Boxing promoters throw their weight behind Swindon mental health project

Boxing promoters Mark and Tony Neilson are backing mental health charity Phoenix Enterprises – choosing the Swindon project as their charity of choice for their upcoming show.

The brothers will be staging their boxing event – ‘The Homecoming’ on Saturday April 15, headlined by No 5 ranked British Welterweight Tamuka ‘Too Much’ Mucha vs Rob Hunt at the PlayFootball Area in Bramble Road. And proceeds will be donated to the charity.

Phoenix Enterprises, based in a unit on the Groundwell Industrial Estate, works with adults experiencing short or long-term mental health problems, ranging from depression to autism, and also people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities and people who are struggling to return to work.

Mark said: “Mental health is a major issue and there have been some big boxing names such as Frank Bruno, Ricky Hatton and more recently Tyson Fury who have openly discussed their on-going battles with depression so this is a cause close to our hearts and those of the boxing fraternity.”

Tony added: “We’ve raised many thousands over the years for good causes and wanted to support a local charity again. Phoenix is completely self-funded and we hope to raise some much-needed money on the night.”

Karen Hyde, service user liaison manager for the charity, which has been running for 15 years, explained: “This support is really valuable for us as we don’t get any funding other than the support of the businesses who use our services. The work that is carried out here is really important for those people who might struggle to get into work. It can give them back the confidence to allow them to go and find a job elsewhere and for others it can provide that sense of community that they might not otherwise have.”

Also fighting on the night will be the experienced Danny Butler (26-6), a former English champion and IBO and WBO European title challenger.  Danny hopes that his move to Middleweight will bring him further success and see him challenge for the British Title later in the year.

In a stacked undercard, exciting Gloucester prospect, Riiddy Ennis-Brown, known as Riiddy Riival to his growing fan base, will face a tough Eastern European over six rounds as he works towards a shot at the English Title.

Other supporting bouts full of undefeated prospects included Wayne Ingram (2-0), Kane Stewart (5-0), Jake Toogood (1-0), Ryan Wheeler (7-0-1) and the debut of Alex Florence.

The Neilsons were the first to bring a WBC title to Swindon and in another first are delivering the Town’s first ‘Pro-Am’ event.  The show will be opened by current Schoolboy National Champions Drew Hunt and Karum Aujla along with three other fighters from the Horseshoe Amateur Boxing Club in Swindon.

Tickets are still available priced at £10 – £60 see www.neilsonboxing.co.uk or the ticket hotline 01793 833468.

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