Charismatic Professional Small Hall Boxer

On Friday 30th May the Stn was invited to meet Syston boxer Robert Walmsley (23 years), pictured above after winning a recent match, who began boxing when he was 11years old.
He tried a few different places until after a break at 15 years he tried Carl Gunn’s Boxer Gym in Birstall and because it is small, it was less intimidating and he found it a friendly atmosphere so has remained there. He and his girlfriend Eve Snookes help run classes every week at this community gym.
He said: “It can be scary hard as a child to walk into the big boxing gyms and see all the adults training. As they all look very big and so Carl’s gym is different. Its welcoming and safe.”
Carl has been a boxing coach for over 60 years, is a generous and friendly character. He is well known in the boxing world and is one of the few who have been a coach for that length of time. He is loved by all who have used his gym and the current youngsters are no different.
Robert, has a charismatic and wonderful personality also works full time in Syston, he trains six days a week both at Carl’s Gym and Infinity Boxing in Leicester. When we met, he was in preparation for a boxing match to be held in Loughborough at the NSC Arena on Friday 13th June.
This period of training is referred to as Fight camp and starts eight weeks before the match. Robert fights in the 75 to 80 kgs weight category, so to get to this fighting weight he has a strict regime of what he can eat, how much to eat, how long to train, how much rest time and the amount of sleep each night. The premise is to build strength and stamina before the fight, so he is in the best fitness state he can be.
Robert and his girlfriend Eve Snookes, who also trains, take children’s classes at the Carl’s gym in Birstall on Thursday 5pm to 6pm for under 10 years, the 6pm to 7pm Under 18years. Then on Friday 6pm to 7pm 10 to 18 years. The gym charges a membership fee of £5 for the year plus £1 per session for under 16years and £2 for over 16years.
They also run a Tuesday Sparing class for over 18years.