‘I believe I’ll be world champion’ says Wellingborough boxing ace who trains at well-known Northampton gym

Charlie Hamilton has already been a national champion at youth level and a regional champion as well, six times over.

The 19-year-old lives in Wellingborough and trains at a gym in Northampton. Charlie started boxing at nine and he trains three times a day, six days a week.

He believes he will be a national champion as an adult within a few years, and world champion after that.

He said: “I’ll be a world champion. That’s why I’m turning pro. I truly believe I can be a world champion. I can take it extremely far.”

Charlie is dedicated to boxing full time, and is supported by his dad Martin, who he lives with, and his mum Alison.

Charlie said of his parents: “They’ve definitely helped a lot, in terms of looking after me and allowing me to train.

“To be successful in boxing, it has to be your lifestyle - so you need the right people around you to live that lifestyle.”

In his amateur boxing career so far, Charlie has fought 35 fights, winning 23. His first six fights were losses, which he says was a challenge.

He added: “It was definitely tough, but because I loved boxing so much I, I always knew I was never going to quit no matter what.

“And I always knew deep down what I was capable of so it's just a matter of time.”

Charlie’s gym is Team Shoebox in Harlestone Road. His coach there is James Conway, who has a record of training successful fighters, such as Northampton born and bred Eithan James who challenged for the WBO European Welterweight title in March last year. Another fighter at the gym is Kieron Conway, who challenged for the British super-welterweight title in 2019.

If he succeeds, Charlie will be following in the footsteps of Chantelle Cameron, the town’s most recent boxing world champion, who received the freedom of Northampton in December 2023.

As he is supported financially by his parents, Charlie is currently looking for sponsors.

He said: “If there’s any businesses out there looking to support a young boxer on his way to becoming a champion - there’s a lot in it for them.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring Charlie can reach him at @charliehamilton19_ on Instagram.