HE helped coach Nathan Cleverly in his last amateur fight, now like the world champion he is becoming a role model to others.

For Karl Jones, 47, has built up his own boxing gym to give disadvantaged kids in the Valleys a chance to shine.

He and son Ben, 22, opened Jones' Gym, Willow Court, Pengam, last August, investing £10,000 of their savings to put their experience as amateur boxers to good use.

The gym, which is also used for general fitness downstairs, is one of the first in Wales to offer a GCSE qualification in the sport for youngsters who are less academic than their peers, which was started up by one of Mr Jones' friends, National Boxing Awards director Quinton Shillingford.

Mr Jones senior helped coach Mr Cleverly in his last amateur fight when he trained at Fleur-de-Lys gym.

He too has excelled at the sport, coaching in the Welsh and Great British squads of the Amateur Boxing Association.

Despite giving up boxing his heart was set on opening up a fitness gym.

"Some of the local kids asked me if I would open up a gym for them. Its main aim is to get them off the street and promote amateur boxing. There are also too many playing video games and we bring fitness, wellbeing and discipline into their lives," he said.

One of Mr Jones' success stories is Ricky Rowlands, a British and Welsh title winner, who has been with Mr Jones since the age of eight, and is working towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Some of the gym's 30 children, who attend three times a week, are aiming to follow in his footsteps by making a career out of the sport.

Continuous fundraising takes place to keep the gym going, and £900 was raised from a recent bag packing event at Asda Blackwood three weeks ago.

Approaching the gym's one year anniversary, Mr Jones hopes to use the funds to buy the children tracksuits, more equipment and take them to training camps.

A disco and a dance at The Harlequin, Pengam, on May 26, has been organised by the gym's committee.

Everyone is welcome to attend from 7pm.