MATCHROOM LAUNCHES NEW THREE-YEAR STREETGAMES PARTNERSHIP WITH HUGE GRASSROOTS CELEBRATION IN MANCHESTER
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 12 Feb 2025
Hundreds of kids were invited to a special event alongside Matchroom fighters at Co-op Live to kickstart Catterall-Barboza Fight Week
Matchroom Boxing is delighted to welcome StreetGames as its latest Matchroom in the Community partner, kicking off a huge fight week with one of the biggest grassroots gatherings to be held in Manchester.
Over 200 local kids were invited for a memorable community boxing celebration at Co-op Live - the new state-of-the-art-arena, which this Saturday hosts Jack Catterall’s interim WBO Super Lightweight World Title clash with Arnold Barboza Jr, live on DAZN - to tie in with the announcement of our new partnership with StreetGames.
StreetGames connects young people from low-income, underserved communities with access to boxing provision. And through its StreetGames Inspiration Campaign the programme will aid thousands more across the country thanks to a sizeable donation from the Matchroom Charitable Foundation.
The three-year partnership will create untold opportunities to participate at grassroots level of the sport, whilst bridging the gap to the elite level by offering tickets to live UK boxing events and providing work experience placements for youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds to help more young people engage with the sport in meaningful ways.
This new initiative aims to:
• Inspire young people to take up boxing.
• Increase opportunities to participate, spectate, and volunteer.
• Help young people build skills, confidence, and future opportunities.
• Strengthen the partnership between StreetGames and Matchroom Boxing for lasting impact.
Over the next three years, the programme will recruit and support community organisations in the StreetGames network with training, equipment, and funding to deliver boxing activities. Young people will take part in regular sessions, taster events, and informal activities. They will also have the chance to attend major boxing events and other boxing experiences.
Additionally, the programme will develop young volunteers through training and hands-on opportunities. By combining StreetGames’ expertise in community sports with Matchroom Boxing’s platform, this partnership will create meaningful opportunities for young people both in and out of the ring.
And it kicked off in Manchester on Monday night, as hundreds of youngsters, aged between 10 and 16 years from across the local area, enjoyed a special series of fun and innovative boxing taster activities, showcasing just some of the many ways that the sport can be packaged to appeal to different audiences.
A selection of fighters – including Zelfa Barrett, William Crolla, and Conner Tudsbury – involved in the blockbuster Catterall v Barboza Jr. fight night were on hand too, along with Chris Webb, Member of Parliament for Blackpool South, helping to put the young people through their paces, along with sharing some words of inspiration and guidance to all of those in attendance.
Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said: "This partnership isn’t just about participation. it’s about inspiring young people by bringing them to major events and offering work experience within the industry.
"Through the Matchroom Charitable Foundation, we’re making a significant investment in StreetGames because we believe in their mission to take sport into communities that need it most."
StreetGames CEO Mark Lawrie OBE said: “Through our partnership with Matchroom, we are bringing real, mainstream sports like boxing into communities where young people often can't access them.
"While some may go on to become future stars, the most important thing is that they now have the same opportunities as others—opportunities that could be life-changing.”
Alex Le Guével, Matchroom’s Head of Community Development, added: “We’ve been working with StreetGames for some time, supporting young people from low-income communities across three key areas.
"This initiative ensures that youngsters have access to the sport in trusted local spaces, empowering them with the confidence, discipline and opportunity to be the best they can be. It’s exciting to introduce more young people to the benefits of the sport.”
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