A final event, on February 1, will showcase the area’s talent
THE owner of an amateur boxing club in Llanedeyrn that has produced several amateur champions has announced he will be closing its doors next month.
Carl Stephens, 56, owner and head trainer at Apollos ABC, fought Joe Calzaghe as an amateur and has been crucial in developing the next generation of Welsh boxers.
“It’s become stressful to manage. I’m not sure about the financial situation and it’s so much commitment. I really want a bit more time with the family,” he said.
Among the club’s amateur champions is 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Owain Harries-Allen, who is targeting the 2028 Olympics.
It has been described as a safe haven for Llanedeyrn’s young people — the club badge at the entrance reads ‘Discipline, Dedication, Determination’
Mr Stephens is making the difficult decision to close following a period of uncertainty around the future of the club, which was set up as a non-profit organisation.
Mr Stephens has never taken any kind of wage. All subs paid by the boxers go into covering the rent and general maintenance of the gym.
While fighters from the gym have had huge success on the amateur circuit, Mr Stephens takes just as much pleasure from coaching boys at lower levels.
“Owain is our biggest success, but I know not everyone can be a champion. Just when someone comes up and says, ‘Thanks for everything’, that means a lot,” he said.
“One boy a couple of years ago couldn’t pick his hands up at first, he was an absolute bag of nerves. Now he’s had a proper amateur fight, and is having his second one soon.
“I’ve trained kids with nothing, and I’ve trained kids who’ve had everything, but seeing them all come together, mixing well like a big family is amazing.”
Michael Simmonds, 52, has been boxing at the club for six years and is also a director there. Describing himself as now in the best shape of his life, he says Apollos has transformed the lives of many young men.
“It gives the boys confidence, some of the kids come from bad homes, and this is a safe haven for them.
“There’s a lot of red tape involved in running the place, making it unsustainable now, but it will be so hard losing this,” he said.
Mark Summerhayes, from Llanrumney, has an 11-year-old son who trains at the club.
“It’s about wanting something better for them. They can sit at the computer or go out onto the streets, or they can come here and make friends and memories,” said Mr Summerhayes.
Gesturing to another young boxer working on the pads he said: “That lad over there has fought in the Welsh championships — he’d never have had an opportunity like that without this place.”
Mr Stephens has announced one final show at the Mercure Cardiff North Hotel, which will involve 10 to 12 bouts celebrating the best local talent.
He said: “February 1 is going to be massive, people are coming from all over to watch and all my boys are matched well, so there’ll be a lot of great fights.”
- If you would like to attend the show, more information is available here.
