England’s Boxing Capital

To uncover the best boxing cities in England, we used Google Maps to find every boxing club in England, which came to a total of 2,577 across 700 cities and towns. Then, we used data from World Population Review to calculate each city’s boxing clubs per capita (i.e. how we divided the number of boxing clubs by the town or city’s population and multiplied that by 10,000). And that gave us this list of England’s most passionate boxing cities!

1. Truro

Famous for its beautiful Georgian architecture, this unassuming Southern city is home to the Royal Cornwall Museum, which houses a collection of Cornish art and artefacts. It also houses the stunning Truro Cathedral, which is why the city is also known as the “cathedral city of Cornwall”.

But it should also be known as England’s Boxing Capital because it’s head and shoulders above all other cities on this list! Even though it has a population of only 12,000 people, Truro is home to 10 boxing clubs. On the surface, this may seem like a low number.

But if we run the numbers, we can see that Truro has a whopping 8.16 boxing clubs per capita – nearly double the number 2 city on this list!

Its remarkable ranking truly is a testament to Truro’s resilient boxing culture and an indication of a strong community of boxing enthusiasts dedicated to the sport!

2. Durham

Located in Northeastern England, Durham is home to a beautiful cathedral and castle, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

It’s also the birthplace of Glenn McCrory who’s not only a former IBF cruiserweight champion, but one of the most recognizable boxing commentators on Sky Sports.

And it places extremely well in its Boxing Clubs per Capita. Standing at a whopping 4.81, it’s nearly double the next city on our list.

All in all, an amazing showing for this fine Northern city!

3. Bridgwater

 

This southwestern town is usually associated with its Annual Guy Fawkes Carnival, which is one of the largest illuminated processions in the world.

But as far as I’m concerned, it should also be known for the large number of boxing clubs it has relative to its population! Similar to Truro, Bridgewater’s total Number of Boxing Clubs isn’t that high.

However, with a population of 41,000 it ranks as the third English city in Boxing Clubs per Capita with a very respectable 2.91 boxing clubs per 10,000 people!

4. Chippenham

Located in Wiltshire, Chippenham is known for its rich history. With its vibrant arts and culture scene, numerous galleries and theatres and ancient sites such as the stone circles of Avebury and the ancient monument of Silbury Hill, most wouldn’t associate Chippenham with boxing.

However, any boxing enthusiast will know Chippenham is the birthplace of bantamweight Lee Haskins. And the city’s solid showing in our list is proof that the city has a vibrant boxing community, with a solid 2.51 Boxing Clubs per Capita!

5. Bedford

Located in Southeast England, Bedford is best known for its stunning riverside parks, which have several boating lakes and walking paths, as well as its Italianate-style Victorian buildings. 

In the realm of boxing, it’s known as the home of heavyweight Matt Skelton, a.k.a. the Bedford Bear.

With 26 boxing clubs and a population of 106,000, Bedford has 2.43 Boxing Clubs per capita, coming in at a cool 5th place on our ranking.

Overall, a more than respectable score for the birthplace of the Bedford Bear!

6. Redruth

Similar to Truro, Redruth is another Cornish town. Known mostly for its mining heritage, Redruth is home to the Cornish Studies Library, which houses a collection of books and documents related to Cornish history and culture.

With 9 boxing clubs and a population of 42,000, it sports a not-too-shabby 2.11 Boxing Clubs per Capita, placing it firmly in 6th place among all of England’s cities.

7. North Shields

Located in Tyne and Wear, this town is known for its historic fish quay, which has been a hub of fishing activity for centuries. North Shields also has a rich maritime heritage, with several museums and exhibits showcasing its maritime history.

With a small population of 39,000 it has 9 boxing clubs, giving it 2.01 Boxing Clubs per Capita. Overall, a very good showing for the charming fishing town.

8. Nottingham

Situated in the Midlands, Nottingham is famous for its rich history and famous legends, such as Robin Hood. It’s also known for landmarks like Nottingham Castle and the Robin Hood statue.

But what it should also be known for is its respectable showing on our list!

With 61 boxing clubs, and a population of 320,000, it’s scores a 2.43 in Boxing Clubs per Capita. Which is no small feat in a list where the competition is so fierce!

9. Newcastle upon Tyne

Situated in the northeast of England, Newcastle upon Tyne is most often associated with famous landmarks such as Tyne Bridge and Newcastle Castle. 

Among boxing enthusiasts, it’s probably best known as the home town of recent British Lightweight Champion Lewis Ritson.

In terms of its Boxing Clubs per Capita, it puts in a very respectable showing. With 34 boxing clubs, it’s got 1.77 Boxing Clubs per Capita, putting it at 9th place on our list.

10. Fareham

Known for its historic architecture and medieval churches, Fareham is a town with a rich maritime heritage.

With a total of 10 boxing clubs and a population of 57,000, it has 1.74 Boxing Clubs per Capita, ranking 10th on our list. Which is not too shabby, given that it beat 690 other English cities to get to this point! Overall, it’s a good showing for the Southern English town.