Inverness has a new boxing club as former professional boxer looks to encourage inspiring fighters to achieve their potential and get more kids into fitness
A former professional boxer says it is a dream come true to set up his own club in Inverness.
Now Jasper Chisholm is hoping that he can guide promising athletes on the same road he went on his career and make a name for themselves in the sport.
Chisholm originally started JabSpar Boxing Club at Thornbush Road in October last year offering fitness classes to children. Due to the success of the club, they have now expanded and started adult classes.
On course to become an affiliated boxing club later this year, he is hoping that their athletes will be taking part in their first competition towards the end of 2025.
Chisholm (43) says the growth of the club in the last eight months has increased their ambitions as they are looking to develop boxers to be capable of taking on the best in the country.
He said: “It is a dream that I have always wanted to do as I have boxed all my days at amateur and professional level.
“My wee boy Brodie has come of age and wanted to go to a boxing gym. So I thought that I would start up a club and it has snowballed on from that. We have gone on from kids classes and expanded into women and senior boxers who are looking to go into boxing competition.
“The club started in October and at the moment we have 60 kids and adults. I only started doing adult classes last month and we have around 10-15 adults right now.
“Now people recognise that we are a boxing club rather than just a fitness club, we are getting more adults to join us.
“The club will be registered in August as an affiliated boxing club, our first goal is the Novice Championships at Ravenscraig in November.
“I have set all the guys targets over the next six months to up their game, and hopefully by that time, they should be ready for their first competition.”
Chisholm’s competitive boxing career stretches almost 20 years, starting when he was 15 and achieved success at Northern District and Scottish Championship level and turned professional when he was 27.
He is one of five coaches at the club, which includes former professional boxer Calum Turnbull, Robbie Alexander, Mandy Chisholm and Kelly Watson.
Chisholm says the coaching team at the club represents what they are looking to achieve in offering opportunities for boxers.
He said: “I used to box with Calum when he was kid, so he has gone through the amateur and professional ranks. When he finished his professional career, he wanted to get into coaching and we are pleased to have him here.
“It is good to have female coaches especially with the number of female boxers we have here and hopefully that will encourage more to join too.”
JabSpar Boxing Club have attracted a lot of sponsorship to help get equipment in for the club. Among the equipment includes a portable boxing ring designed by Inverness boxer Matej Papp from Boxfluence which was sponsored from Highland Oilfield Services.
Papp says he wanted to create a boxing ring that was more accessible for clubs to use.
He said: “When I was at university we had this old boxing ring that took so many people a lot of time to assemble and that wasn’t portable. Jasper said they wanted to utilise their space better.
“I drew a sketch on my phone and it has come to reality and I am pleased to help out the club.”
JabSpar is also keen to continue success of getting more kids into fitness classes with Chisholm hoping it will inspire their parents too.
He said: “It is all about community for us. We want to get kids off their phones and stop looking at screens. The more kids I can get into a boxing club doing fitness the better. We are looking at doing father and son and mother and daughter sessions as well as I believe it is important they lead by example. We want to see them get more involved and see progression with them too.”
