A Hamilton gym owner has created an outdoor boxing ring that he hopes will host shows in the future.
The new installation at Bravehearts Boxing Gym was finished last Tuesday, just before owner Steven McMillan received planning permission to build an extension that will see him double the size of the Low Waters Road gym.
These are projects that Steven intended on embarking on last year before Covid hit and sent him into lockdown.
But he says everything is starting to fall back into place.
Steven believes the outdoor gym is something nobody else has done, and gives his members training with a difference.
He said: “It was an idea I had, just something I always fancied doing, to be different to other gyms.
“I don’t know of any other gyms in Europe that have done this, the only other outdoor boxing ring I’ve seen is in America.
“With restrictions and everything else, I thought ‘let’s go for it’.
“I was putting an extension on the gym last year and actually just got approval for it on Friday.
“I’m hoping to start in the next four weeks and take three months to do it.
“We’ll maybe start in June and finish in September.
“It will double the size, so it’s going to make a massive difference, and there are loads of things I want to bring in, from dance academies to martial arts and activities for younger kids.
“That and the outdoor boxing ring will work in sync with each other, so I’m really looking forward to what that holds.
“It’s all coming together now, I just need to get the planning in place on my end and get it happening.”
A lot of hard work has gone into the project and Steven is delighted with the result, which can be used by all visitors to the club, not just members.
Steven added: “The outdoor boxing ring will be available to everybody; members, non-members, can come in and use it, professional boxers or people wanting to use it for fitness or contact sports can come down and use it as well.
“That’s what it’s there for, to see people making good use of it.
“I have a plan on putting on an outdoor boxing show at the gym as well, and nobody’s done that either.
“I’ve done loads of thinking and planning; could it work, would it be an asset to build it, and to do a show.
“With Covid coming along the idea of doing outdoor stuff is something a lot more people can accept, so once I went for it and I saw the finished article I was mega-impressed.
“It has turned out a lot better than I even visualised it to be.”
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video
