The City of Portsmouth Boxing Club is based at Paulsgrove Primary School, with qualified coach Tony Hoile training up to 40 youngsters twice a week.

Over the past few years, the club has had several homes, and Mr Hoile wants to build a permanent gym on the site of Paulsgrove Social Club.

Funding has already been secured from the Amateur Boxing Association, the National Lottery and Sport England, with local businesses keen to get involved.

A tender will now be submitted to the council, and if the idea gets the go-ahead the gym could be open by September.

Mr Hoile has been a qualified coach for nine years, and is the nephew of Derek Hoile, known locally as 'Mr Boxing', who died recently.

Derek was involved in the sport for 45 years, training hundreds of young boxers out of his Fareham Boxing Club.

Tony said: 'Some of the lads I've taught have been in a bit of trouble before but they've broken away from gangs to do this. It does them and society so much good.'

Competitive boxing starts at 11, although the club takes boys from the age of five.

The emphasis is on fun, with games like 'stick in the mud' being taught alongside basic techniques.

For more information, visit www.copabc.co.uk.