A former amateur boxer has pumped his life savings into opening a community boxing gym in St Neots.

Kevin Bullus, 47, along with his wife Joanna and son Jordan ploughed a five figure sum to open up the New Saints ABC to inspire the next generation of amateur boxers and provide a safe place for children and adults to enjoy the benefits of boxing.

The family all have full time jobs and run the gym, which opened in October, in their spare time on a voluntary basis with all profits invested going straight back into the club.

Bullus snr said: “The gym is a real labour of love. You could say I went through a mid life crisis and I just felt as though this was something I had to do.

“My wife and son have been a great support and we run New Saints as a family.

“Even though it’s hard work I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The gym, based in a former industrial unit in Little End Road was let to Bullus snr by Barford + Co, the St Neots based firm of chartered surveyors and planning consultants and was transformed earlier this year.

Since opening in October, the club has run evening and weekend classes for both general fitness and amateur boxing training and there is also a dedicated ladies evening.

“My son Jordan is an amateur boxer and coach himself and we both love working with new talent and training them to compete on the amateur circuit,” added Bullus.

“The club is affiliated with the British Amateur Boxing Association so our boxers can be confident we are doing everything properly.

“Boxing is also a fantastic fitness activity with significant benefits including weight loss, muscle building and definition, and overall wellbeing,” added Bullus.

Two New Saints boxers have already been out in action.

Ten-year-old Alfie Smith took on a non-scoring bout last month while former Royal Anglian soldier Sam Cerveno, 24, took to the ring in his first fight outside of the armed forces.

“The gym is going very well at the moment,” continued Bullus. “And we hope that by next month we can have a few more of our members in the ring.”

To find out more about the club and its classes, visit www.newsaintsabc.co.uk or email info@newsaintsabc.co.uk