Think of boxing in the south of England and the chances are there could be a connection with a member of the Bowers' family.

Barry, George, Kevin and Martin Bowers, and another family member, Mark Lowe, have long-established links with the sport.

Between them, they have helped numerous young boxers - particularly George, from Hutton, - who retired last year having established himself as one of the top amateur trainers in the country with a record of more than 150 national title winners over a 30-year period benefitting from the experience he has passed down to them.

Between them, Tony and Martin deal primarily with the professional boxers at the Peacock Gymnasium, Canning Town, an impressive venue where amateur and professional boxers are able to train side by side.

Now, their cousin, Kevin - a former all round sportsman - has teamed up with his brother Barry, from Hutton, and their father George, and Barry's brother-in-law Mark Lowe, also from Hutton, to help promote the forthcoming National Schoolboy Boxing Association's finals, due to be staged at The Broadway Theatre, Barking on March 9 and 10.

The Peacock Gymnasium will be sponsoring the North East Divisional Finals of the competition on Thursday, February 8 at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

Kevin, 44, from Ilford, who established his own business, Trident Motor Insurance in 1984, is a major benefactor for the finals at Barking.

His Ilford-based company has put up more than £3,000 sponsorship for the event, and he has donated two trophies - The Trident Best Boxer of the Night trophies which will be presented on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Kevin has an impressive sporting background. At the age of 14 he signed for Coventry City as a professional footballer.

At the same time, he was also the youngest boxer ever to be picked to represent England, although he was not allowed to compete against Finland because Finnish rules stated all boxers had to be 16 years of age.

In 1972 and 1973, he won ABA schoolboy finals and, as a footballer, was presented with the man of the tournament shirt by the legendary Pele after the Pepsi Cola Cup competition in 1973.

In 1981, Kevin became a boxing trainer at Repton Boys Club where he worked alongside his father George for the next 10 years.

After so many years being heavily involved in amateur boxing, George Bowers, 64, could be forgiven for wanting to take life easy.

However, his retirement, it seems, was slightly premature and he did not need too much persuasion to return when The Peacock Gymnasium decided to open its own amateur section.

The section is to be run by George, vice chairman Barry, Kevin and Mark (an ex boxer trained by George) - all of whom are ex-Repton trainers.

Former champions Frank Bruno and George Walker will be patrons to the section.

Basildon cruiserweight Mark McManus had an unhappy evening at York Hall on Saturday.

Making his second professional appearance, McManus was hoping for another win but his opponent Kevin Barrett had other ideas, knocking out McManus in the first round.

A very disappointed McManus said: "We fought at heavyweight. I was told to weigh in at 14 stones.

"In fact I was 14st 1lb. Barrett was supposedly 14st 5lbs, but as soon as my trainer and I saw him get into the ring we thought he must be at least 15st - he was so much shorter than me, but wide and solid.

"I boxed his head off for two minutes, then he landed a right hook to my temple, and that was it.

"I got up, but I was in no fit state to continue. I guess it was a learning experience - I'll certainly not fight above cruiserweight any more.

"From now on, I'll stick to 13st 8lbs and under."

(Right) George Bowers: Back from retirement.

(Left) Mark McManus: Disappointing defeat.

By Ivan Sage

Reporter's e-mail: ivan.sage@essex-chronicle.co.uk

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