am to at least 8pm every night.

"We applied for lots of funding but were turned down which was disappointing because most people know of the work I do to help the community and the charities I support such as the Sparkle Appeal, which aims to provide treatment for children with special needs .

"I have had to put a lot of personal investment in to the gym selling my car and applying for loans.

"Most boxing gyms just do boxing but I run my gym to help the community."