Commonwealth champion Philip Bowes holds fundraising event to open boxing academy in Leytonstone

Bowes, the current Commonwealth super lightweight title holder, held the black tie event at Leyton Great Hall which saw over 130 people in attendance, and ‘Quicksilver’ was grateful for the turnout and for the amount of money raised.

He said: “For a Friday night, to have 130 people on a work night to come and support your dream is really good.

“I think it was about £5,800 we raised. For a first event I’m very happy with that, especially with the timescale that I plan it in – five weeks. We also had people working behind the scenes. It will be a little kick start into my project.

“At the moment, I’ve got the basis of what I need. I’ve got a premises and now I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing. Get the kids in and keep going around the schools to do the promotion side of it as well.

“We had a private auction and we had a general auction. Leon McKenzie donated stuff to be sold, loads of little organisations did the same. We also had raffles and loads of memorabilia that was sold.”

Bowes aims to become one of the main mentors at the academy once it opens, with the intention of keeping youngsters in the area out of trouble and get them into boxing.

He said: “I want to get kids in my borough more involved in boxing, get them off the street and get an amateur club in my area, Leytonstone.

“I can’t save everyone but I’m just trying to do my bit for the community. I’m trying to be a role model to these kids.

“Sometimes they don’t have a nuclear family, so I want to be a voice of reason, be a role model for them and the ones I can save, it’s God’ will. The ones I can’t save, there’s nothing I can do about that.”

Bowes acquired the Commonwealth super-lightweight title when he beat Tanzania's Benson Nyilawila earlier this year.

He then successfully defended the crown a month later at the end of March with a win by unanimous decision against Tom Farrell at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.