Former professional boxer, Courtney Fry is giving something back to Liverpool’s youngsters after hanging up the gloves.
A successful career in the ring saw the now 48-year-old reach the pinnacle of the amateur sport and represent Great Britain at the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney.
Fry also won a gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in the light heavyweight division in Malaysia.
Fantastic day with former Olympic Boxer Courtney Fry @hot2fry working alongside @youthsporttrust to deliver the ‘Active in Mind’ programme to our Ambassadors and pupils! A great opportunity for all involved, well done!#youthsporttrust #mentalhealth #activeinmind #Olympics pic.twitter.com/mVcjotDJ9D
— Litherland High PE (@LHS_PE) January 30, 2020
He said: “The highlight of my career was probably winning the Commonwealth Gold medal due to the fact it was televised and put out there on all the available platforms.
“Going to the Olympics was a mixed bag. On one hand I felt wonderful and on top of the world to be representing Great Britain and being only one of two to actually qualify, the publicity was unreal.
“The other hand felt like the loneliest places on earth as I performed terrible (injuries or not) and was expecting my first child at any time.”
Fry started boxing at the age of 15, keeping him out of trouble and being the perfect output for his excessive energy.
Four years after his triumphant tournament, the boxer represented England once more at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Despite failing to win a medal and get on the podium again, he had a successful campaign and reached the quarter-final stages.
Personal problems led the boxer to fall out of love with the sport, with him stating “the sport was more like a business.” He retired in 2011, but returned to the ring to compete for titles again.
After fully retiring in late 2015, following a defeat to Irishman Tommy McCarthy in Belfast, the London-born boxer teamed up with Liverpool City Council to use the sport he loves and once conquered to benefit communities on Merseyside.
Boxing for All, every Fri 10-11am £2 a session but first session is FREE! All physical abilities welcome, trained by Courtney Fry @hot2fry pic.twitter.com/WSSv6Uycik
— Mpower People CIC (@MPowerPeople) February 3, 2017
He said: “Some of the work I have undertaken with Liverpool Council has been working with disengaged young people that could be understood to be at a period in their life where they are vulnerable.
“I would use boxing and sport to help use all the transferable skills such as resilience, mental toughness and build self-esteem to help them to combat issues.”
The Englishman was Great Britain’s number one for seven years, and is now looking to inspire the next generation.
Fry added: “My work mostly entails using my sport as an engagement tool to help build a rapport and then to springboard into engagement using various tools and qualifications to help achieve chosen goals.”
With combat sport on the rise in Liverpool, initiatives like this will only bolster the fine crop of emerging talent from the city.
