Boxing continues to be a force for good across Britain

Boxing is thought to have been around in Britain since 1681, with regular boxing matches being held in London’s Royal Theatre in 1698. Back in those days, boxing was considered to be a ”gentleman’s sport”. The monarchy of the time, King George was such a big fan of his fellow nobleman that he even set up a boxing ring in Hyde Park in 1723. Boxing went from strength to strength over the coming decades, with Britain producing a number of lighter weight titles in the early 1900s through fighters such as Bill Ladbury, Teddy Baldock and George Stanley. 

In later years, Britain enjoyed Olympics success winning flyweight gold in 1956 through Terry Spink. More success followed as middleweight, welterweight and heavyweight titles were all won by British fighters. However, in more recent years, as better boxing equipment from brands like Sting Sports became available and training improved, heavyweight fighters such as Lennox Lewis and even more recently Tyson Fury dominated the world boxing scene becoming global superstars and elevating the sport both at home and abroad. All of these fighters helped to popularise boxing in Britain and have encouraged others to follow in their footsteps, having a positive effect on communities and individuals all over the UK. 

Let’s take a look at just some ways in which boxing in Britain has, and continues to be a positive force.

Inspiring Youth 

Charity groups such as Boxing Futures aim to inspire young people through boxing to help them to be the best that they can be. Providing a springboard to re-connect young people with opportunities to become educated, volunteer and seek employment, groups like this are having a positive impact on communities across the country. Their goal is to bring kids out of isolation, provide them with the social skills they need to thrive and address many mental health issues that can plague young people today. The work that organisations like this do is quite remarkable and is having a lasting impact on youth all over the UK.

Bringing Communities Together

Whether you are living in a small town in Britain or a large city, you can be sure that there is a local boxing gym not too far away. From community boxing clubs to those in universities and the national body, England Boxing, there is no shortage of ways that people can get into the sport. Finding a club is easier than ever and the physical, mental and social benefits are immense. Boxing has completely transformed the lives of people from all walks of life and continues to have an incredibly positive impact on communities in all parts of the country. 

Mental and Physical Health Benefits

Boxing is an amazing way to stay physically fit, providing participants with an excellent workout. Whether you want to train to learn skills and stay in shape or you have dreams of becoming a world champ one day, you can be sure that you will break a sweat in your local gym. Boxing is also highly effective when it comes to mental health too. This is a physical activity that offers excellent stress relief, stimulates the production of endorphins, helps you to learn a lot about yourself and builds self-confidence. What’s more, while boxing is often considered to be an individual pursuit, the truth is that there is great camaraderie in the gym, with everyone encouraging and motivating each other to do better. 

Boxing Will Continue To Play A Pivotal Role In Communities Across Britain

With the recent victory of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, the UK boxing scene is rapidly growing as more and more people are looking to get involved in this fascinating sport. As time goes on, boxing will continue to have a positive impact on individuals and communities across the country, providing a means to stay physically and mentally fit, bringing people together and motivating people to be the best version of themselves that they can be.