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Boxer Builds Confidence, Builds Futures in Nottingham
29 Mar
Summary
- Former boxer Curtis Valentine founded a gym to help children.
- The gym fosters confidence and positive life changes in youth.
- Valentine aims to expand his youth boxing programs globally.
Curtis Valentine, a former Midlands WBC champion, founded the Team Valentine Boxing Bootcamp in Nottingham's Radford area five years ago. The gym aims to build children's confidence and positively influence their lives, drawing from Valentine's own experience of overcoming hardship.
Valentine, who had a professional boxing career from age 28, winning seven of ten fights and the WBC title in 2012, felt he hadn't reached his full potential. He initiated the program by training at a local park, which eventually grew into a dedicated space.
The bootcamp, which relocated to Radford in October 2023, has been instrumental in helping children gain confidence. Coaches note significant positive shifts in the mindset and attitude of participants who often arrive dealing with anger or difficult life circumstances.
One member, Tommy Gun, shared how boxing "saved his life" during a period of mental health struggles following the death of his parents. He credits speaking with Curtis Valentine at the gym for changing his life.
Valentine is also actively involved in establishing a boxing bootcamp in Gambia and intends to broaden its reach in the upcoming months, extending his positive impact beyond Nottingham.
