Salford boxing trainer Gary Booth has expressed the importance of donations to local boxing gyms in order to keep young kids off the streets.

Gary Booth runs the Salford Boxing Club in Irlam and believes that the only way local boxing gyms can continue is through donations and boxing events such as his annual Christmas Show being held on 19th December.

Gary Booth runs the Salford Boxing Club in Irlam and believes that the only way local boxing gyms can continue is through donations and boxing events such as his annual Christmas Show being held on 19th December.

Councils across the country are not giving boxing gyms the proper funding in order for them to stay well maintained and even stay open.

‘I’m not calling them out but the council haven’t done much for us. We’re very sustainable, we do have little bits of funding but not as much as you’d get for a football or rugby team.’

‘I’m putting shows on for children, taking your kids off the streets, stopping them from probably smashing your windows or nicking your cars!’

In the buildup for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics funding for boxing falls far behind a lot of other Olympic sports such as cycling and even canoeing.

Booth stressed that due to the lack of funding it means that boxing gyms sometimes have to rely on donations from the public if they are to have the best facilities for kids to go to and train.

‘I think if you’ve got a spare few quid go down to your local boxing club and just give them a little envelope so they can get some equipment.’

‘I know how hard it is because boxing gloves don’t last forever, punch bags don’t last forever so things need replacing.’

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