Blaze anguish for boxing champ

Midland lightweight champion Steve Saville, nicknamed The Wednesfield Bomber, woke up yesterday to discover the damage, caused after a water machine located next to the air conditioning overheated.

Steve, of East Avenue, Wednesfield, had the gym built at the back of his house 11 years ago for training purposes, and kitted it out with equipment including a treadmill, rowing machine and a full sized boxing ring.

Items damaged include some of his treasured boxing memorabilia collected over the years, including big fight posters and Mike Tyson videos.

Steve, aged 32, said: ''It happened in the middle of the night. I woke up to find it smouldering. I walked down to start training and Icame out covered in soot.

"It's ruined everything. I have a big fight coming up so I will have to start travelling to train.''

Steve, the only reigning homegrown Midland title holder, has his next fight at the Civic Hall on September 18. He will temporarily train at Wednesbury Boxing Academy until insurers sort out his claim and his gym is rebuilt.

Steve lives with his wife Lyndsey, 30, and their children Ellie, eight, and Georgie, six.

He continued: 'The gym is bigger than our house, which is 20 metres from it. It's all done out with a new roof and everything – you name it. It's very expensive.

"The fire hasn't disturbed the outside of the building, it's all internal damage."

Steve added:''I had some personal things in the gym, with sentimental value. I think too much damage has been done, but it's one of those things.

"I have been so gutted since it happened. I have got to win that fight next month now!''