A boxing academy which has diverted hundreds of kids away from crime could close after the rent for its building sky-rocketed. Jawaid Khaliq, who grew up in The Meadows, became the first British Asian boxing world champion in 2000 when he won the IBO welterweight title.
Following retirement in 2004, he has been running boxing classes at the Sycamore Centre in St Ann’s for 15 years, helping around 100 people a week. But now his boxing academy is at risk of closure because the rent is expected to rise from £368 to £1,462 a month.
The boxing academy has until July to find vital funds so it can remain open. Mr Khaliq and his team said closure would have devastating consequences for the community, especially for young people who describe it as a “safe haven”.
