Gloucestershire boxer Adam Harper says boxing in his home county is “on a real boom at the minute” with fighters in the local gyms looking extremely promising.
Harper, who is one of only three men to win a recognised British boxing title while originating from Gloucestershire has moved on to coaching upcoming prospects.
With the recent rise of the likes of himself and Akeem Ennis-Brown, the 34-year-old is keen to help grow the talented Gloucestershire area in which he feels “goes a bit under the radar.”
The Tewkesbury man is excited at the prospect of redirecting his boxing career from fighting to coach.
“I am training fighters. I’m training a pro. I am a manager. So doing all this gets in the way of making a comeback. I have got one pro at the minute and I have only just signed him.
It is a hard thing to get in to because a lot of people have monopolized areas. There is people in Birmingham that have been established for years, there is the Neilson brothers from Swindon but they have got all the Gloucester boys.
I think once I have got my foot in the door and got one pro and I am doing a good job with him, hopefully that will open the door for fighters that want to come with me because I am going to be fair and honest, giving them the most money they can get.”
With boxing filling his life, Harper has a great knowledge of the surrounding area and is familiar with all of the upcoming fighters that are exciting him and local fans.
“If you look at baker street, they have got Jack Bannister, Anton Esson. Then there is Brad Ingram, he is the one I would pick (as the next big thing to come out of Gloucestershire). He is from a boxing family, I think he won a couple of national titles, his brother won five or six national titles. It is just in his system.
There is also Jaydon Price from Truth Boxing Club in Gloucester city centre. He has just won a national title and he is only 12 years old. “
Harper also touched on the fact Akeem Ennis-Brown could be making a potential comeback after holding the British and Commonwealth Light-welterweight titles from 2020 to August 2021
“At the minute boxing is on a real high. You have Jon Pitman’s gym Akeem Ennis-Brown who looks like he is going to make a comeback.
Boxing is on a real high in Gloucestershire and in Cheltenham we have got King’s Boxing Club who have got some good fighters. Hopefully Tewkesbury can start producing some more through myself.”
The experienced boxer was also clear that he “hasn’t officially retired yet because I think that every man deserves the opportunity to have a fight in the ring.”
After not fighting for the last couple of years, it was clear that fighting was still in his heart.
“This is the first time I have got my license since the Fowler fight. I did two years (fighting) on the bounce then stopped fighting. I didn’t renew my license because it costs about 300 pounds a year so I waisted 600 pounds.”
He will continue to share his fighting passion through the county in his new found coaching and managing role.
