THE sport of boxing is truly alive and kicking in Jersey, with Jersey Boxing Academy (JBA) set to make their grand opening at their home at Transform Together Fitness this Monday.
After a frustrating “slog” to become a fully amateur registered club with England Boxing, the team under Charlie Franks can now look to the future, beginning with a showcase event starting Sunday.
The landmark now means that JBA have become just the second club in the Island who can compete in amateur competitions, following in the footsteps of Jersey Leonis ABC, who recently hosted a London Select squad at the Radisson Hotel.
With local boxing talent Tom Frame working with Transform Together and attached to JBA, the budding stars of tomorrow have a role model on their doorstep to aspire to.
Frame, who competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, is in preparation for his next bout in Hungary early next month.
To celebrate the news, Franks, along with BoxinBusiness, have secured Frank Gilfeather’s services to lead three seminars in Jersey.
The former Scottish amateur boxing champion turned esteemed journalist, had 200 fights as an amateur while representing Scotland on 17 occasions.
Upon returning to coaching in his 70s, a clip he posted on social media gained huge traction, amassing millions of views and subsequently led to Gilfeather’s full-time coaching comeback to aid both boxing technique, as well as helping to build character in his students.
Franks said: “Having him [Gilfeather] in Jersey is brilliant.
“He has a great history in the sport, both fighting and coaching, and has really built an online reputation in recent years.
“His insights will definitely be valuable to Jersey’s boxing community and Sunday and Monday should be a great celebration of the sport on Island, as well as gaining vital knowledge through the seminars.
“We are really trying to bring the boxing clubs together on the Island.
“Between BoxinBusiness, The Rock Boxing and JBA, we are running seminars at each club.
Franks himself enjoyed a decorated amateur career in the sport while in Portsmouth, while also showing promise as a budding footballer.
From there the England Boxing level coach branched into the local “White Collar Boxing” scene, being involved in upwards of 30 separate events.
But the Jersey-based boxer had a clear passion in coaching the sport, with a primary focus on juniors and the future of the sport.
“It’s been a very hard slog to get amateur boxing club status through England Boxing,” Franks added.
“It seemed like every hurdle that could have been in the way was put in front of us.
“But we have persevered and got through it.
“We have to provide the opportunities for our younger boxers to progress, whether that be in local amateur bouts in Jersey where teams come over, or travelling to the mainland to fight.
“We have built some key relationships in Portsmouth, Scotland and South London, which will all provide opportunities for our boxers to travel.”
There are currently 12 boxers at JBA between the ages of nine and 22, all ready for competition and in the process of getting carded with England Boxing.
With Jersey Leonis ABC continuing to broaden their reach and now JBA joining the fold, opportunities for Islanders to advance in the sport of boxing have never been better.
Schedule of seminars
Sunday 3 March | 10am – 12pm
BoxinBusiness at The Fort
Sunday 3 March | 3pm – 4.30pm
TRF Boxing at Le Breton Lane
Monday 4 March | 5pm – 6.30pm
Jersey Boxing Academy
