Amateur boxing in Belfast has been described as an ‘antidote’ to anti‑social behaviour, after £200,000 was secured to extend the city’s Boxing Strategy.
The move, agreed last month by Belfast City Council, has been hailed as having a major ripple effect for communities across here.
In west Belfast, St Paul’s Boxing Club says the sport plays a key role in crime prevention.
The sport has been helping to tackle childhood obesity and reduce youth isolation, while also putting the north on the map through its sporting success.
Founded in 2009, the club now has 70 young members.
Ralph McKay Coach of St Paul’s Boxing Club in west Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Speaking to The Irish News, long‑serving coach Ralph McKay, who has been involved in boxing for 25 years, said the sport remains one of the most effective antidotes to antisocial behaviour.
He said the discipline, routine and sense of purpose the club provides can steer young people away from trouble and give them a positive focus.
“The ripple effect of this investment is massive. It keeps young people off the streets,” he said.
“If these clubs weren’t open there would be 70 kids out in the streets, standing in the street corners, annoying people, maybe getting into mischief.
“But they come here and they train very hard and they go home tired. They don’t want to go out in the streets. We are building them to athletes; they are physically and mentally fit.”
Training at St Pauls boxing gym in west Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
To help with this, St Paul’s also runs drug and alcohol awareness courses for its members.
“We teach them how to deal with the dangers of life. Especially nowadays, all you see and hear is how so many people experience issues with drugs, alcohol and mental health,” he added.
“Boxing is the antidote to that; it helps to foster a good healthy lifestyle, so they won’t go down the wrong path.”
Ralph said he fully endorses the £200,000 investment secured to extend the Belfast Boxing Strategy, adding it’s a vital lifeline for clubs.
However, the reality for volunteers on the ground is a constant financial struggle.
“To give you an example of the hidden costs we face, a few weeks ago, I took our boxers to Dublin for high-level sparring. On the way back, my car broke down. Between the fuel, the 2-hour wait for a recovery truck, feeding the hungry kids while we waited, a taxi back to Belfast because the tow truck only held two people, and the repair costs, that one trip cost the club £800. That is money a small club simply doesn’t have to spare,” he said.
“Not one of us gets paid, and there are thousands of hours a year we spend volunteering. It’s about helping these kids, and it’s brilliant.
“One minute you’re looking at a child, maybe they came to the club at a young age, and they’re at your waist, and then, suddenly, they’re the same height as you. You live with them every day, watching them grow.”
St Paul’s has produced standout talents including double Olympian Brendan Irvine and Commonwealth gold medallist Dylan Eagleson, and that success is carrying through to the next generation, most recently with Dylan Donnelly, crowned under‑18 champion.
Martin Floyd 13 at St Pauls boxing gym in west Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Newer members are already dreaming big. 13‑year‑old Martin Floyd, who joined the club in recent months, told The Irish News he wants to become “the best boxer in Belfast”.
He said: “I love boxing because of the community, meeting new friends, talking with your mates and the coaches. I look up to the older ones in the gym.
“I want to take boxing to the next level and go professional. The aim is to win a load of titles and retire with a load of money. To be the best boxer in Belfast.”
Lorcan Rafferty 6 at St Pauls boxing gym in west Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
One of the club’s youngest members shares that ambition. Six‑year‑old Lorcan Rafferty said he hopes to reach the Olympics one day: “I go to the club every week because I’m good at fighting. I love to spar. I want to do boxing at the Olympics one day.”