Boxing club set for new home

Canning Town’s Peacock gym is one of British boxing’s best known training centres and faces its final countdown – but it will be reborn as part of a multi purpose complex planned at Newham’s new-look Docklands.

World champions Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and Floyd Mayweather jr have visited the Peacock over the years alongside thousands of Newham residents.

But the old building will be demolished and replaced by two new urban blocks of 15 and 16 storeys in a development on the Caxton Street north site called the ‘New Canvas’

In the proposed plan unveiled by Peacock’s Tony and Martin Bowers on Friday, the development incorporates:

- The re-housing of the Peacock Gym and Academy into purpose built accommodation on two floors.

- A mixture of commercial uses on the lower floors.

- 250 Residential Apartments plus communal activity spaces.

- Basement parking with approx 115 car spaces.

Alongside the professional boxing facilities Peacock contains a successful amateur section, kick boxing, fitness training and a wide range of sports.

It also works in partnership with local authorities and schools organising various educational and mentoring programmes under the Peacock Academy banner.

“The new development will enable us to move ahead with our boxing and all round sports activities, “ said chairman Martin Bowers. “It will also be a real boost to our role in the community with an improved educational department.”

The open evening included sparring sessions involving two unbeaten Peacock fighters, English welterweight champion Ahmet Patterson and Tommy Tear, and a martial arts display.

The ‘New Canvas’ name has a three way tie-in with the project, it’s boxing connection, the broad canvas development plan and the gym is sited on a former canvas factory serving London’s docks.

*After winning the Prizefighter welterweight title in April the unbeaten Johnny Coyle looks to improve on his draw against Lancashire’s William Warburton when they meet at the Civic Hall in Grays on Saturday.

The duo boxed to a draw at York Hall last year, the only one of eight pro contests former Newham amateur star Coyle has failed to win.

Former British heavyweight title challenger Mickey Steeds, unbeaten middleweights Billy Bird and Brett Saggs plus Liam Desmond, Darrell Church and Sonny Whiting are also on the Carl Greaves promotion.

*West Ham’s schoolboy champion Michael Dunne made a successful return to boxing when defeating Welsh champion Morgan Gay on the St Ives show on Saturday.

Dunne blew away the ring rust after seven months inactivity, dominating the bout and winning by unanimous decision.

Sean Galbraith was involved in a tough encounter with home town favourite Tommy Browning, the Hammer getting a well deserved win on a split decision.

Newham’s John McDonagh made it two wins in a week when he travelled to Ruslip to outpoint host club rival John Mitchell after his good performance on the Newham tournament where he took the best home boxer award.