A professional boxer from Catford wants to encourage children to get into the sport to get them off the streets and reduce crime.

Dan Azeez, 28, is running a 12-week boxing programme at the Woodpecker Youth Club in New Cross for children aged 10-16.

He hopes some of the children who attend will consider taking up boxing permanently to learn the discipline of the sport.

News Shopper:

The light heavyweight fighter wants to engage kids in the sport

“I run some classes at amateur boxing club Double Jab in Deptford. I was speaking to the head coach about community projects.

“I said: “We really need to do stuff in the area to try and get the kids off the streets and give them something to do,” Dan told News Shopper.

He added he thinks it is important to encourage children to get involved in sport against the backdrop of rising knife crime in the capital.

“People need some sort of discipline,” he said.

Dan discovered boxing quite late in life at the age of 19 while studying for an accounting and finance degree at the University of Essex.

“I was watching some highlight reels on Youtube of David Haye and other boxers and I thought: “This looks good” so I went down to the amateur boxing club.”

News Shopper:

Dan will compete for the BBB of C Southern Area title in June. (Scott Rawsthorne)

And less than 10 years later, he is now an undefeated light heavyweight fighter.

“It’s really good. I don’t think I’ve reached where I need to be but I know if I just keep working hard it will pay off,” he told News Shopper.

Dan is currently in a mandatory position for the British Boxing Board of Control Southern Area title which he will be fighting for in July.

His 12-week boxing course began on Wednesday, April 10 at the Woodpecker Youth Club.