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06
Apr
The Ripon boxing gym punching above its weight
From its humble surroundings inside a rented building space, Ripon’s only boxing gym packs a hard punch.
Ripon Amateur Boxing Club, which the Stray Ferret visited this week, is difficult to find. Tucked away by the lockers, behind a plain door with no sign, it comes as a surprise to enter and find a large gym with punch bags, exercise bikes and a ring.
But perhaps that’s what a boxing gym should look like — not flashy or boastful but straightforward, purposeful, and humble.
Gym owner Ron Hopley, formerly known as the Ripon Rocket, personifies these traits. The 55-year-old has boxed since he was 17, at amateur and professional level. Now he is developing the next generation of Ripon fighters.
The club, which is the only boxing gym in Ripon, has produced six amateur champions since it was formed in 2020.
Ron currently coaches around 30 amateurs, who range from people who’ve only just had medical clearance to fight to people who’ve fought 20-plus times.
Ron Hopley (left) went by the ring name the "Ripon Rocket"
The Ripon-based ex-professional grew up boxing with best friend, and Yorkshire local legend, Henry Wharton — a man who fought for the world super-middleweight title three times.
In 2013, after the two had retired from the sport, Henry decided to set up a gym in York. Ron helped with coaching.
What inspired him to become a coach?
Before he had opened his gym, me and Henry trained a few lads for a white-collar event. Six of them fought one night and five of them won. We really enjoyed it because they were trained by us.
I helped coach at Henry’s Gym for a while, but kids from here couldn’t get their parents to commit to taking them to York. I decided to open my own gym up in Ripon to give those kids a chance.
I just wanted to put something back into Ripon. Boxing is a passion, I love it. I watch it all the time on TV, it’s my entire life really.
Ron Hopley (right) trains with Henry Wharton
A sport of discipline
Ron is keen to challenge the stereotypes about boxing appealing to rough kids who want to be aggressive. He said:
A lot of them are good kids. Maybe some of them have lost their way a bit but boxing gives them that direction.
There’s a lot of good in boxing and I think it helps a lot of people. It gives them a good foundation to go on and be a good person. It’s a sport that’s all about respect.
As with all combat sports, respect and discipline are key and these traits are built in the gym. Regular intense training sessions foster discipline and a strong work ethic, and respect is taught.
Ron said:
If my fighters lose, then I lose as well. Me and Henry have always wanted to be winners. But if one of ours loses and has performed well we're happy anyway.
Every fight is a learning fight. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, losing. That’s often where fighters learn their respect.
Respect is taught through showing respect. My fighters are mine to look after. There’s a life after boxing and I don’t want their brains scrambling.
When I spar with them, I do technical sparring, no heavy shots. Any heavy shots and you’re out. You don’t win fights in a gym. Your heavy hits can be saved for when you’re inside the ring. I strongly believe that if you can’t look after your fighters then you shouldn’t be in the sport.
Ron Hopley (left) and Henry Wharton wrap up the gloves of George Davey, a fighter for Henry's Gym in York.
Coaching vs fighting
A plasterer by trade, Ron said he coaches out of passion. When asked about whether he preferred fighting over coaching, he replied “without a doubt!”
He explained the difference between the two:
Coaching is so much more demanding than fighting in my opinion. You have to be there for everyone, and everyone expects it of you, which isn’t easy.
Everyone wants to train with pads, for example, and your body can only take so much. I’ve got rotator cuff problems which doesn’t help.
You’re also hardly ever at home. I’m coaching every night, whether it be in Ripon or over in York at Henry’s Gym, and I often give up my weekends. I do it because I love it though.
Ron stands with the belts won by Alex Newman and Joe Challis by his champions wall.
The boxing gym’s six champions are Alex Newman, Joe Challis, Imogen Hawkridge, Reece McAlpine, Ben Julian and Katherine Fitzgerald. Many of them won amateur Yorkshire championships.
Seeing them develop as better people and boxers is the most rewarding part of coaching, said Ron.
He singled out Newman, Challis and Hawkridge, as they are home-grown Ripon fighters.
The coach said his ambition was to develop a professional, and to “get as many winners as possible”.
Ron's fighting career may be over, but his influence on the sport and on the Ripon community is growing.
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