19-year-old boxer Waleed Din, from Earl Marshal Road, is the first national champion to come out of Fir Vale, winning the National Clubs for Young People title at 48kg class C category.
Waleed grew up in Pitsmoor. He started boxing at 16 and is with the Sheffield Lane Top Amateur Boxing Club. He won the Yorkshire Championships four times and holds the Yorkshire Title Challenge belt at 48 kg. Keith Palmer, Head Coach of the Lane Top club, offers his congratulations:
“Waleed comprehensively beat the Junior ABA champion, to take him to the national finals against Kane Smart.
“Waleed was leading steadily on points after the first round and stretched further away in round 2. By the third round, the timing and accuracy of his shots were so precise that Kane Smart’s coach threw in the towel mid-way in, to end the bout.
“Waleed has only been boxing for two and a half years and shows great promise and prospects for the future. He has worked hard for his success and is still only boxing to 50% of his full capability so I‘m sure there is a lot more to come from him yet.
“He is a pleasure to have in the gym, the younger children look up to him with respect.”
Waleed told the Messenger he’d like to give sponsors such as Mercury Taxis a big ‘thank you’ for everything they have done for him and the club.
“I worked as an apprentice joiner from 16 to 18 but left to concentrate on boxing. Where I am today is all due to coaches, Keith and Linden Palmer, who are an inspiration for the local community, keeping kids off the streets and out of trouble."