BATTLING brothers Kyle and Carl Swaby are hoping to play their part in securing a Commonwealth Games medal for Malawi.
The pair of kickboxing champs have seen their Urban kickboxing centre in Bristol Road grow from strength to strength since opening last year.
And when Kyle, 22, heard the Malawi boxing team was searching for a gym to hone their skills just weeks before the start of the Glasgow Games he was only too happy to help.
Kyle and Carl, 26, have been dubbed Gloucester's answer to the Klitschko brothers for their kickboxing heroics. Both have travelled the world taking on the best in their division. But, unlike the Ukrainian pair, the boys' mum is happy to see them slug it out for bragging rights.
"I'm a four-time world champion and Carl has won 12 world titles," said Kyle, a sports coaching graduate from the University of Gloucestershire.
"We are both under 70kg and we fight each other sometimes. Our mum doesn't mind us fighting and lets us get on with it. We have been running the gym since I was 14. It started at social clubs and it has grown so we can open our own gym."
Their Urban gym is gaining a reputation as having some of the best boxing facilities in Gloucester, mainly thanks to investment from the boys' family. Kyle heard of the interest from Malawi when he was working at the university, and can't wait to have some true African heroes training in their gym. Kyle added: "I heard they were coming over to train and wanted to help. It will be good to have them training with us, quite something. We have more kids wanting to try kickboxing than adults. The youngest we coach is aged four. We started off doing karate and continued. It's good for fitness and discipline, it's affordable and helps self-defence. Kids love it."
Boxers from the Malawi team are staying in Gloucester to train ahead of the games which start on July 24.
Steven Tanki, a 64kg light welterweight, is hoping to improve on his performance at the 2010 India games.
"Last time I lost by a point in the final round, just missing out on a medal," he said. "I am looking forward to boxing at Kyle's gym, he is a kickboxer – it is different but the training is similar. We are hoping to find some sparring partners here in Gloucester."
Chikondi Makawa, a 75kg middleweight, has been boxing since 2008.
He said: "I'm sure Gloucester can help us to prepare very well to achieve success. My ambition is to bring a gold medal back to Malawi. I have a dream of watching them raise the flag and play the anthem of my country.
"My coach is doing everything he can to help us be successful and had a look at Kyle and Carl's gym. He liked it and we will now use it to get ready for Glasgow. If we win a medal, they will be a part of our story."
Kickboxing classes for all ages take place from 5pm-9pm most nights. To find out more information go online at urbankickboxingcentre.com
