Rampage Boxing and Fitness is owned by Daniel ‘Rampage’ Robson, and is based on Medomsley Road in the County Durham town
(L-R) AJ Patterson, Shaun Wales, Jayden Oliver, Joe Willetts, Daniel ‘Rampage’ Robson, and Leon Dunn(Image: James Bovington)
A boxing club in Consett has been described as having a ‘priceless close-knit community’, by its members themselves. Based on Medomsley Road in the County Durham town, Rampage Boxing and Fitness is owned by Daniel ‘Rampage’ Robson.
Writer James Bovington, who spends his time covering local combat sports in the north of England, went along to the boxing gym to find out more about the boxing gym and its members, and this is what they told him.
Visitors to the Greek island of Santorini marvel at the Akrotiri fresco showing two gloved teenage boxers boxing. Three thousand years on from this priceless artefact’s creation Consett lad Jayden Oliver and his mates live for the sport as deeply embedded in northern culture as it was for the ancient Minoans.
The close-knit community the boys have built with Daniel ‘Rampage’ Robson at his Consett gym is itself priceless, and these are their words. “I’ve won three title belts on two local promotions, Kush Boxing and OBC”, said Oliver, 17, who lives with his car mechanic father and factory worker mother.
“I’ve become well-known as a fighter. I’d struggled at school and never thought I’d achieve. Now I have and I imagine a bright future as a professional boxer. It’s a challenging ambition. My success is down to my commitment to intense daily training and the high-quality coaching here, and I love the exhilaration of fight night.
“It’s about proving that I’m tougher, harder even, than my opponent. I don’t mind the pain from a well-placed shot. It’s real. It’s genuine. I’m proud of just how very hard I can hit. I’ll always take a well-matched bout. I’m not scared of anyone. I appreciate the commission on fight ticket sales which is helping me build that all important fanbase”.
Footballer Leon Dunn came to boxing to improve fitness. “I’m a boxer now”, said Dunn, 18. “This gym is an exciting place. Us lads have won twelve belts and got 30 wins in a short time. We’re well respected and all want to be pro boxers. I’ve won seven of nine bouts.
“The sport’s great for making friends even with opponents. I fought Joe Randall a few years my senior. He won but I showed I’m hard enough to take on a grown man. Joe’s now a firm friend. You learn a lot with our coaches Dan and Shaun, but the main lesson is stay humble”.
Dunn lives locally with his parents and brother. “Mum and Dad were nervous about me getting hurt. That’s part of it though. And hurting an opponent. We expect it. Learn from it. Now they know I’m secure and well looked after and they’re proud of what I’ve achieved.
“Like Jayden I’ll fight anyone and I’m aiming to improve my ticket sales which average 30. A large fanbase is as much a requirement for professional boxing as fighting skill”.
(L-R) AJ Patterson, Jayden Oliver, and Leon Dunn of Rampage Boxing and Fitness in Consett, County Durham(Image: James Bovington)
“These lads have learnt quickly what this game’s about,” explained Daniel Robson. “They’re totally dedicated to boxing and they’re good at it. They love knowing they’re up to the physical and mental challenge and see a future for themselves in the professional sport. They’re constantly proving just how resilient and courageous teenage boys can be.
Robson, 40, had done some boxing when younger but a bout of depression while working away in Sheffield took him to bare knuckle boxing. “It’s frequently the facial bloodbath everyone recognises but bare knuckle can be safer than longer gloved contests.
“I won on a promotion in Stoke and back in Consett I volunteered at another gym, learnt the ropes and then set up Rampage Boxing and Fitness just over a year ago. It’s going very well. We’ve got 40 members including the fight team all of whom have the highest level of commitment.
“We’ve ten children under 16 training. The Sunday sparring class is top class. My twelve-year-old son Leo has thrown himself into boxing and boxing is bringing us closer together”.
Shaun Wales and Conor Burns coach with Robson. Both have a military background. “We’re transferring skills from military life to civvy street to help these boys do well in the sport and improve their life chances,” said Wales.
“You look after each other in the forces. That’s paramount. We’re about building a team spirit through physical training and discipline so that the boxers might thrive as a group while also learning self-reliance”.
Burns added that “Consett’s history is that of a hard-working town, yet many youngsters lack ambition and focus. They hang around and won’t commit. This gym shows them what they too can achieve with Jayden, Leon, Joe, AJ and others being role models.”
The aforementioned Joe is apprentice bricklayer Joe Willetts, a tall softly spoken young man who turned 18 last autumn and who’s lived happily with foster parents for ten years. “I’d done some karate but looked at the boxing and thought I can do this. My ambition is also to box as a professional. I’ve had five bouts and won three.
“I lost the first because I was too keen to hurt the opponent. I’ve calmed down, relaxed even, so that I showcase skills. It’s boxing not brawling although I can fight at close range and I always put on a performance which entertains and just maybe even makes people feel better about life”.
Willetts maintains that “all boxers feel nervous before a fight. It’s not worry about getting hurt. We expect that. It’s the shame of possibly disappointing. It takes courage but none of us is afraid. We’re all hard lads, after all”, smiled Joe, “but we have our emotions too.
(L-R) Leon Dunn, AJ Patterson, Joe Willetts, Jayden Oliver(Image: James Bovington)
“We’re happy at this gym. Settled as part of a bigger family and loyal to our mates. It’s amazing how it’s enhanced my life, how fortunate we are to be here”.
Sentiments shared by Junior Patterson, 21, who said: “I absolutely love the people at this gym. I’m naturally quiet, shy even, and have always been conscious I’m a short person. Since my early teens I wanted to prove myself as a boxer and now I have. It’s thanks to Shaun my coach that I’ve come out of my shell. I’m not frightened at taking on taller boxers.
“I just give it my best shot and enjoy the atmosphere at a show. It’s like it’s charged with electricity. But what’s most important is I’ve overcome my shyness. The boxing and the boxers made that possible. They’re my brothers and family loyalty counts above all.”
Carlo Macellaro started boxing at 29 and has won two of his three bouts with Robson plus two previous charity fights. “This gym is about Consett. Rooted in our community. We might not be the most skilful fighters but we’re gritty. Knock us down and we get up. Like our town.
“We don’t stop until the bell goes. Everyone is nervous anticipating being hit but the rewards outweigh any anxiety. You can’t be half in half out with this sport which provides a focus especially for the younger fighters. There’s simply nothing better we can be doing”.
Combat sports also help a person be honest about themselves. Jack Shaw, 21, states directly that “boxing has kept me from doing bad things.” Care centre support worker Shaw has won four of five fights, but his priority is coaching child boxers. I’m planning for several bouts in 2026 but helping the children keeps me calm.
“There’s five in a class aged 7 through 10 and they’re all nice-natured. Two present quite specific challenges but the role is fulfilling. They’re also learning how in this boxing community we’re loyal to each other above all. We always look out for each other”.
Coach Wales is clear about the recipe for success. “We know the boxers. I mean really know them. They get love here. They feel they’ve become something when they’ve proved themselves in the ring. For us coaches it’s the most rewarding and satisfying work possible”.
Daniel Robson wants to put on record his gratitude to the club’s sponsors for 2025 including as main sponsor Ebony Daycare with the fight team supported by Aquarod, Bear Luxe Barbers, Charley’s Café and CMJ Cars.
Boxing’s beautifully brutal ballet is working its ancient magic in Consett and the boxers are thriving. Those wanting further information about training or potentially able to offer sponsorship to individual boxers or the club contact Robson on Facebook and Instagram, or at rampageboxingandfitness@gmail.com.
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