Boxstar opened in Newport city centre three weeks ago and has already welcomed TV personality Calum Best and former heavyweight boxer Joe Egan, a former Mike Tyson sparring partner.
Calum Best, 45, is a television personality and the son of legendary Manchester United footballer George Best. He is known for appearing on reality TV shows including Celebrity Love Island, Celebrity Big Brother and Celebs Go Dating.
Owner Naeem Hussain said: “I’ve got more stars to come.
“This is just the start.”
Newport-born Mr Hussain built Boxstar from scratch and designs and makes his own boxing equipment to make the sport more affordable for young people.
TV personality Calum Best visits Naeem Hussain at Boxstar in Newport city centre (Image: Naeem Hussain)
The shop sells gloves, punching bags, hand wraps and clothing, with gloves starting at £25.
But Mr Hussain wants Boxstar to be more than a shop.
He said: “It’s called Boxstar, so it makes sense if I bring the stars to Newport.
“It’ll boost my business as well as Newport city centre.”
Visitors can try the shop’s punching bag without buying anything, while Hussain works with St Joseph’s and Shaftesbury ABC to give young people equipment and training.
During his visit, Calum Best tested the boxing gear and filmed videos outside the shop.
Mr Hussain said: “He’s a good mate of mine now.
“We’ve kind of connected a lot.
“I got him on the boxing bag and he was enjoying it. He made a lot of videos outside the shop. It was pretty cool.”
Joe Egan has also visited the shop, and Mr Hussain is now hoping to bring Welsh boxing icons Joe Calzaghe and Joe Cordina to Boxstar.
He said: “I’ve potentially got Joe Calzaghe coming in.
“I’m trying to get hold of Joe Cordina through my boxing coaches. I was a boxer myself.
Naeem Hussain welcomes Calum Best to his new boxing equipment shop in Newport (Image: Naeem Hussain)
“Hopefully, in the future, we’re trying to get somebody in every month or every couple of months to make Newport a better place and let people know that we’re not as bad as you think we are.”
Calum Best has invited Mr Hussain to a celebrity football event in Tottenham, where he hopes to meet more stars and bring them to Newport.
He said: “If I go and meet these stars, this is where I make my connections.
“I can say, ‘You know what, I’ll pay for your train ticket. Is it possible you can come down to Newport?'”
Mr Hussain hopes the celebrity visits will inspire young people.
He said: “These celebrities are role models.
“They have a lot of influence, so I’m trying to bring positivity back to Newport city centre.
“People look up to these people and it could change people’s lives.”