BOXING IS determined to help solve knife crime. Recent police recorded crime figures published by the Office of National Statistics showed a 2% increase in the number of knife and offensive weapon offences recorded from 35,146 in year ending March 2019 to 35,815 in the year ending March 2020.

There were 809 homicides recorded in the United Kingdom in 2019/20, an increase of 40 when compared with the previous reporting year, when there were 769 homicides.

To highlight the tragic impact of knife crime, Hennessy Sports and Channel 5 have partnered with charity Gloves Up, Knives to place four empty chairs at ringside of its December 11 boxing show to represent the number of people who sadly lose their lives to knife crime in the UK each week. 

Important

Mick Hennessy of Hennessy Sports, said: “It’s fantastic that fans are being let back into sporting arenas but it’s important we don’t forget those unable to attend, especially due to tragically having their lives taken away from them. 

“One empty chairs represents a person who is no longer with us because of knife crime and we’re humbled to be working with Gloves up, Knives Down to highlight this ongoing issue, as well as being able to showcase how the sport of boxing can have a positive impact on people’s lives within the community and at grassroots level.”

Joe Brett, Founder of Gloves Up Knives Down, said: “Sadly, we have seen a huge increase in knife crime across the UK over the last few years.

“It’s easy for people to dismiss this as a statistic – but these are real lives lost, young people robbed of their futures, and real families and communities devastated. 

Gloves Up Knives Down believe that the redemptive qualities of boxing; discipline, respect and self-worth can have a profound effect on the lives of the young people, and communities plagued by knife crime and we are committed to helping as many people as possible.

Knife crime still going on

Boxer Ashley Theophane said: “Knife crime is unfortunately still going on. Not much has changed from when I was a teenager. Investment needs to be put into youth services to help these kids channel their energy into achieving their hopes and dreams. 

“Coming from this kind of background, I know that boxing helped me fulfil my childhood ambitions.”

Outside of the ring Theophane has done incredible work in his community to raise awareness of youth knife crime through going into schools and talking to kids to encourage them to take up  boxing training and get off the streets.

Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor, said: “Knife crime affects every resident in every community. I know this from personal experience.

“I was a youth worker for over twenty years, helping young people get out of crime. Before that, I was a kid growing up in a council house surrounded by gangs and drug-dealers.

“So I know that charities like Gloves Up, Knives Down do fantastic work. They are a youth club, a gym and an anti-knife crime organisation all rolled up into one.

Straight and narrow

“When I was younger, gymnastics and the Army Cadets kept me on the straight and narrow. Boxing can do the same thing for young people today.”

Each chair will be signed with a message of support by a variety of boxers and personalities attending the show and auctioned off to raise money for the charity at a later date. 

The seats will be in place for when battle hardened fighters Sam Eggington and Theophane clash on December 11 exclusively live in the UK on free-to-air Channel 5.