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Commonwealth Boxing Champions Join Belfast Met
Bantamweight James Mc Givern (56kg) who boxes for St Georges ABC in South Belfast and Welterweight Aidan Walsh (64kg) who boxes for Holy Family ABC in North Belfast made a triumphant return from Samoa claiming Team NI’s first ever boxing gold medals at the games.
The two champion boxers have joined Ireland’s first ‘Boxing Academy’ at Belfast Met. The academy which is the first of its kind in Ireland will give students the opportunity to complete essential skills as well as gain an IABA Level 1 Boxing Coaches Awards. There will also be opportunities to travel oversees to compete against and train with other college boxing academies.
This exciting and innovative one year, full-time programme is equivalent to two GCSE’s Grade A*-C and seeks to develop both coaching and performance excellence. Students will engage on an academic programme as well as structured boxing training sessions delivered four times a week at City Centre Gym Belfast lead by Olympic boxing coach legend Gerry Storey MBE.
Gerry Storey said:
‘’’The whole concept of the academy is brilliant and Belfast Met have to be congratulated for making such a great programme for young people. Belfast has needed a course like this for years and I am pleased that I can be a part of it’’
Paddy Barnes, triple boxing Olympian and past student said:
‘’Belfast Met Boxing Academy is a great course, allowing boxers to stay at the top of their game, plus get an industry standard qualification at the same time. ‘’