Council award for Wellington Boxing Academy
Wellington Boxing Academy were left dumbfounded after they were honoured as the Team of the Year in the town's council awards for 2014.
The Mill Lane fight club first opened in 2010, after their previous base on Haygate Lane, and are turning out a steady stream of unpaid pugilists.
They have now been honoured with the council accolade, beating off competition from teams like the New College and Wellington Cricket Club.
Head trainer Mo Fiaz admitted they were surprised to land the gong, which was endorsed by the Mayor of Wellington, Councillor Graham Riley.
Fiaz said: "We knew at the end of last year that we were going to be nominated, but we didn't think we had much of a chance of getting the award.
"Our secretary had a phone call from the council and they came into the club to give it to us. We were over the moon and it's great for the club.
"We have had 16 Midlands champions since we opened and a Tri-Nations gold medallist. We have 65 people a night training with us."
The Tri-Nations champion was Akash Tuqir in 2011, who became the best boxer in England, Scotland and Wales at 32kg in his age range.
A national title continues to elude the club and the slick southpaw, now 14, but he's in the quarter-finals of the England Junior Championships.
He will be opposed by Morgan Bosley, from Far Cotton Boxing Club in Northampton, at Great Barr Leisure Centre in Birmingham on Sunday.
Fiaz said: "We are hoping to go all of the way this time and Akash has been unlucky before, so let's hope this is his year and he wins a national title.
"One day, he will be a champion, I am sure of it and the club hass been waiting for it. He's been training hard, so let's see what happens."
