Tommy O’Connor, owner of the award-winning Rock Steady Boxing Widnes and Warrington, has been honoured with the “peoples champion” boxing belt, thanks to Merseyside & Cheshire Amateur Boxing Association.

The 72-year-old has had one impressive year of celebrations, having also been presented with the Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards 2025 back in May last year.

This was alongside the BBC Radio Merseyside ‘Make a difference Awards’ 2025 back in September.

Tommy O’Connor receiving his BBC Radio Merseyside Make a Difference award (Image: Supplied)

Tommy, who lives with Parkinson’s disease, first opened Rock Steady Boxing Widnes and Warrington (RSBW&W) six years ago with a dream of creating a space where he could “maximise the mental, emotional and physical potential of people with Parkinson’s disease” through the art of boxing.

The Army veteran was part of a boxing team during his years of service and following his own Parkinson’s diagnosis began researching Rock Steady Boxing, a type of boxing popular in the US.

Previously speaking with the Warrington Guardian, he said: “With lots of research, I came across the Rock Steady Boxing programme in the United States.

“With help from friends, family and ex-Army pals, we raised funds to send me over to America so I could receive the training. That seems so long ago now.

“I just knew while I was there that I wanted to bring everything back to the UK and show other Parkinson’s sufferers that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Tommy O’Connor won the Every Day Hero Warrington Guardian Inspiration Award (Image: NQ)

And after starting up his own boxing gym, sessions have been packed full of people, with attendees travelling from across the country to join a session with Tommy.

Following the success of the Widnes-based RSBW&W, he also opened up another gym in Warrington last year.

In acknowledgment of his success and willingness to help the Parkinson’s community, Gordon Thompson from Merseyside & Cheshire Amateur Boxing Association awarded Tommy with its “peoples champion” belt in December.

Tommy was given the ‘peoples champion’ boxing belt (Image: Supplied)

On receiving the belt, Tommy said: “I felt shocked at first especially with not knowing anything about the award.

“Then listening to Gordon making the presentation on behalf of Merseyside and Cheshire amateur boxing association, it sent me back to my amateur career and how that time had influenced my life’s journey and helped me decide that RSBW&W was the way for me to go in fighting back against Parkinson’s disease.”