Terry ‘Turbo’ Flanagan visits Hamer Amateur Boxing Club

Terry ‘Turbo’ Flanagan visits Hamer Amateur Boxing Club

Manchester's WBO lightweight champion of the world Terry ‘Turbo’ Flanagan paid Hamer Amateur Boxing Club and Community Fitness Centre a visit on Friday 28 August.

Although the champion is in intense training for the up and coming title defence against the Argentinian Diego Magdaleno at The Manchester Arena on Saturday 10 October, he took some valuable time out to handout certificates and a signed picture of himself to all of the youngsters who participated in the free week long non-contact boxing sessions.

The undefeated southpaw posed for photos with his world championship belt with everyone in the gym, which were taken for free by photographer Gordon Marino.

Flanagan engaged in a question and answer session, set up by all of the youngsters who asked him about his professional and amateur boxing career.

Eight-year-old Raees Mohammed said: "He asked me if I was going to be a champion, then he let me hold his belt, which was very heavy." 

Ten-year old Callum Edwards, who also won the trophy for Best Achiever, said: “Flanagan was great. He asked me questions about me boxing and training, then he give me a picture of himself, which I am going to put on my bedroom wall." 

Hamer head coach Steven Connellan said: "I met Terry at the Northern Federation Ex-boxers get-together in Blackpool earlier in the year and asked him to pay us a visit, which he said he would.

“I thought it would be great if he came to the gym when for all of the youngsters had finished the free Young Rocky's Summer Club boxing sessions, which we do for the community every year ,and although he was going to see his nutritionist that same day in Sheffield he still found time for us.

“Terry has now gained some new fans in Rochdale and the youngsters will be cheering him on when he defends his world crown that night on 10 October."