Wirral boxer takes part in Idris Elba’s Fight School

A 28-year-old boxer known only as 'Ash' from Wirral will be one of eight young adults taking part in the Idris Elba’s Fight School which is hosted by the actor, musician, and activist Elba himself alongside some of the country’s leading coaches.

The show will see eight young brits each with unique challenging, personal stories and one thing in common: they want to better their future.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the show, Elba said: “When I was young I joined a boxing club, and my trainer Joe took me under his wing.

“It was a real turning point in my life, teaching me discipline and control moving forward.

“During my own experience of fighting, there was a level of peace I was able to achieve.

Image: BBC/Green Door/Alex Piper

“Boxing requires you to switch off all the noise and focus on the moment, a skill that I believe all people need, especially younger people who need direction.

“Looking back at my own experiences, I’m reminded of how powerful boxing can be on disadvantaged young people, giving them a sense of purpose. This was the inspiration behind Fight School.”

In this life-changing and highly personal project, Idris wants this intensive course of boxing training to help arm his recruits with discipline, ambition, and mental resilience, enabling them to acquire new life skills and, ultimately, change their lives.

Working with some of the country’s leading coaches, they’ll train twice a day, six days a week, whilst having access to a life coach and inspirational mentors.

Idris’s goal is for them to be able to compete in an official amateur fight at one of the world’s most iconic boxing venues, in five months’ time.

Idris scoured all four nations for his recruits, whittling down hundreds of applications before selecting his chosen team.

Now it’s time for Idris and the Fight School coaches to meet their first-ever intake: eight young people determined to throw themselves into Idris’s life-changing project for the next five months.

You can watch the show on BBC 2 on Sunday, 17 April 2022 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm.