Dean Sugden, of Newark Amateur Boxing Club and Suggy’s Gym and Carl Greaves coming together to create ‘Showdown at the Showground’ boxing event at Newark Showground on March 22
Two of Newark’s biggest boxing names are joining forces to help put the town on the map as a hub of sporting talent.
Dean Sugden and Carl Greaves are well known for training and developing young talent. Based just a few doors down from each other on Castlegate, both were former professionals in their own right, and after retiring they set their sights on helping to develop the next generation.
Dean is the head coach at Newark Amateur Boxing Club and Suggy’s Gym while Carl set up his own boxing academy.
Now, for the first time they are coming together to put on a show for the benefit of boxing in Newark.
The Showdown at the Showground will take place at Newark Showground on March 22, featuring a stacked card of seven fights filled with some of the best talent the region has to offer.
Newark’s very own Chad Sugden, Tom Cowling, and Jade Grierson will top the bill, which also features Grimsby-boxer Levi Giles, former national champion Jade Pearce, Ryan Williams of Peterborough, and Sleaford fighter Dan Cooper.
“It’s going to be a great night,” said Greaves, “They’re all great fighters, and we each have our own followings, but now we’re bringing it all together which will be amazing.”
“It just made sense to join forces, because we’re so similar,” said Sugden, “People assume we don’t like each other, but there’s never been anything but respect — there’s a lot of history there.
“Of course when you’re doing the same thing in the same town there is going to be a rivalry, but that’s a good thing.
“This [partnership] came about after I was let down by another promoter, so I just picked up the phone and gave Carl a ring — he said ‘yeah’ straight away.
“He’s one of the best promoters in the country. He’s got a vast amount of experience, and whenever I’ve had a boxer at one of his shows I’ve found him to be very easy to work with and professional.”
With eight weeks to go until the big night, the fighters are stepping up their training, sparring, and getting into the swing of things.
Meanwhile, both Carl and Dean hope this will be the start of a long partnership in which they can share their collective knowledge, experience, and resources to continue raising the image of Newark as a hub of boxing talent.
Dean said: “This is something that should have happened a long time ago — it’s been 20 years in the making.
“We’re both very proud to be from Newark, and Newark is deep rooted through our veins.
“I think we can build something very special here, not just for the town, but for the sport of boxing — it’s the start of something big.”
Carl added: “We want to show what the town has to offer, and give the younger generation shows to look at and aspire to.
“Then hopefully we can take a boxer, develop them, and maybe one day they can go on and represent the town at the Olympics.
“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and not everyone gets to that level. But, by working together, with the amateur and professional side, we can give them that platform to go on and succeed.”