YOUNG boxers had been helping former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker train ahead of tonight’s high profile fight against Derek Chisora.
A group of youngsters from West Auckland Amateur Boxing Gym, in County Durham, were invited to Morecambe by WBC International featherweight title holder Isaac Lowe, who lives in the Lancashire resort.
When they got there, they pulled on their trainers and embarked on a three-mile run along the seafront led by Lowe and New Zealand-born Parker.
So, if he wins, they will be taking some credit for his victory.
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The gym members were accompanied by Stephen Nicholson and head coach Ernest Spowart, who both helped set up the gym as a community facility at the start of last year’s pandemic.
Ernest said: “Our young boxers were really buzzing about training with two such highly-respected figures within the sport, so much so that they didn’t really notice the wind and the rain.”
Joseph Parker, Ernest Spowart, Isaac Lowe, and Stephen Nicholson
Boxing fan and local entrepreneur Stephen Nicholson, who is managing director of Bishop Auckland-based bespoke painting and decorating firm S Nicholson & Sons, said the invitation to Morecambe arose from his friendship with Lowe – who is also the training partner of two-time world heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury.
Stephen added: “It was an absolute privilege to join in a training run with Joseph Parker, especially at such a crunch time ahead of the Chisora bout.
“If he’s victorious, then I think West Auckland Boxing Gym can claim that it had a part to play in helping him keep up his fitness level.
“It’s absolutely brilliant that we are able to give our gym members the opportunity to meet such really inspiring people within the sport.
"It’s all they talked about on the way home.”
Joseph Parker celebrates victory over Hughie Fury as his belt his taken from him after the WBO World Heavyweight Title bout at Manchester Arena. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday September 23, 2017. See PA story BOXING Manchester. Photo
This is the second time this year that Parker and Chisora will face each other in the ring – with Parker winning their first fight in May by a split decision.
The event, held on Saturday, December 18, at the AO Arena in Manchester, is being televised by DAZN.
The gym members were able to travel to Morecambe following the donation of a minibus by Peter Johnson, chief executive officer of ASL Group, from West Auckland.
Joseph Parker, right, in action against Anthony Joshua in Cardiff, March 2018 Picture: NICK POTTS/PA WIRE
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