THEY’VE produced champion professionals and their amateurs have won Olympic medals and now St Joseph’s boxing gym are branching out and starting a franchise in Caldicot.

The scheme will see the area get a significant shot-in-the-arm in terms of grass roots boxing, with funding applications already underway.

There will be a significant fundraising event for the project on Friday, November 28 at 6.30pm at the Caldicot Labour Club as they host an amateur boxing night.

Not only will those in attendance see a good evening of boxing, they’ll also have a chance to meet special guests Lee Selby and Gary Buckland.

“As an amateur gym we’re franchising out and opening another gym in Caldicot,” St Joes head trainer Tony Borg told the Argus.

“We’ve got one or two youngsters boxing out of Caldicot and Magor and that area now so we thought it was a good idea to set up a gym out there.

“It’s good for Caldicot because they haven’t got a registered gym in that area and it’s good for us to be branching out.

“We’ll be taking the coaching side of it on as well – basically coaching the coaches and trying to get them to work the way we do.

“Our first show of the season and the last of the year will be at Caldicot Labour Club on November 28.

“Lee Selby and Gary Buckland will be at the show presenting trophies.

“All the kids look up to them and it’s great for them to be able to meet a European champion and get inspired.”

Martin Lewis, one of the boxer’s on the show and a driving force alongside St Joes coach Roger Williams in the idea of setting up in Caldicot, explains why it will provide such a boost to the community.

"Caldicot doesn’t have a big problem with crime rates, but there are a lot of kids hanging about on an evening,” he said.

“When I raised the issue of a local boxing gym at a local council meeting, the police were very receptive, it’s something that can really give the young people especially in the area some purpose and a chance to get fit.

“We’ve got a building earmarked, but it needs a lot of work.”

As well as raising money for the project, the amateur boxing night will have a charity auction to support http://www.notimetolose.org.uk/