Waterloo is more than just a famous battle or Abba’s Eurovision Song Contest winner, just ask Shaun Farmer.
The Liverpool fighter, who was based in the North-East throughout his entire professional career, is about to pull off his greatest victory.
This Saturday will see the doors re-open to Waterloo ABC, the club on Merseyside where the 42-year-old first learned the sport three decades ago and one he has brought back to life with a little help from his friends.
Former world champion John Conteh, one of Liverpool’s most famous boxing sons, will be at the grand opening at noon, alongside other top Scousers from the boxing world, such as the Smith brothers, David Burke, Shea Neary and Andy Holligan.
The club, located in the north end of Liverpool, had closed some time ago and had been turned into a Scottish Power sub-station which became derelict.
But thanks to the vision and graft of Shaun and his comrades, Ste Le Marinel, Scott Garrett, Ant Corish, Terry Johnstone, Ste Mathews and head coach Tommy Ferrigan, it is now returning to its former glories.
“It’s great to think after all the time and work that’s gone into it that we are now ready to open,” Shaun told punch-lines.
“I boxed for Waterloo ABC from 12 to when the gym shut 20 years ago.
“I moved back to Liverpool from Hartlepool seven years ago and I’ve dreamed about re-opening the gym.
“I was granted the lease for the exact building and it has been great getting it back to being a boxing gym again.
“I think we’d all say our dream would be produce champions but we also want to produce good people.
“We want Waterloo ABC to be at the heart of our communities.”
Farmer and Waterloo’s coaches have been through their coaching badges and he says he will put into practice the things he learned in his time in the North-East.
While he settled in Hartlepool, he boxed out of the gym of Wearside boxing legend, Tommy Conroy, in Sunderland.
“I will looking to use the knowledge I gained from being trained by Tommy Conroy, who I owe so much to, plus Stan Williams.
“I learned so much in my timer there from those fellas and from the likes of John Jarrett and Fred Potter from the Boxing Board.”
It would be fair to say Farmer was, and still is, one of this writer’s favourite boxers.
A Sugar Ray Leonard he was not, but he put every ounce of heart and soul into his fights and ended his career with a 7-10-1 log.
HIs two bouts with Yorkshire’s Jonny Musgrave (one won, one lost) were notable battles.
While his last fight, for a light-middleweight masters belt, ended in a stoppage defeat to hard-hitting Kevin Hammond in Queensferry back in 2009, the reaction of his family, friends and fans that night in North Wales showed they see him as a champion.
Shaun is now a champion of his community and if the young recruits of Waterloo ABC listen to him they will go far.
Words: Roy Kelly