NICKI WHAITES has qualified as an ABA boxing coach - one of only a few women to hold the coaching certificate.

Nicki, 27, started using boxing training to work on her own fitness, and became hooked on the sport. Now she helps train young boxers at the newly formed Eastburn Boxing Club alongside senior coach Paul Doust and Naz Jalil.

"I've never boxed myself and must confess I don't think I'd have the courage to get into a ring -- but the training is fantastic for building up levels of fitness," Nicki said.

Naz Jalil has also qualified as a coach. He said: "I'm asthmatic and the stamina building side of the training really helped me when I did the Great North Run in 2hrs 5 mins.

"If a 37-year-old asthmatic can build up his fitness to that level so can anyone else," he said.

The gym at Eastburn Mill is open to people of all ages and is not only for those who want to take up boxing.

"We have quite a number of users who come down for the fitness side of training," Naz said.

They are also building a competition side to the club and 11 members have passed their ME3 Medical examination to allow them to fight.

"We have close links with the Keighley Amateur Boxing Club and hope to have boxers on a joint bill soon," he said.

The sport was given a major boost when 17-year-old Amir Khan captured the imagination of the nation and won a silver medal at the Olympics in Athens. Now clubs throughout the country are working to find the next champion.

n Nicki Whaites and Naz Jalil are pictured right at the Eastburn Club.

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