By Amanda Little

Last updated at 11:59, Thursday, 23 October 2008

Hughie McMahon and Brett Ballantyne are typical teenage boys – they love hanging out with their mates and playing computer games.

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But unlike their classmates who haven’t even thought about what they want to do when they leave school, the pair know precisely how they want to spend the rest of their lives – and it doesn’t involve working at a factory, a building site or an office.

Hughie and Brett have their sights set on becoming professional boxers like their hero Ricky Hatton.

The 15-year-olds are so dedicated they train virtually every day and are two of the young stars at Carlisle’s Currock House amateur boxing club.

They pound the punchbags under the watchful eye of coaches Gordon Ullrich, David Bell and Ian Archibold twice a week and their devotion has already brought them a taste of glory.

Hughie was crowned North West Golden Gloves champion in Manchester last November – a competition to discover Britain’s next generation of boxing heroes.

And, earlier this year, Brett won a silver medal when he was on the bill in a big boxing tournament in Holland where he was representing Cumbria.

Hughie, who attends Carlisle’s Richard Rose Academy, said: “I’ve been boxing since I was seven and I love it. My older brother boxes and my dad used to be Scottish champion so it’s in the family.

“Boxing has kept me out of trouble. It stops you from drinking and smoking on the streets like a lot of lads I know.

“My dream is to go to the London Olympics in 2012 and I’m 100 per cent dedicated towards that. I never miss training sessions. I come to Currock House twice a week and I have my own gym at home.

“When you’re in the ring, the adrenaline is pumping and you feel like a star.”

Brett, who his coaches describe as the complete package as a boxer, is also counting down to the Olympics where his ambition is to repeat the success of Britain’s Beijing gold medallist James DeGale.

He said: “I’ve been boxing for five years. I couldn’t wait to get in the ring and have my first bout.

“Ricky Hatton is my hero – I like his style and watching him inspires me. The 2012 Olympics is my dream and thinking about competing there makes me come down and train hard at the gym.

“It was a great honour to box for Cumbria – I was the only one from Carlisle – and even though I lost in the final, it was great experience. I’ve won four contests but I never seem to get easy bouts.”

Being under the glare of the spotlight when the bell rings for the first round, knowing they are just three rounds away from glory, is what motivates them.

But you need more than fast fists to be a boxer. You’ve got to be fit – and that means time on the skipping ropes and at the punchbag, while your mates are out enjoying themselves.

Hughie and Brett are among 30 youngsters who train twice a week at Currock House ABC.

The gym is a room in Currock community centre, where schoolboy dreams are nurtured amid the humble setting – a world away from the boys’ ambitions of topping the bill in Las Vegas or Wembley for million pound purses.

The make-shift ring is home-made, the skipping ropes are fraying, the gloves are losing their padding and the punchbags have seen better days.

But there’s no money to replace them as the club lives from hand to mouth, relying on fundraising by the coaches, who even dip into their own pockets.

A shortage of volunteers means David, 55, is not only coach, he’s club secretary, match secretary, treasurer and club official at bouts, and Gordon, 50, who has been involved with Currock House since he was a teenager, even runs a women’s keep-fit class twice a week to raise vital cash.

Gordon said: “A pair of gloves is £70, kit costs £40, head-guards are £70 – and, even though we don’t buy top of the range stuff, it proves very expensive for us.

“All the equipment is getting past its best, but we can’t afford to replace it because we run the club on a shoestring. We don’t have money to go to competitions so if boys have to go to competitions we usually have to put our hands in our own pockets. Money comes in with one hand and then goes out with the other.”

The hall is too small to meet demand from youngsters who want to take up boxing, which is enjoying a boom thanks to the success of Hatton, Joe Calzaghe and Amir Khan, but they can’t afford bigger premises.

They get kids from Currock, Botcherby, Harraby Denton Holme, Wigton and the children of travellers stopping off in the area.

But it’s not just about winning belts and titles. Many of the kids who come through the doors may never have a competitive bout but they’re getting fit, learning about discipline and comradeship.

Gordon said: “There’s no messing about in here and no bullying – otherwise we show them the door.

“We get a few wayward lads and we straight them out. Everybody is treat equally here We get lads who are withdrawn and won’t speak to other kids, but we get them out of their shells. Boxing gives them confidence and being part of the club gives them a sense of belonging.”

David added: “They all aspire to be champions and the 2012 Olympics is a great target for them. Some lads who come here may never get there. It doesn’t matter. They’re all stars but some shine brighter than others.”

First published at 11:23, Thursday, 23 October 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk