Top boxers set to score a winner with charity football event

Boxing has long been associated with blood sweat and tears but this Sunday sees top boxers showing their tender side when they take part in a fund raising football tournament organised by East London based TKO gym for the Indee Rose Trust which was set up after three year old Indee died of a brain tumour.

Trainer’s Johnny Eames and Derek Grainger came up with the knockout idea after a chance meeting occurred with Indee’s father who was visiting the gym to carry out a plumbing job. Eames recalled the moment he was moved to action.

“It just touched a point with me I couldn’t imagine what the guy was going through having lost a three year old daughter and I just felt I would love to do something like this.”

And from the first bell it seems Johnny wasn’t the only one wanting to help as he explained.

“I sat down with Del, I stuck it on face-book to see how it would go and the response from boxers was unbelievable. (Promoter) Frank Maloney has donated some memorabilia and in fairness to all the promoters, they have allowed their boxers to take part.”

Eames is also delighted that this event bares testimony to boxing’s sometimes unnoticed helping hand.

“It says that boxing isn’t all about being brutal, there is a softer side to boxers, us inside boxing know that. I’m sure people outside boxing don’t understand that and this is a chance for us to show that our sport does really care. We haven’t actually asked anyone to play, we just sent press releases and the response was fantastic. All the participants are paying £20 each they are not getting a fee.”

Canvey Island football club host the event with a star studded line up including WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, former two weight world champion Ricky Hatton, Olympic gold medallist James DeGale, footballer Teddy Sheringham and Rock legends Iron Maiden.

Tickets for the event are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children and can be purchased by calling the TKO gym on 0207 474 3199.

Eames hopes to raise about £50,000 for the charity.