Teen boxer punches down barriers for England debut

Jerry-Mike was four years old when he first started boxing and hopes to be the first world champion from Peterborough

A boxing club that is helping young people from diverse communities stay off the streets is preparing a fighter to make his international debut.

Jerry-Mike,15, attends Top Yard School of Boxing in Peterborough, and is about to represent England at a tri-nations boxing championship starting on 28 May in Cardiff.

The teenager from Wisbech said being a traveller brought extra challenges for him, adding that it had "pushed" him to work harder.

His ultimate dream is to be an undisputed champion, which is a goal shared by many other young people at the club.

Mum Amy described Jerry-Mike's national championship win in March as a "surreal feeling"

Jerry-Mike has already won a national championship and he hopes his first international fight will take him a step closer to his dream.

"You have to show everyone you have got it, that you can work for it," he said.

"It is about being the best I can be and better than others. Training harder than others. Knowing I am stronger than them."

Mum Amy said: "It's a proud moment and one I can never forget in my life.

"But it has been tough to get to it. He has to put in a lot of time and effort. It's seven days a week."

Bilal Javed said the club was expanding and moving into a bigger premises soon due to a rise in demand

The boxing school in Fengate was started in 2017 by amateur boxing brothers Bilal and Hamad Javed, and is supported by a team of coaches.

The club, which trains about 200 young people, operates in association with British boxer and Olympic medallist Amir Khan.

Hamad Javed called the former light welterweight world champion "a great support" for the club.

His brother described how they were the "only two South Asian kids" who were boxing in Peterborough 30 years ago, and how the hobby "saved our live".

"It taught us discipline, hard work and sacrifice," he said.

"Our father wanted us to stay off the streets as there was a lot of crime in the area."

Nazia started attending the boxing club in November and said she enjoyed coming to the sessions

The club has been applauded by young people who said it had changed their lives.

Nazia, 17, originally from Afghanistan, said it is giving her an opportunity young girls could only dream of in her home country.

"I am doing it for myself, my country, for my family and my people. Especially for the females back there who don't have a chance to reach their goals."

Jaiden, 17, said boxing kept him out of "trouble" and instilled "morals and values in me".

Amir, 18, is also a national champion and has had nearly 60 competitive fights so far.

He said: "The discipline has helped me throughout my life."

Hamad Javed said winning national championships for a small club like theirs was "a massive thing"

Mr Javed said Jerry-Mike was just one of the success stories being written at this club, which had a few young national champions over the years.

But he is the first to compete in an international competition.

"It is a huge honour for us," he said.

Jerry-Mike said getting to the tri-nations championship was like "the whole world is looking at you now".

He said: "It spurs you on for the next season. Spurs on other travellers as well."

His mum said she and his father Paddy "can't wait" to watch him.