York boxing legend announces return to fight game (From York Press)

Henry Wharton announces return to fight game with new boxing gym

11:30am Saturday 10th December 2011 in Boxing By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

YORK’S king of the ring Henry Wharton is overseeing a new realm – the biggest boxing gym in the city’s history.

Wharton, the former undefeated European, Commonwealth and British super-middleweight champion, wants to restore the city’s boxing community to a prime position.

The man who stalked boxing’s stellar super- middleweight scene of the 1990s when the likes of world champions Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Steve Collins were in their pomp, has taken on a new opponent.

He has bought the lease on the top floor of the former Regent Cinema in Acomb and is currently helping a team of dedicated family, friends and volunteers to transform the vast 10,000 sq ft of space into the brightest and best boxing gym in York.

The man whose only three defeats in an illustrious decade-long professional career were in three challenges for world titles, exclusively told The Press: “It’s time for me to give back to the sport which made me a champion.

“It’s time for me to give something back to the city which always backed me with fanatical and fantastic support during my career.”

And his aim is to help put future York champions on the path to success that he enjoyed both as an international amateur and a professional champion of repute.

Added Wharton: “I aim to promote self-fitness, good discipline and hopefully future champions in the sport of boxing.

“I intend to give this project 100 per cent of my time, effort and experience to inspire others to give their all and, through their determination and hard work, to hopefully take individuals to the heights I was able to achieve during my career.”

Wharton revealed how he scoured York for almost a year before finding the ideal location for his gym, which will also be a community centre and incorporate new fitness regimes such as zumba classes.

Wharton’s vision is to have an all-encompassing gym and community centre that would be able to host its own boxing shows as well as supporting other sporting events.

Given a fresh buzz by his involvement in boxing training in Ripon and Thirsk for the past couple of years, Wharton said he wanted to tap into the long and successful heritage of boxing in the city and provide it with the sort of headquarters it has never had before.

“I started in all the small gyms, the church halls, the cramped places where you could train but there was nowhere to stage boxing, nowhere to hold amateur or professional bills,” he said.

“That’s not to disrespect those places. The sport has an unbelievable following in the city, but York needs a proper and sizeable boxing centre like this.”

In already removing the shell of the upper floor of the former cinema in York Road, and replacing it with a new floor, Wharton has been knocked out by a welter of support he has had from local businesses.

He said: “The generosity of people in York, of firms in and around the city, has been absolutely magnificent. There’s still a hell of a lot of work to do, but I am so excited about this project.”

helping hands

COMPANIES that have already come to the aid of transforming the upper floor of the former cinema include: Acaster Sawmill, Jewsons, Travis and Perkins, Brand and Toolhire, Howarth Timber, Civil and Lintels, York Sawmill, Wickes Building Centre, Key Line, Ramli Fire, and Wilkinson Sports and Leisurewear.

Other firms who would like to help can phone Hustwick on 01904 289494 or on 07423 069071 or email robbiehustwick@talktalk.net