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Mansfield boxer turns professional

Posted onPosted on 19th Jan

Highly-successful Mansfield amateur boxer Nico Leivars launched 2022 by turning professional.

Bantamweight Nico, 22, who is coached by his father, Julian, has also joined management team MTK Global as he targets his double dream of becoming world champion and contesting a big fight on the pitch of his beloved Mansfield Town Football Club.

Nico has won national and international titles at junior, youth and senior level, whilst also representing Great Britain at various tournaments around the world.

“My ambition is to win world titles, and I’ve also always wanted to be able to fight on the pitch at Mansfield,” he said.

“Being able to fight with my whole home town there to cheer me on would be a dream come true, and a dream I believe MTK Global will help me achieve in the near future.

“I feel privileged to be joining the MTK Team. They’re renowned for putting their boxers first, and creating great opportunities for them, so I’m proud and excited to be part of such a great team of champions.

“In this sport you’re always learning, and I’m surrounded by some of the best boxers in the world to learn from, so I look forward to following in their footsteps.

“I had 90 fights as an amateur, winning national and international titles at junior, youth and senior level. I boxed around the world representing Team Italy and Team GB, and there’s no greater honour than representing your own country.”

Nico’s main senior elite honours include being two times GB Championship gold medallist, two times National Elite champion, current England National Belt holder, four international gold medals, Haringay Cup gold medallist, King of the Ring gold medallist, Technical Boxer of the Tournament, two times Ireland Monkstown gold medallist plus numerous England and Italy vests and being part of Team GB.

“The years of sparring and fighting the world’s best boxers, whilst travelling to various countries for training camps was all invaluable experience,” he added.

“It’s made me a better boxer both physically and mentally, so you couldn’t ask for better experience.”

On Saturday Nico will walk 25 miles to raise £3,000 for the Royal British Legion.

Nico, who teamed up with four veterans, said: “I visited all the local war memorials around Mansfield, firstly to raise money for a great cause, but also to raise awareness of the Legion.”

He was joined by Mark Wells, Jay Hemmings, Lawrence Tebbitt and Dale Simkins, all from Mansfield.

Dale added: “Nico approached us and said he wanted to do something to raise money for the RBL so we immediately came up with the idea of walking to every war memorial in the town.

“He is very passionate about the RBL. It’s something that’s close to his heart.”

Dale served for 24 years after joining the Parachute Regiment and did tours of Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo before leaving Service in 2014.

He said: “We are all members of the RBL so it’s great to have the support of someone like Nico.”

To support the walkers go to https://bit.ly/33BJEZ8