Challenger Boxing Gym in Cannock is closed

Challenger, based in Ranton Park, opened last September and were affiliated to the ABA from later that year, with its only coach Paul Fellows in charge.

Cannock's Fellows, a former amateur boxer and professional trainer, regularly hosted classes of 20-30 people, including a women's session with around a dozen ladies.

The junior section was 20-strong and the club had six carded boxers in Liam Simkiss, Dean Pierpoint, Darryl Chambers, Liam McPherson, Jai Brown and Ricky Orton.

But work commitments as a plastics engineer in the family business have forced Fellows out of the amateur game and the 42-year-old admitted it was a tough call.

He said: "It's with a very heavy heart that I have had to do this, I have spent my entire life building up to the day when I would be able to have my own boxing gym.

"I don't regret it and I would do it again but, with just myself there, there wasn't a group of coaches to spread around and I can't walk away from my day job.

"I knew it would be tough, the first year to two years are the toughest to get through but there was a big response, the club did mean a lot to the people who were there.

"A lot of them were first-timers who are talking about continuing and I hope to still be involved in boxing, but I think the amateur side could be too time-consuming for me."

Walsall Wood are the first club to put themselves forward as a new home through professional boxer Dave Egan, who talked with Challenger's members on Monday night.

Egan is from Cannock but boxed for Walsall Wood as an amateur and his old club are keen to increase in numbers, after a new gym opened up in the town last November.

Shaun Hargreaves' Walsall Police ABC, based on the Maybrook Industrial Estate, works in conjunction with the local authority and has been boosted by government funding.

Walsall Wood, on Chase Road in Brownhills, is the longer-established outfit and can boast five national titles in the past five years with three from the club's star, Daniel Breeze.

Most significantly to the ladies class at Challenger, reigning female ABA champion Lauren Johnson is also a member along with Rachael Coton, who the club have high hopes for.

Walsall Wood trainer Shaun Healy said: "They are more than welcome at our gym, the place is buzzing right now and we are the biggest club with the best facilities in this area.

"We have two rings, one wall completely mirrored and a massive skipping and exercise area and about 24 punching bags and floor-to-ceiling balls.

"It's all one big open space and all of the fighters train together. We are establishing a reputation of producing champions year in and year out."