A Liverpool boxer who grew up surrounded by world class fighters has helped tutor famous actor Tom Hardy in mixed martial arts.
Jack McGann, 29, whose dad ran the Widnes based Wolsflair gym, grew up with famous fighters such as Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Dillian Whyte, who often visited the gym for sparring sessions.
Over recent years Jack, now a professional boxer, has helped pass on his intimate knowledge of the fight game to his Hollywood friend. Last month Tom won two gold medals at a mixed martials arts competition in the midlands.
READ MORE: Jack McGann opens up to Stephen Graham on grandad's death before Shankly fight
Tom , now 44, manage to tap out Army veteran opponent Danny Appleton, 40, who admitted he feared his arm might break. Danny told the Lad Bible that he was forced to submit to the Peaky Blinders star because he feared 'his arm would snap.'
Danny hadn't realised he would be facing the film star until the semi-finals of the REORG Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton until he was confronted by Tom on the day.
Tom was introduced to mixed martial arts while preparing for 2011 movie Warrior, which told the story of a professional fighter. However the ECHO can now reveal how Jack has helped Tom make the successful transition from actor to competition level fighter.
Other members of the Wolfslair coaching team have also been on hand to teach Tom boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ. Jack said: "We have tried to pass on some of what we know to Tom, who is a keen student of both boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He is now winning competitive fights and we are proud of his progress."
Last weekend Conor McGregor's boxing coach Owen Roddy flew into Liverpool to watch Jack fight on the roof of the city's Shankly hotel. Jack dazzled in front of friends and family to stop Lithuania's Edvinas Puplauskas.
Owen, who is Conor McGregor's full time strike coach, chatted to the ECHO after the fight. He said: "It was a wonderful evening on the top of the Shankly. Such a special evening in Liverpool and it was topped off by another wonderful display by Jack McGann."
Stephen Graham, a friend of both Tom and Jack, was spotted in the crowd and found the time to chat to fans before the big fight. Stephen posed for photographs with Jack and his camp which is led by St Helens man Martin Murray, who once fought boxing legend Gennadiy Gennadyevich Golovkin (GGG).
Jack is now ranked 12th in Britain and 143 in the world after his recent win. The roof top fight was produced by charity Power of One, who sponsor Jack McGann. The charity was founded by London based lawyer Sam Hutchinson, who is committed to stamping out dog fighting and other forms of animal cruelty.
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