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THE LYNN TO BECOME OLYMPIC BOXING HOME

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20 November 2009

John Prendergast
johnp@southwarknews.org

A Camberwell boxing club will become a base for the British Olympic squad during and in the lead up to the London Olympics, and could be the centre of amateur boxing in the country.

Lynn Athletic Club has been confirmed as a 'beacon' club for the 2012 games, which will result in the best boxers in the country being based there. Talks are also underway to allow two other countries to use the facilities there.

Further plans for the Wells Way club have also been revealed to the 'News' and formative talks are ongoing to make the Wells Way building an amateur boxing museum and the home of London ABA (Amateur Boxing Association).

Southwark has a strong tradition in the amateur ranks, with the Fisher club in Bermondsey, the Lynn and the Hollington Club in Camberwell producing numerous boxers over the years. Boxers from Southwark, like new WBA World Heavyweight Champ David Haye, have also boxed for Fitzroy Lodge, which is based just outside the borough in Lambeth.

Geoff Born, Chairman of Lynn, said: "I can confirm the ABA has given the Lynn a beacon status for the Olympic Games and we will be the base for the Great Britain squad."

Officials from the club have been in talks with Southwark Council, MP Simon Hughes, as well as representatives from the ABA and several sports funding bodies.

The North Southwark and Bermondsey MP said: "The offer by the ABA to help develop the Wells Way site as a centre for boxing, not just in Southwark but in the country, is far too good an opportunity to miss. "Potentially the Burgess Park site could be to boxing what the Oval is to cricket.

I am determined to act very quickly to make the most of this opportunity, following David Haye's stupendous World Title win and the figures that show there is an increased interest in boxing. Now is the moment for everybody with an interest to get stuck in and utilise this building, to make it one of the best gyms in the country."

Keith Walters, Chairman of the English ABA, and a Director at the Lynn, said the meeting initially took place to secure the long term future of the club. "The Lynn has been in Southwark for 117 years, but the fact is that the club does cost about £20,000 a year to run and we get no help with raising that money.

We have had help from the Theo Paphitis [former Millwall FC chairman] Trust but we spoke to Simon Hughes and the councillors to secure our future. "I think the plans are brilliant and the ABA certainly has enough memorabilia to fill the museum, but the important thing is to keep the Lynn going."

The club has produced some notable boxers, including current British Heavyweight king Danny Williams and former World Light-Middleweight Champion Wayne Alexander. It was also the amateur base for Adam Booth, the mentor and manager of David Haye, when he boxed, before injury curtailed his career.

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