Wolverhampton entrepreneur Samuel Leeds wins £200,000 for charity after boxing win
A property entrepreneur from Wolverhampton has won £200,000 for his charitable foundation, after beating his arch rival in a boxing grudge match.
Samuel Leeds beat Rob Moore in a bout at the Brentwood Centre, Essex in what was billed as the 'clash of the property titans'.
Although the bruising encounter lasted the full three rounds, judges voted Mr Leeds the winner by a majority.
Mr Leeds, aged 32, is currently redeveloping the historic Eagle Works in Wolverhampton.
He had bet his opponent £100,000 originally, but later doubled it, and the money will go to his foundation – a newly registered charity helping poverty stricken people in Africa.
Over the past few years, the foundation has financed the construction of water tanks in isolated Ugandan villages as well as schools in the country and even a new hospital ward.
Amongst the projects that will be financed with the fight cash will be a boxing gym in Zimbabwe to help disadvantaged young people.
After emerging triumphant Mr Leeds, whose wealth is estimated to be in excess of £16m, said he was not only the better man in the ring – but in business too.
He said: "Rob and I are natural enemies. We’re both successful property investors with large training companies and we’re both self-made multi-millionaires.
“Rob said he is a better fighter than me, but I’ve put that one to bed. He’s also said on several occasions that he’s the bigger man in the property world, which is even more hilarious.
“He’s 12 years older than me, but he’s taller and has a black belt in kickboxing. But I trained ten hours a week for six months and then went on an intensive week’s fight camp in Barcelona just before the event.
"I’m fitter than I’ve ever been - there was no way I was going to lose face against Rob. He was a tough opponent and put up a great fight, but I never doubted I would win."
Mr Moore was magnanimous in defeat, adding: “I’m disappointed I lost, but I had a good opponent. We raised nearly a quarter of a million for charity. I’m just a bit annoyed it came from my pocket.”
Several celebrities were in the audience including rapper Krept, former Liverpool footballer Kevin Stewart, political and social commentator Lin Mei, and comedian and presenter Judi Love.
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