Fitness fans who use a hidden gym on a quiet street in Clifton have spoken about how it helps them train to “be the best”. Set up over 10 years ago, the gym is being used by some of the best boxers in the East Midlands.
Set up ten years ago by successful ex-boxer turned coach Errol McDonald, the gym is helping keep some children out of trouble. Originally from Clifton, Errol is the 1985 British ABA Welterweight Champion.
He spoke about the impact the gym has had in the community: “The gym’s been here for 10 years. This house had a big garden so I helped build the gym.
“I always wanted a gym to train with friends until they said ‘why don’t you start your own?’ It’s good, I like it, when kids come here it changes their ways.
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“Parents will tell me ‘since they’ve been boxing here it's been keeping them out of trouble.”
The Bad Boyz gym only charges £10 for the whole week. Errol continued: “There are people who come here who before would just smoke and drink but coming here has changed them. People who wouldn’t know there’s a gym here, I wouldn’t want any Toms, Dicks and Harrys. If you come you have to want to box.
“The people that come here want to box, there’s no messing around, I want to train serious boxers.”
212 Rivergreen is rented out to students. At the back of the garden is the Bad Boyz gym.
Going by his professional name only ‘Slim Macho’ is 22. Originally from Northampton he decided to stay in Nottingham after studying property.
Slim Macho has been using the gym in Clifton for around three years. After being introduced to Errol as an amateur boxer, Slim Macho is now a professional.
He said: “It's my life, it’s not a hobby, it’s my career. In the short term, I want to keep working with kids and coaching them but in the long term, I want to be the best and win a British title in the next two years.”
Slim Macho won the Regional East Midlands Championships for Boxing In 2021. He continued and said: “This gym has helped me focus, I know what I want to do, it’s not just training for me, I’m investing in my life. I’m here everyday. Those who I train with are like family.
“There’s fun and jokes here but everyone has drive and I aspire to be a lot like Errol.”
Ryan Amos, 32 has a stage name: ‘The Punisher.’ Ryan, who lives locally, has said that Clifton has “loads of different opportunities and good community spirit.”
Ryan practised Taekwondo for six years before boxing until the age of 16 when his dad became ill and boxing “pulled him through.” Ryan said: “It’s [boxing] more than a sport, it’s helped me pull through situations and has kept me out of trouble.”
Ryan, who has also won amateur titles, said: “It feels good to be a role model. As well as boxing, I’m now studying counselling and psychotherapy.”
Ryan’s advice to upcoming boxers would be: “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and do your best.”
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