By Paul Cooper

AN AYRSHIRE man who believes boxing helped him overcome a challenging upbringing is determined to give other youngsters the same chance to succeed.

John McWilliam, 32, owner of Kilwinning boxing club The Duke, believes that hard work and dedication is a recipe for success and uses this to nurture his young boxers on their path to a successful career in the sport.

John knows only too well, how tough it can be to grow up in Kilwinning and when speaking to him, you get a sense of the pride he feels to be heading up a facility that can give young people a way off the streets, providing them with something they can aim for.

He told UWS news about the tough times he had in Kilwinning as a youngster in the 2000’s and how the camaraderie of the coaches and boxers at the gyms he frequented, gave him the opportunity to live a better life.

John said: “In 2007, when I was 15, I got hit by a car at the old St Michael’s Academy, while crossing the road, causing me to sustain 3 fractures in my skull, my cousin Ross, who’s no longer here anymore witnessed the whole event.

“Kilwinning was a rough place when I was younger, as was Irvine, the young team culture was at it’s peak and going from town to town was dangerous if you didn’t come from that area.”

Despite not being a boxer to trade, the love John has of boxing is clear to see.

“I started coaching at 21, I had little to none boxing experience, lucky if I had 2 fights. I learned my trade through coaching aspects with old heads, John McIntyre, Joe Affleck and Tam Payne, the first boy I ever trained was Aaron Cullen and he’s now boxing for the GB team.”

As well as the links the club has to the local community, John is keen to let people know that anyone from anywhere is welcome at the club.

“We’re open to all, no preference needed. If you like boxing, if you don’t like boxing, if you just want to keep fit, everybody’s welcome to come through this door.

“We’ve had to work hard to get this, we got the bags donated from Argo boxing club, other than that everything is kind of self-made, we’ve got the main boxing ring, that’s from Scott Harrison World Champion and the second boxing ring is John McWilliam from B and Q!”

The Duke currently have 20 carded boxers and are governed by a fairly new amateur organisation called Boxing Alliance.

Boxing Scotland were seen to be the main governors for amateur boxing in Scotland, until recently.

John said: “It’s all the former Boxing Scotland officials that have merged a new alliance, they are a new amateur boxing scene, we’re being treated really, really well.”

“Boxing Scotland is good at what they do, they’ve produced champions like your Josh Taylors, your Charlie Flynns, but there needs to be change at some point, why can’t there be another pathway, there could be 2.”

With his experience of coaching at other clubs, he knows how important it is for the development of his young boxers that they’re actively involved in competition.

He makes sure that the club is regularly enrolled in boxing shows throughout Britain.

“We’ve got seven shows coming up, the furthest away we’re going is Devon, England.”

Young prospects currently fighting for the club, include Karli Haswell,11, who will be fighting in Devon (March 29) and Jayden Campbell, 13, who won his recent fight at the Glenrothes home show (Friday February 7).

Another boxer John has high hopes for is Aaron Connor, who at 17 has already been Scottish champion 3 times, district champion 4 times and involved in the Scotland set up.

Aaron currently helps with coaching at the club but will perform in as many fights as he can, before hopefully turning Pro in 2026.

Aaron said: “I’ve got the William Wallace coming up from the third to the fifth of July, then just try and be as active as I can and eventually turn pro after the new year.”

The club are looking to organise their first home show in April but are still trying to find a suitable location.

John said: “We’re not allowed to put a show on in a school, because they are part of Sport Scotland and Boxing Scotland.”

Despite this, John remains positive about putting on a show the club and it’s young boxers can be proud of.

“We’re just looking to give kids what we promised them and that is a home show to box in front of their parents, that’s what it is all about, the politics side I’m not interested in.”