What a Wonderful World… Wayne!
World Boxing Council Ambassador, Wayne Elcock, suffered a stroke of bad luck recently, but Lady Luck then smiled upon him, providing even more than just a Silver Lining, in the form of pure Green and Gold.
48-year-old Wayne (19-4, 9KOs), a former British middleweight champion trained by Paddy Lynch, defeated Howard Eastman and took on Arthur Abraham during his career. He now trains amateur and professional boxers. He also mentors youngsters, often going to schools and inspiring with motivational talks.
One day, not so many moons ago, he was just about to close his Birmingham-based boxing shop, Mad Dogs Boxing in Boldmore Road, Sutton Coldfield, for the day, when three thieves, pretending to be customers banged on the door and so he let them in. While Wayne's back was turned, they stole his WBC Wrist strap and a pair of silver and Blue Reyes Boxing gloves he used for his last ever bout, which was a charity match. Also, other items worth over £1000 were taken. Fortunatly, it was all recorded on CCTV.
Then the cheeky blighters phoned him up to demand a ransom for the belt and gloves, which he politely but curtly refused. Well… someone seems to have had a conscience, plus those two items of priceless sentimental value were just too hot to handle! Five days later, a masked man with a Tesco's bag randomly went to TC Gent's Barbers across the road from Wayne's shop and gave them the gloves and mini belt, because they didn’t want to face Wayne personally.
As one person who knows Wayne well so aptly said: “I'm sure he's already forgiven them. Knowing Wayne, he'd try to mentor them!”
The World Boxing Council learned of the theft. So WBC Vice President Charlie Giles, who only lives just up the road, nipped along with a WBC full sized replica belt. Now Wayne, who was blown away by this kindness, has got two WBC straps. The full sized one is providing quite an attraction with lots of loyal customers keen to have a photo alongside it.
But Wayne assures and guarantees that security has been appreciably beefed up. Once bitten…twice shy!
Wayne has found his calling as a boxing trainer, at Wayne Elcock's Boxing Clever and at his Kronk Gym in Chelmsley Wood, coaching in a hands-on way.
And this new belt is the ultimate inspiration, because with talent, discipline, dedication and hard work, one day one of those youngsters could go all the way.
Charlie wrote to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman: Dear Mauricio, I had the pleasure of presenting WBC Ambassador Wayne Elcock with this very desirable belt. He was absolutely elated!
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