[Sobell Boxing Club Exhibition]

Police, in partnership with the Schools Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) in the Central North Command hosted the Sobell Boxing Club Exhibition evening on Wednesday, 16 May.

The boxing event, held at Sobell Boxing Club on Hornsey Road, N7,provide guests with boxing demonstrations from members of the Islington Sobell Boxing Club between the ages of 10 and 19 years.

The Met’s Boxing Club, working with SABA and Access2Sport, delivered coaching which involved all serving police officers demonstrating the coaching skills they had learnt under the expert guidance of SABA Tutor and England coach and former England Manager Luigi Leo. Children gave pad and bag work demonstrations and were taken through boxing footwork, punching and defence drills. Potential competitors then provided the audience with a conditioned sparring session.

After an exciting demonstration of boxing skills, children were given a Stop and Search presentation and workshop by police officers. When this ended, there was an award ceremony for those who had completed their SABA Skills Awards training. Certificates were awarded by the distinguished guests, which included Chief Superintendent Catherine Roper, former Borough commander for Central North, and the President of London Boxing ABA, Keith Walters OBE.

The event was officially opened by Chief Superintendent Roper.

Luigi Leo and Peter Fernandez, organisers of the event, said: “We are really pleased with how the event went. We have shown that with the right partnerships and community interactions that we can make a difference to young people’s lives by providing them with a recreational alternative what’s on offer on the street. This is an exciting project that we will build on by expanding our project into local schools.

“We have just been asked to use our SABA Awards Scheme to introduce boxing into three local schools. Another positive is that in addition to generating interest in the sport of boxing, we have provided opportunities for young people who may not normally have any police contact and those who have had negative experiences to engage with the police. We have also opportunities for young people to compete and take part in the sport by becoming coaches, judges and referees.

“The whole event was a resounding success and we should be proud that the Met can be seen as key stakeholders in such an important event.”

Further information about the Central North Command Unit can be found via: www.met.police.uk

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