THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS!
THE FULL STORY
GLOVES UP KNIVES DOWN
Gloves Up Knives Down, founded in 2019, is a Social Enterprise committed to supporting young people living in communities affected by knife crime, providing access to boxing training to help them lead fulfilling and healthy lives away from crime.
We believe that through the discipline of boxing we can provide young people with the opportunity to channel their energy and frustrations in a more productive and positive way. Helping to build young people’s physical fitness and mental well being as well as helping to create stronger communities.
GUKD AT TOTTENHAM COMMUNITY SPORTS CENTRE
On May 12th, Michael Franzese along with the Gloves Up Knives Down organisation came down to Tottenham Community Sports Centre where they are launching their first gym in the UK. We are proud to host this amazing opportunity to help support the community even more and bring people together.
MICHAEL FRANZESE
Michael Franzese is an American former mobster who was a caporegime in the Colombo crime family, and son of former underboss Sonny Franzese. After going to prison, he came out as new man and is now a public speaker who aims to keep kids off the streets and out of gangs through boxing.
REACHING OUT
ITV and SKY news were both down at the centre to document this great event. More events will be taking place in the future to help push GUKD's message.
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Gloves Up Knives Down, was founded in 2019, initially using connections within the world of boxing on social media to encourage youngsters into the gym and off the streets to avoid a life that may involve knife crime, injury, and in some cases, death.
They enjoy the support of high profile boxers such as Tyson Fury, and importantly promotor BOXXER, who’s represent the cream of the UK’s young boxing talent. Isaac Chamberlain is GUKD’s first Professional Ambassador.
The charity has since captured both the boxing world, and the public’s imagination through its adoption of Preventative Intervention, as advocated by United Nations Child Psychologist Professor Joanna Costa.
By gifting a child between 7-13 with a starter boxing kit and introducing them to a gym they are surrounded by a nurturing and supportive alternative family structure.
To date we have awarded over 100 kits to children, who’s transformation has had an astonishing effect on their lives, their families lives, their peers lives and in indeed the community at large. GUKD is producing responsible future citizens with discipline, self esteem and a focus on the future that does not include knives and violence. In acknowledgement that knife crime is a societal issue, GUKD have extent extended their programme of community engagement to include adults who support the ethos through a Boxercise programme. The Haringey Hub, within the Tottenham Community Sports Centre is the first such physical and sustainable venture, which will provide a potential positive life road map for youngsters and their families.
GUKD HUB LAUNCH HERE AT TOTTENHAM COMMUNITY SPORTS CENTRE
Great day at the Gloves Up Knives Down Hub Launch! Bringing the community together to combat knife crime and create a positive place where kids can feel safe and do what they love.
VIDEOGRAPHY AND EDITING BY: NAVRON GRIFFITHS
INSTAGRAM: @point5xl
THE OFFICIAL PARTNERSHIP LAUNCH
Professional Fighters League partners with ‘Gloves Up, Knives Down’ ahead of PFL’s London play-off event at the Copper Box on August 20.
To mark the partnership, 30 tickets have been gifted to the charity for the event, to highlight the number of teenager homicides in the capital last year, which was London’s worst-ever annual death toll for this age group.
K-1 legend Ray Sefo attended a training session with children in Tottenham to launch the partnership and also discuss the growing issue.
PFL will also be making a significant donation to GUKD to allow the charity to completely revamp its website and digital output.
Ahead of the organisation’s huge first London event on Saturday at the Copper Box Arena, August 20, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has today announced its first UK charity partnership with anti-knife crime charity, Gloves Up, Knives Down.
To launch the partnership, K-1 legend, Ray Sefo, and rising star, Simeon Powell, joined 50 kids and young adults in Tottenham for a training session and also a talk about the role combat sport can have on changing lives.
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