PLANS to open an amateur boxing club in Caldicot have been given a boost after a building was secured by the club committee.

Martin Lewis, a local resident and active member of St Joseph’s Amateur Boxing Club, wants to open the club to cater for all ages and genders.

Mr Lewis, who has been trying to get the project running for more than two years, has been offered a vacant property by Monmouthshire County Council.

However the unit at Old Pill Farm Industrial Estate in Portskewett needs substantial repairs, with costs earmarked at around £20,000.

A surveyor's report also has to be carried out on the building after Asbestos was found in the roof.

The committee are hoping to get the club open in time for the summer holidays but need help raise to funds.

Mr Lewis, who has boxed all over the UK and the United States, said: “I just feel that the people of Caldicot and the surrounding areas will benefit from my experiences and hopefully progress and enjoy their time in the sport as much as I have.

“If I can help them do this then I will be a happy man.”

Mr Lewis has enlisted the help of his amateur coaches at St Joe's, Roger Williams and Bill Reynolds, to help in starting the gym.

Talking about the area, Mr Williams said: “Two years ago we staged an amateur event at the Caldicot Labour Club and the size, enthusiasm and boxing knowledge of the crowd was phenomenal.

“It was clearly evident that Caldicot and the surrounding area would benefit from a club in their vicinity.”

Currently the nearest club to Caldicot is Chepstow ABC, which is currently the only amateur boxing club in Monmouthshire

This has led to the club having to turn away potential members due to a lack of space.

Mr Reynolds believes there's a lot of potential being wasted in the area, and labelled the fact that there's only one boxing club in the country as "criminal".

Both men join a committee that is also comprised of local businessman and former Newport County non-executive director Mark Crook and local PC Damian Waite.

Having the local police supporting the boxing club is something that Mr Reynolds believes will assist in diverting people from crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

He said: "Boxing can be used as a tool to engage people to take ownership of their community and to allow engagement of young people who may feel socially excluded and disadvantaged thereby resulting in greater community cohesion and harmony."

The proposed club will act as an extension of St Joseph’s and according to Mr Williams, the Newport club was in a similar situation to the one in Caldicot 25 years ago.

He said: "We took over a council property that was literally falling down and it was a very long time before any members actually trained there.”

Since then, St Joe's have been nothing short of a success with a proven track record of producing quality boxers including current IBF World Featherweight champion Lee Selby and brother Andrew, who is preparing to fight for the British flyweight title.

Other names that come through the ranks include former British champion Gary Buckland, Commonwealth Games gold and bronze medallists Sean McGoldrick and Mo Nasir as well as Fred Evans, who won Olympic silver at London 2012.

Lightweight Joe Cordina also recently qualified for Rio 2016, meaning a member of St Joe’s will represent their country for the second Olympics running.

Mr Reynolds' involvement in the project also has the support of Newport East MP Jessica Morden, who said: "I’ve known Billy for many years through his work in the community and am pleased to see the team branch out into Caldicot.

"As Billy once said about the St Joseph's Boxing Club 'the boys are here training and being part of something constructive instead of being out somewhere getting into trouble"

To kick off the project's fundraising, a gentleman's evening at The Measure Inn in Caldicot is planned for June 11, with Lee Selby and Glenn McCrory planned speakers for the event.

To get involved with the project, contact Martin on 07879223223 or email Bill Reynolds at WReynolds@cavc.ac.uk.