A TALENTED young boxer has a nightclub boss fighting his corner after landing a sponsorship deal.

The Top Hat, in Spennymoor, County Durham, reopened as a nightclub, sports bar and pool club earlier this month (December) after standing empty for more than a year.

Next year there are plans to open a private poker club and entertainment lounge.

New owner Chris Bowron plans to support local young sportspeople in a bid to help them meet their potential and to foster a good feeling in the town.

The first to benefit is 22-year-old amateur boxer Reece Ellis and his club, Spennymoor Boxing Academy.

Mr Bowron will give Mr Ellis monthly sponsorship money towards a good diet, kit and competition expenses along with additional support to the club.

He said: “There is some great talent at the club and I want to embrace that so they have opportunities to continue in sport, a young person can have all the talent in the world but without backing they cannot progress.

“I respect what the club does for no financial gain- it gets kids off the street, gives them discipline and focus and all the health benefits of sport and that is good for the rest of the town and in turn businesses like mine.”

After two years out due to injury, Mr Ellis recently made a successful return to the ring and is now aiming for an Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) title and a national call up.

In spring he will start his pursuit of the ABA’s North-East light heavyweight title which would give him a good chance of being asked to represent England and put him in the running for the national ABA title.

He also hopes to travel with his club to Canada.

He said: “I boxed for England as a teenager and to do that again and win the ABAs is the dream, this sponsorship is going to be a big help and I’m really grateful.”