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Posted by guest on 5th September 2014 at 08:23 PM Watch: Salford boxing sensation Marc 'Livewire' Leach
By Tony Flynn
Video by Tom Rodgers
Marc Leach was controversially denied a silver medal in Europe as a 16-year-old amateur. Since then, he's burned to box as a pro, and in two weeks his wish will be granted. On Saturday 20 September, the 20-year-old will face off against Bobby Jenkins at the Macron (formerly Reebok) Stadium in Bolton.
It's a fight some 15 years in the making - Leach has been winning bouts since the age of 6 in Muay Thai kickboxing alongside mentor and trainer Oliver Harrison.
This week we caught up with the in-demand pair at Oliver's gym in Salford.
Switching to boxing at 11, Leach has sacrificed a lot to get to where he is today: "It's hard when you see your friends going to the pub in the evening or at weekends and you want to join them, but I have to put my sport first.
Watch: Pride of Salford teen boxer Marc Leach - July 2010
He says: "I was working nights for Morsons on the railway but I had to give it up because I was at the gym first thing in the morning, every single day."
Without the help of his sponsors, Solar King of St Helens, this dedicated athlete would struggle to survive.
Harrison points to Marc's main strengths as his intelligence and footwork, "making them miss and making them pay".
He trained the former European light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore, and says Marc is just as good
at the same age.
And being surrounded by seasoned, world-class professionals at Oliver's like Martin Murray and Rocky Fielding has done Leach no end of good.
Marc Leach Senior told us that he was really proud of his son, but stressed that he was equally as proud of all of his children.
"Marc is really dedicated and loves the gym and the training - it's his life.
"Oliver has given him the style of boxing that he has adopted and it certainly looks to be paying off, he couldn't be in better hands".
It would be great to see young Marc's determination to succeed come to fruition with another boxer to add to the list of Salford greats.
You can buy tickets to see Salford's next superstar in action by calling Natalie Lewis on 07837973957.
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