Knockout Training With Leeds Boxing Gym

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Precise Accurate Training (P.A.T) is a boxing gym based in Leeds 9 owned and run by retired professional boxer Nick Manners. Nick has come full circle from growing up as a youth in the area, training then competing as a boxer to now training the next generation in what is said to be one of the most welcoming gyms in Leeds.

His boxing story started when in his words he was a “very energetic and inquisitive youth”. Describing himself as a “likeable rogue”, Nick says he had several brushes with the law and was heading down a path to nowhere. He needed to turn his life around and wanted to make his mother proud. His older brother Colin advised him to use his energy in a more positive way so he turned to boxing. At age 20 he started training most nights of the week at St Pat’s gym and expending his aggression there.

By the time Nick was 24 he turned professional, fighting at light heavyweight. He was among the top ten fighters in the UK and won the Central Area Title. A career highlight was stepping into the ring with Joe Calzaghe about which Nick says “It was a real privilege, even though I came second in that fight, I am proud to have boxed with such a great fighter.” He retired from his career as undefeated area champ.

Life after professional boxing for Nick meant retraining as an electrician and providing for his young family. However, he never lost his passion for boxing and when the recession hit he decided to “chase his dream” and retrain as a personal trainer. After starting small, training people in different gyms, Nick was told about a property available to rent by his brother Rick. Following a lot of gruelling renovation work over a bitter winter he says “here we are 5 years later.”

The Yorkshire Reporter visited one of the mixed boxing sessions to talk to some of the men who now train at P.A.T;

Thomas Young, age 21 started boxing at 17 but has only taken it seriously since training with Nick saying “I have learnt more from Nick than anywhere else.” He is now hoping to turn professional and says he cannot think of anything better that getting paid to do what he loves.

Hardeep Singh Bubbra age 24 says “I initially started boxing training because I was very overweight. You soon realise the better you eat, the better you are in the gym.”  Hardeep, now fit and healthy, is about to embark on his amateur boxing career and will be among a very small minority of Sikh boxers in the UK. His mum Kulwinder Kaur Bubbra is very supportive.

Darius Stonys age 28 is originally from Lithuania. Despite boxing since the age of 20 he says “now I’m learning 8yrs later the basics – properly. I wish I had found this gym and Nick a long time ago.” As well as boxing, Darius has also played football and was even a break dancer previously! He says “I like to learn lots of different skills, life is about experience.”

Nicolie Doyle age 21 says Nick is helping him to improve his fitness and conditioning as he prepares to join the army in May – “I am joining the parachute regiment and need to be ready. The work rate is more intense here and it improves my standard.”

These four men show that people turn to boxing training for a variety of reasons, from wanting to fight professionally to just improving their fitness or physical and mental well-being. It is not just men either who enjoy the sport. Nick also holds ladies only classes which are very popular – boxing training is one of the best sports for fat burning, as well as shaping/toning the whole body. Kid’s classes are also popular, with 5-15 year olds getting involved including Nick’s 13yr old son Marcel. He told me “it gets you out of the house rather than just playing the X-Box all the time.” This is one of Nick’s favourite classes as he feels it is important to give kids something physical to do, teach them self- discipline and alleviate boredom, which he knows only too well can lead to trouble!

Nick has also been brought in to help train Josh Warrington, accompanying him for his recent fight in Germany and now preparing ‘The Leeds Warrior’ for his fight this month for the World Title Eliminator at Leeds Arena.

For more information on Precise Accurate Training, visit their website www.preciseaccuratetraining.co.uk or find them on Facebook

Precise Accurate Training

Unit 8 B, Mabgate Mills, Macaulay Street, LS9 7DZ

Email: preciseaccuratetraining@yahoo.co.uk

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