Boxing in Brixton

Two rounds on the tyres and I was sweating like Batman. ‘You know those fancy cross-trainers that cost two grand?’ Miguel said. ‘Well, these old tyres do the same job.’ 

Miguel’s Boxing Gym is in Brixton, near Loughborough Junction station. It’s an old school boxing club, of the type you’d find in a Clint Eastwood movie. I kept expecting to see Morgan Freeman working the speed bag. 

My one-to-one session with Miguel began with me hopping from one end of a large tyre to the other. It sounds easy, but it works your legs like you wouldn’t believe. 

A personal training session lasts one hour and 15 minutes and consists of the tyre work, skipping, bag work, pad work, technical work, leg work, body sparring, running circuits, cardio vascular circuits and stomach conditioning. 

I’m embarrassed to say that I couldn’t complete the session. I’ve been to some pretty tough exercise classes, but I’ve never not been able to complete a class. This was a first. 

When it came to the padwork, I literally rolled into the ring. Climbing over the ropes just seemed too much like hard work. 

‘You never want to be on the floor in a ring,’ Miguel quipped. Then he pushed me hard for three rounds, calling out combinations: double-jab, cross, hook. Jab, cross, left to the body. Uppercut, hook, cross. 

‘OK, we’ll do some bag-work now,’ he said. ‘How are you feeling?’ 

‘I’m 44 in a week’s time,’ I said. The subtext was: ‘Please go easy on me otherwise I might have a cardiac arrest.’ 

‘Really? What day is your birthday? I’m 45 next week.’ 

Fuck! Even that excuse wouldn’t wash. I looked at this guy. He didn’t look a day over 30 and he’s built like a brick shit house. 

At the end of the bag-work, my head was spinning. Seeing that I was in a bad state, Miguel decided to cut the running and cardio circuits out and head straight for the core exercises. 

‘I see there are photos of Angel McKenzie (of Big Brother fame) on your website,’ I said, after I regained my breath. ‘I thought the McKenzies had their own boxing gym down on Half Moon Lane.’ 

‘They do,’ Miguel said, ‘but they often prefer to come box here.’ 

And I can see why. It’s a well-kitted gym with lots of heavy bags, double-end bags, weights, benches, kettlebells and a full-sized boxing ring. Plus, Miguel is a great host. I’ll definitely be returning, but probably for the drop-in classes (£5 a time). I won’t be ready for a one-to-one class for quite a while. 

Miguel’s Boxing Gym
Railway Arches
261-262 Hardess Street
Off Herne Hill Road
Brixton
SE24 0HN 

Tel. 0207 733 1933

www.miguelsboxinggym.com

Image by KWDesigns courtesy of Flickr