There’s a budding talent in Burngreave in the form of amateur boxer Liam James Akers.
Liam, who attends Firth Park Community Arts College, stumbled into boxing by accident, as his favourite sport was football. His Dad, who coached the Ecclesfield Red Rose football team, encouraged him to build himself up and get stronger, as the other players were much bigger than him. That’s when some friends told him about the Sheffield Boxing Centre. Liam was only ten but, spurred on by his desire to play football, he decided to give it a go. He liked it so much that he continued even when his friends dropped out.
His trainer saw his potential and encouraged him to train as an amateur boxer.He won his very first fight in Devon in 2001 and went on to fight in the North East County Area finals in
Earlier this year he attended training camps in Las
Vegas and Miami where he trained with boxers from America. So far, he has had twenty-one fights and won nine.
I asked him what has been his worst experience in boxing. “Having to take a year off due to glandular fever, then, after recovering, I got a broken ankle,” he replied. His best experience, he told me, was winning his first fight.
I asked Liam what his friends think of him boxing. “Some say ‘go for it’, others think ‘oh no, you can’t be a boxer’”. Liam is softly spoken and very unassuming. I had the opportunity of watching one of his work-out sessions – he is transformed in the ring!
He has had the opportunity to meet a lot of people including former boxers Sugar Ray Leonard and Frank Bruno. He even sparred with Roberto Duran. Asked about the experience, he said, “It’s like a shock. You see these people on TV and I can’t believe I’m actually seeing and talking to them”. Liam would like to progress to professional boxing. His family are very supportive but his father insists that there is no pressure: “it’s entirely up to him.”
His next fight is on 4th October at Beighton Working Men’s Club. Tickets cost £7. For more information please call 270 0072. Good luck Liam – we’re all rooting for you. Liam would like to thank Glyn Rhodes and the team at Sheffield Boxing Centre and also Kay and Paul at the Normanton Pub who sponsor his kit.