Wellington Boxing Academy is all for Len
Wellington Boxing Academy was packed to the rafters with their squad and sponsors as they prepare to honour Len Woodhall next month.
The fight factory, based out of an industrial unit on Mill Lane in Wellington, have 34 carded prospects for the new amateur season,
They will host the Len Woodhall Memorial Night on Friday October 16, to properly mark the passing of one of their founding fathers.
Len, his son and former WBC super middleweight champion Richie Woodhall and head coach Fiaz first formed the club five years ago.
They moved into their current base from their previous home on Heygate Lane in 2013 and their members have reaped the dividends.
But this summer was to bring sad news when Len, former coach and boxing guru, passed away in July after a long battle with cancer.
Their next club show at the Whitehouse Hotel, on the site of AFC Telford United's New Bucks Head home, will be dedicated to his memory.
Some 250 seats for the event have already been sold in a matter of days, with £10 standing tickets on the night all that's left available.
The proceeds will keep boxing in the town for some time to come, while Cancer Research will also benefit through a size-able donation.
Fiaz said: "Without Len, this club wouldn't be here. He was Wellington Boxing Academy, through and through. We are forever in his debt.
"I remember starting out myself with Len training me, at the old Telford Boxing Club, when I was 15. That's a good 37 years ago now.
"Richie's still our president and he'll make sure we all remember what's Len has done for the sport. Us three put the academy together.
"We have a massive poster of Len that all of the lads see when they come into the gym. It's gives everyone that boost to work hard."
Now the focus turns to an emotional evening, where 15 competitive bouts will be put on for the spectators along with a raffle and auction.
Wellington finally crowned their first national champion this year, Husan Hussain going all of the way in the England Junior Championships.
He was one of six area champions from the last campaign with Idris Mohammed, Hamza Hussain and Dylan Brassington claiming vests.
Amir and Aroon Fiaz, sons of Mo, also reached the national semi-final stage, with all of their roll of honour for 2015 to box on the night.
Big Russian heavyweight Aleksandr Kravcuk, who has stopped four out of five opponents, will compete. The 22-year-old is soon to enter the England Senior Development championships.
Fiaz added: "We're based predominantly in an Asian area but we have got English, Russian and Polish kids all training together with us.
"We've got some good up-and-coming fighters coming through and, hopefully, the lads that have already won titles can push on to more."
Up to 60 people use the facilities each night and their active boxers all posed for their official photo, decked out in new tracksuits.
New sponsors Unique Body Worx of Madeley, the car repair and paint work shop, were emblazoned on the apparel after coming on board.
Body Worx's Zaheer Ahmed, a former fighter himself, is from the town and trained alongside Fiaz and Len at Telford Boxing Club.
TTS Storages, on Stafford Park in Telford, have been their main backers for the last two years, with Jason Woolley a big boxing fan.
Harwood Estate Agents in Broseley also help with the club's running costs, with Patrick Swiverman also acting as the club's chairman.
There's still been no funding forthcoming from Wellington Town Council, despite the club being named 'Team of the Year' for 2014.
Fiaz said: "I must express my thanks to our sponsors, we need money to survive without any government support and they have delivered."
