Graduation pride for UCB's star boxers

Elite fighters from UCB’s Boxing Academy have graduated in the knowledge they have been “absolutely on the right path” to success.

Proud families gathered at UCB to watch boxers graduate from the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE). It is the only course of its kind in the West Midlands which allows boxers to combine college studies with the tuition and training required to reach the top of the sport.

At the ceremony UCB’s Olympic hopeful Carl Fail was named UK AASE Champion for 2016. Carl, Britain’s top amateur welterweight, spoke of his pride at completing the course. He said: “This is proof that all the hard work has paid off.” 

The UCB Boxing Academy is run in partnership with England Boxing. Speaking after the ceremony, David Thorley, England Boxing Talent Pathway Manager, said Carl was a great role model for the ASSAE programme. He said: “Carl’s achievement has been phenomenal.”

He explained that ASSAE produced “well-rounded” athletes who understood “what they were doing, and why they were doing it”. He added: “We have boxers coming to the England programme with an educated point-of-view on nutrition and conditioning. ASSAE is adding to their boxing knowledge.”

Molly Perkins, the first female to graduate from UCB’s Boxing Academy, said UCB’s coaches and tutors had made the experience “the best”. The 18-year-old added: “It has been hard work, but I’ve enjoyed it.”

Director of ASSAE Lisa Godwin told graduates: “ASSAE is huge in this country. The Government has recognised we need to support and fund our elite athletes. You have absolutely been on the right path. I am so, so proud of you all and the way you manage to juggle everything in your life. ASSAE is not for the weak, it’s for those who really believe in themselves.”

For more information please visit the UCB’s Boxing Academy webpage.