INTERVIEW and VIDEO: Father and son's new Morecambe boxing gym helps to beat the bullies

Louis and Matt Catterall from 121 Boxing in Morecambe

A father and son's new boxing gym is helping people to beat the bullies, beat anxiety and get fit - and even a certain Beyond Radio presenter has donned the gloves!

Matt and Louis Catterall have set up 121 Boxing in a small garage on Ellesmere Road in the town.

Matt is a qualified boxing coach and cornerman who has worked with top professionals including former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former Commonwealth featherweight champ Isaac Lowe.

His son Louis, 17, stands 6ft 9in and is an up-and-coming North West champion amateur boxer.

Together, they are helping people who might be struggling in life, to feel good about themselves with box fit sessions with the one-to-one personal touch.

LISTEN to Matt and Louis Catterall talking about 121 Boxing

"We get inside the ring, we do pads, we do circuits and we do sessions on the bag," said Matt.

"It's a massive thing to give people who maybe aren't confident, the opportunity to box.

"Louis and I are trying to give opportunities to people who've maybe been bullied at school, or the workplace, or maybe have conditions like autism or ADHD, people who are struggling with various mental health issues.

"They can come down here, be themselves, not being judged or watched, and they come out feeling full of beans."

Louis said: "I've got this young lad who I've done about eight weeks with, and the confidence in him is amazing, from when he first started.

"He was in a shell, he was hiding and didn't really want to throw a punch. Now he's standing tall, he's puffing his chest out, he was man of the match in a football competition at the weekend and scored a goal. Hopefully I might have given him that confidence."

Despite being a lifelong fight fan, I have never before put on the gloves myself, until Matt and Louis put me through my paces at 121 Boxing with a rigorous warm up, then some boxing on the pads and the heavy bag. It was hard work but very worthwhile and enjoyable.

WATCH me taking part in a 121 Boxing session

Matt recently retired from his electrical contracting business, MJ Catterall based in Torrisholme, and is now putting his energy into his new venture.

"This facility is just the beginning for me," said Matt.

"I'm not running a big business like I was. This is for enjoyment and passing that on to the people who come through this door." 

You can find out more about 121 Boxing on their social media. 

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