Boxing club threatened with closure by rent rise

A boxing club where some of Britain's greatest fighters have trained is facing closure because of rising rent.

The All Stars gym in West Kilburn helped to develop Frank Bruno and Gary Mason and in 2000 US heavyweight Mike Tyson used it to train before a fight.

The gym, which doubles as a youth club, has been praised for rehabilitating teenage gang members.

It was founded by Isola Akay in 1981 after his son and some friends were turned away from local clubs because they were black.

He took over an empty church in Harrow Road then owned by Westminster council and raised £150,000 for its refurbishment.

Mr Akay paid Westminster a subsidised rent of £2,500 a year but in 1993 the council sold the property to a private landlord.

Now the 73-year-old has been told his rent is to rise to £34,000 a year. He also faces paying another £84,000 in backdated charges after a long-running dispute with the landlord over repairs.

Mr Akay said: "The club is a real focal point for the community. Everyone knows the fighters we've produced. We've been successful because of the strict discipline I impose.

"We get bad boys referred to us by the local police - some even come here with electronic tags - but the club has helped a lot of them turn their lives around and stay away from drugs and crime. Our three trainers started here when they were 16. They're all in their forties now. We are like a family."

The council has tried to arbitrate between the landlord, Shahid Pervez, and Mr Akay and says it is keen for the gym to keep going.

Projects director Martin Whittles said: "We want to help ensure that All Stars can thrive... It has a vital role to play, not just in the Harrow Road, but also for the London Olympics in producing world-class athletes."

Mr Pervez's solicitor was unavailable for comment.