The Lion Boxing Academy, once a beacon of hope and community in Hoxton, East London, has received a crucial lifeline from the Matchroom Charitable Foundation, ensuring its revival after a challenging period of uncertainty.
Thanks to a £7,000 donation, the club – which found itself with just three registered boxers earlier this year – has now recruited over thirty new members, a brand new coaching team and has restructured its club committee, paving the way for a more stable future. The much needed funds from the Foundation will cover a host of essential expenses for the upcoming season, including new boxing equipment, affiliation fees and travel costs.
In a special celebration event held on Thursday evening, Matchroom Chairman, Eddie Hearn, alongside Johnny Fisher, Giorgio Visioli and former Lion members, Francis Ampofo and Big John Fisher, presented the club with a cheque, care package and even provided tickets to the upcoming Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois event at Wembley Stadium to a selection of lucky competition winners.
Speaking to the Matchroom cameras, Eddie Hearn passionately emphasised the pivotal role that the Matchroom Charitable Foundation has played in the transformation of the Lion Boxing Academy.
“The club came to us and said ‘look, we’re struggling financially, we’ve got three carded fighters and it looks like we’re going to have to close the club down’,” explained Hearn.
“If we start letting clubs like this close down, we should all be ashamed of ourselves. Anybody that works in boxing, we’ve all got an obligation to support these clubs, but we’ve also got an obligation to the coaches and the volunteers that give up their time so selflessly to help the kids within the community”.
Hearn continued by highlighting the importance of amateur boxing clubs in communities, stressing that more must be done to support them in continuing to offer a safe haven for young people.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, what your background is, what estate you live on, what your parents do… When you walk through those doors, you are all exactly the same. They’ve gone from three carded fighters to over thirty carded fighters, Steve and the guys here have done such an incredible job,” said Hearn.
“We’ve made a financial contribution to the club to make sure they can keep thriving, but we’ll also give them support commercially. It’s time for the government to start realising the support these places need. Speak to the young kids in here, it’s so important!”
The Lion Boxing Academy was founded in 1934 by Dicky Pates, who served as its first Chairman. He was succeeded by notable figures including Jarvis Astaire, Vanni Treves CBE, Tony Evans and Alan Parry BEM – who dedicated nearly 50 years to the club, with 25 years as Chairman. Alan was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2012 and the London Youth Gold Medal for his contributions to youth and amateur boxing. The current Chairman, Paul Morant, Alan’s nephew, has been with the Lion for 40 years and took over the role in March 2022.
Originally based at St Monica’s School in Hoxton Square, the club moved to its current location on Pitfield Street in 1961 and became a registered charity in 1963. In 2017, under Alan Parry’s vision, the premises were redeveloped into a state-of-the-art boxing gym to bring the club into the 21st century.
The club, which initially served as a boys’ club offering various sports and activities, began welcoming girls in the 1990s, with a renewed focus on boxing. In January 2024, the club introduced a new crest and rebranded as the Lion Boxing Academy. Its motto, “The Lion Roars,” reflects its long-standing mission to help local youth develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities, enabling them to grow into mature individuals and active members of society, ultimately improving their quality of life.
The Lion has a long history of producing top-quality boxers who have competed at both amateur and professional levels, proudly wearing the yellow vest. Notable alumni include Lawrence Okolie (Former World Cruiserweight Champion), Francis Ampofo (Former British Flyweight Champion), George Hillyard (Former WBU International Super Middleweight Champion) and many others, including standout amateurs like Dominic Bergonzi, Julian Borg and Zak Farrugia.