Boxing gyms unite with anti racism message across South Yorkshire

Amateur and professional fighters, keep-fitters, and training staff across the county have been repulsed by the scenes of violence on the streets and attacks on social cohesion in Rotherham and elsewhere.

Fewkes, who runs the Titans' gym in Gleadless, Sheffield, has made his position on the matter crystal-clear.

In a social media post, delivered in a both serious and an engagingly comedic way, he talked about a 10 hour shift he'd completed at his gym.

"Had a very long day in the gym today" he wrote. "Opened at 8am and closed at 10pm. In that time we had Muslim brothers, we had Romany gypsy friends, we had white English pals, we had black English mates...we even people from Donny!"

He said his gym-colleagues had: "Their say about everything going off" in an environment where people from all walks of life are considered family.

Fewkes spoke of two boxers from totally different upbringings "one day becoming family...and being the best thing to happen for each other."

He said negative undercurrents in the Titans' rhythm would never be acceptable.

"So from now on when you walk through our doors for that one hour - which is a lot of kids' safe place - we leave everything at the door and we talk about boxing and food (obviously) that's it.

"Leave all the other cr*p at the door. Be friends, be happy, be family. The Titans' way: NO EXCEPTIONS" he posted.

His sentiments have been repeated in similar formats across the local boxing spectrum.

Fewkes' former coach Glyn Rhodes - who launched a 'Boxing Unites, Racism Divides' campaign more than a decade ago - supports the move towards a return to harmony across every community.

He would be happy to host a "sparring/fitness/healthy lifestyle event" at his Sheffield Boxing Centre base in Hillsborough, inviting other South Yorkshire gyms to send representatives.

"I've had an anti-racism sign in my gym for 20 years, and it is more relevant now than ever," he said.

"I don't get involved in politics, but I'd be happy to have an event where people from all walks of life get together in the right spirit."

Over in Rotherham, trainers Atif Shafiq and Abdul Majid posted a picture of allcomers at the Unity Boxing Centre, with the message: "At times like this, we need unity. We are all one."

Matchroom champion Junaid Bostan, in the same town, had already made his point in The Star - he wants cross-community talks, in a safe space, which would foster closer relations.

Sheffield promoter Izzy Asif also strongly feels there should be no repeat of the awful scenes on the streets of Manvers and elsewhere.