PHILIP Riley steps out onto the roof of the Imperial pub and looks out across the rain-splashed tops of the three-storey townhouses on Regent Road.

"It could be The Bronx, couldn't it?" he jokes.

While leading lights in the West End's regeneration may balk at comparisons with the roughest run-down borough of New York City – the two areas do at least share one common denominator.

The Bronx is renowned as a training ground for boxers and Philip hopes his brand new boxing gym will acquire a similar reputation. Located above the Imperial, the recently-opened fight centre looks set to be a real haven for budding pugilists.

The walls are adorned with photos of boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Larry Holmes, Roberto Duran and Ricky Hatton, some with Philip posing proudly beside the greats.

As a former amateur heavyweight and bare-knuckle fighter and now a successful 'white-collar' boxing promoter and referee, travelling man Philip has met them all during his career.

But opening up the gym, with the help of Morecambe businessman Alan Lingwood and other investors, may be his proudest moment.

"Someone paid us a big compliment when he said the gym reminded him of the Thomas A'Beckett in London," says Philip, referring to the old mecca of East End boxing – also located above a pub – where Ali, 'Smokin' Joe Frazier and Leonard all sparred at one time.

"There's a lot of work still to do, we want to build changing rooms and clear the roof of rubbish for a skipping area. But the facilities are great.

"We brought the white-collar boxing shows to Morecambe and they have been such a success. This is the next step.

"Lancaster has boxing gyms like the Boys' Club and Skerton Amateur Club and they do a fantastic job. We're not in competition with them whatsoever.

"This is a white-collar gym for over 18s. We want to attract businessmen, anyone who has an interest in boxing. They don't have to be boxers. They don't even have to want to fight competitively. They might just want to come up here to train and work out the stresses of their working day.

"And we'd like to thank the owners of the Imperial for letting us come here."

For Alan Lingwood, the new Imperial gym is the culmination of a long-time ambition.

"I've wanted to open a boxing gym in Morecambe for many years," says the security firm boss, himself an ex-amateur fighter.

"I'd looked at lots of other places but they were never right.
But this place, in terms of facilities, is spot-on."

Already the Imperial gym is attracting some of the top boxers in the town.

Under the watchful eye of trainer Tom Byrne, former professional Lee Woodruff pounds the heavy bag, preparing for his comeback fight on the next Carleton boxing bill on Friday, October 17.

Alan Lingwood himself, who trained at VVV leisure centre until the gym was up and running, will be spending hours at the Imperial readying for the fight of his life on the same night.

It's a massive challenge for Alan, because his opponent on the European Boxing Federation card will be the former World Heavyweight Champion from America, 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon.

With his sons Alan Jnr, Andy and Sam fighting on the same bill in front of a packed, rowdy crowd of locals, October 17 is set to be a momentous night for the Lingwood family.

And thanks to Morecambe's new boxing gym, any adult can now experience those bright lights of a big fight night, assuming they are in good physical condition and pass the necessary medical tests.

Boxing can be a dangerous game for sure but as Alan Lingwood is quick to point out, it can give troubled youngsters a purpose in life and "keep them off the streets".

In that respect, the Imperial gym could itself turn out to be an important part of the West End's regeneration.

For more information on the Imperial gym please call 0785 9087366.
And to book tickets for the big fight night coming up at The Carleton on October 17, call Philip Riley on 07862 131969.