FORMER Central Area lightweight champion Jimmy 'The Fist' Who first spoke to him last time Debate News in February in the locker room after her final dance. Content is what the 43-year-old won by defeating Karl Sampson in a four-round contest.
Jimmy had only been beaten in the top ten in Britain and at one time was the oldest national champion. It's not bad that I started boxing at the age of 27.
The former still hoped to be associated with boxing after retirement and came up with the idea of opening his own gym. That vision is now a reality. Located in Yorkshire in the exclusive home of climbing gym ROKD, Brighouse Boxing Club officially opened its doors on June 17 and the club has already made an impact on its attendees.
“We already have a thriving community of women, children and men from all backgrounds,” explains First.
“We have parents who say my child has ADHD, anxiety and there are women who struggle mentally and socially and we bring people out of their shell. We bring people together and that is our purpose. We have parents who say we can't thank you enough. It's amazing. There is a great reward.”
Debate News asks First what makes the club unique and why it stands out from the rest.
“We have four, five high-level coaches and we are not a place for boxing or just to keep ourselves in shape,” he replied.
The first one who went well is now reaping the good fruits of what he learned overseas, especially since he has entered training.
“You know, we deal directly with boxing, and we do the basics of boxing. I think what's different is that I've traveled all over the world and I've picked up glimpses of Cuba, Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil, Fuerteventura and I've brought all these different styles and we teach them all. These are different basics. We even put a little dance in there as well as a lot of footwork and boxing exercises.”
“I've been to Cuba twice, for two weeks at a time, mainly for boxing,” added First. “I met Johnny Nelson in Havana, I met Nacho Beristain in Mexico City, then I went to Romanza's gym in Mexico City.”
The team seemed to be up and running in no time, but not without some hard graft.
“All my coaches are good, hard working men. Joints, Welders etc,” he explained.
“We did it in the evening because they also work full time, carrying all ten stairs was a difficult task.”
He emphasized that the coaches Martin Golding-Smith, Kris Elvidge, Ted Leather and Edee Shaw had hit the nail on the head from start to finish.
“We have even found cable covers in Saudi Arabia. My partner Gavin Brammah brought them back. We found them in Knockout Chaos, 5v5 and the unassailable Ring of Fire. It's unbelievable, it's like a boxing museum.”
Not only are some of the iconic cable covers and fight posters included in the gym, but some memorabilia from First's career, too.
“We have pictures on the walls of memories, and no one can take that away,” he adds.
BN asks First if he misses it and how he has found the change in training.
“Obviously I will always miss boxing and fighting but I had a great career when I started,” he replied.
“I really enjoy it and I still put in corners for people like Callum Simpson. I have three experts. I work with Dan Garber, Brandon Pickup and Keiran Tennant. I have a boy coming up in Shropshire, from Market Drayton. That's two hours round trip and you will train with me. He has already said that it has dominated his career. We have members from Leeds, we have members from Wakefield to train with us so that means something.”
First he explains that super-middleweight Callum Simpson will visit the gym with his recently won British title, after dethroning newly dethroned champion Zak Chelli.
“I think he just came back from vacation, but he'll be in the gym and he'll show off how he can beat the kids,” explained First.
“We found Jasmina Zapotoczna when she won her belt as well. That was fun. It gives the women and children a bit of inspiration, which is good.”
BN He closes by asking First what his long-term goals are for the team. He replies, “We're going to have a stable of professional boxers and a champion, that's a long time.”
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