01/09/2026
π₯ An evening of inspiration, community and giving back. π
Two-time WBA World Champion, long-time Switch Up patron and proud Nottingham man Leigh Wood took time out to spend an unforgettable evening with us at Nottingham School of Boxing.
Our boxing coaches had the opportunity to take Leigh on the pads, with Leigh and the audience scoring each performance. Nothing like a bit of friendly competitionβ¦ although it was not particularly friendly once they got started! π
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But the evening was about much more than boxing.
Leigh spoke openly about growing up, the challenges and setbacks he faced, the people who inspired him, why he supports Switch Up and why giving back to the community he calls home means so much to him.
A huge thank you to Richard Donovan for facilitating the conversation so brilliantly. π
The gym was packed with young people, local residents, representatives from Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, charities and businesses β all coming together with a shared commitment to our communities.
As Leigh said:
βI do not think people realise the power we have when we come together.β
The evening was a perfect example of that power. Young people connected with an incredible role model, new conversations about collaboration began, and relationships were strengthened around the goal that matters most β helping young people build brighter futures.
One message from Leigh particularly resonated:
βRealise that you are not going to win everything. The main thing to keep in your mind is improvingβ¦ You are not always going to win all the time. You have to go away, improve, and go back again, and again.β
A powerful lesson for boxing β and for life.
There were countless moments and lessons from the evening, and we will be sharing more over the coming weeks.
For now, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the event happen, everyone who joined us and, of course, Leigh β not only for giving us his time, but for the continued support he gives Switch Up behind the scenes. ππ₯
Most importantly, this was about our young people. Keep showing up, pushing forward and believing in a better future. Where you start does not define where you finish. π