Visitors to the Greek island of Santorini marvel at the Akrotiri fresco showing two gloved teenage boxers boxing. Three thousand years on from this priceless artefact’s creation, Consett lad Jayden Oliver and his mates live for the sport, as deeply embedded in northern culture as it was for the ancient Minoans. The close-knit community the boys have built with Daniel ‘Rampage’ Robson at his Consett gym is itself priceless. These are their words.

“I’ve won three title belts on two local promotions, Kush Boxing and OBC,” said Oliver, 17, who lives with his car mechanic father and factory worker mother. “I’ve become well-known as a fighter. I’d struggled at school and never thought I’d achieve. Now I have, and I imagine a bright future as a professional boxer. It’s a challenging ambition. My success is down to my commitment to intense daily training and the high-quality coaching here. I love the exhilaration of fight night. It’s about proving that I’m tougher, harder even, than my opponent. I don’t mind the pain from a well-placed shot. It’s real. It’s genuine. I’m proud of just how very hard I can hit. I’ll always take a well-matched bout. I’m not scared of anyone. I appreciate the commission on fight ticket sales, which is helping me build that all-important fanbase.”

Leon

Footballer Leon Dunn came to boxing to improve fitness. “I’m a boxer now,” said Dunn, 18. “This gym is an exciting place. Us lads have won twelve belts and got 30 wins in a short time. We’re well respected and all want to be pro boxers. I’ve won seven of nine bouts. The sport’s great for making friends, even with opponents. I fought Joe Randall, a few years my senior. He won, but I showed I’m hard enough to take on a grown man. Joe’s now a firm friend. You learn a lot with our coaches Dan and Shaun, but the main lesson is to stay humble.”

Dunn lives locally with his parents and brother. “Mum and Dad were nervous about me getting hurt. That’s part of it though. And hurting an opponent. We expect it. Learn from it. Now they know I’m secure and well looked after, and they’re proud of what I’ve achieved. Like Jayden, I’ll fight anyone, and I’m aiming to improve my ticket sales which average 30. A large fanbase is as much a requirement for professional boxing as fighting skill.”

“These lads have learnt quickly what this game’s about,” explained Daniel Robson. “They’re totally dedicated to boxing, and they’re good at it. They love knowing they’re up to the physical and mental challenge and see a future for themselves in the professional sport. They’re constantly proving just how resilient and courageous teenage boys can be.”

Robson, 40, had done some boxing when younger, but a bout of depression while working away in Sheffield took him to bare-knuckle boxing. “It’s frequently the facial bloodbath everyone recognises, but bare-knuckle can be safer than longer gloved contests. I won a promotion in Stoke, and back in Consett I volunteered at another gym, learnt the ropes and then set up Rampage Boxing and Fitness just over a year ago. It’s going very well. We’ve got 40 members, including the fight team, all of whom have the highest level of commitment. We’ve ten children under 16 training. The Sunday sparring class is top class. My twelve-year-old son, Leo, has thrown himself into boxing, and boxing’s bringing us together.”

Shaun Wales and Conor Burns coach with Robson. Both have a military background. “We’re transferring skills from military life to civvy street to help these boys do well in the sport and improve their life chances,” said Wales. “You look after each other in the forces. That’s paramount. We’re about building a team spirit through physical training and discipline so that the boxers might thrive as a group while also learning self-reliance.” Burns added that “Consett’s history is that of a hard-working town, yet many youngsters lack ambition and focus. They hang around and won’t commit. This gym shows them what they too can achieve, with Jayden, Leon, Joe, AJ and others being role models.”

Joe

Joe is apprentice bricklayer Joe Willetts. A tall, softly spoken young man who turned 18 last autumn and who’s lived happily with foster parents for ten years. “I’d done some karate but looked at the boxing and thought, ‘I can do this.’ My ambition is also to box as a professional. I’ve had five bouts and won three. I lost the first because I was too keen to hurt the opponent. I’ve calmed down, relaxed even, so that I showcase skills. It’s boxing, not brawling, although I can fight at close range, and I always put on a performance which entertains and just maybe even makes people feel better about life.”

Willetts maintains that “all boxers feel nervous before a fight. It’s not worrying about getting hurt. We expect that. It’s the shame of possibly disappointing. It takes courage, but none of us is afraid. We’re all hard lads, after all,” smiled Joe. “But we have our emotions too. We’re happy at this gym. Settled as part of a bigger family and loyal to our mates. It’s amazing how it’s enhanced my life, how fortunate we are to be here.”

Sentiments shared by Junior Patterson, 21. “I absolutely love the people at this gym. I’m naturally quiet and shy, and I have always been conscious that I’m a short person. Since my early teens I wanted to prove myself as a boxer, and now I have. It’s thanks to Shaun, my coach, that I’ve come out of my shell. I’m not frightened at taking on taller boxers. I just give it my best shot and enjoy the atmosphere at a show. It’s like it’s charged with electricity. But what’s most important is I’ve overcome my shyness. The boxing and the boxers made that possible. They’re my brothers, and family loyalty counts above all.”

Carlo Macellaro started boxing at 29 and has won two of his three bouts with Robson plus two previous charity fights. “This gym is about Consett. Rooted in our community. We might not be the most skilful fighters, but we’re gritty. Knock us down and we get up. Like our town. We don’t stop until the bell goes. Everyone is nervous anticipating being hit, but the rewards outweigh any anxiety. You can’t be half in, half out with this sport, which provides a focus especially for the younger fighters. There’s simply nothing better we can be doing.”

Combat sports also help a person be honest about themselves. Jack Shaw, 21, states directly that “boxing has kept me from doing bad things.” Care centre support worker Shaw has won four out of five fights, but his priority is coaching child boxers. “I’m planning for several bouts in 2026, but helping the children keeps me calm. There’s five in a class aged 7 through 10, and they’re all nice-natured. Two present quite specific challenges, but the role is fulfilling. They’re also learning how in this boxing community we’re loyal to each other above all. We always look out for each other.”

Coach Wales is clear about the recipe for success. “We know the boxers. I mean, I really know them. They get love here. They feel they’ve become something when they’ve proved themselves in the ring. For us coaches, it’s the most rewarding and satisfying work possible.”

(L to R) Leon, AJ, Joe Jayden

Boxing’s beautifully brutal ballet is working its ancient magic in Consett, and the boxers are thriving. Those wanting further information about training or potentially able to offer sponsorship to individual boxers or the club can contact Robson on Facebook at Daniel Rampage Robson or Instagram @danielrampagerobson or at rampageboxingandfitness@gmail.com . If local, visit the gym on Medomsley Road DH8 5HJ.

Robson wants to put on record his gratitude to the club’s sponsors for 2025, including as main sponsor Ebony Daycare, with the fight team supported by Aquarod, Bear Luxe Barbers, Charley’s Café and CMJ Cars.