Boxing champ in Rugeley visit

British middleweight champion Wayne "Mad Dog" Elcock has a new career beckoning after inspiring youngsters at Rugeley Police Amateur Boxing Club.

The Birmingham-based former WBU middleweight champion, who recently beat Howard Eastman to become Britain's No 1, gave an inspirational talk to the young fighters, some of whom have been offenders.

Elcock proved the perfect role model when he dropped in at the club. He spent two hours talking to the club members after agreeing to take part in the "Addicted to Sport" programme designed to get young offenders into boxing and other sports.

Programme organiser Les Potts, who until recently was a police officer with the Staffordshire force, said nothing was too much trouble for Elcock on the visit, one of many he has undertaken for free.

"When I set up the programme, he said he was interested in coming along and getting involved from the start," said Potts, who is also secretary of the Midlands area for the British Board of Boxing Control.

"I approached various professionals and straight away, Wayne became part and parcel of it.

"He's performed talks and done presentations around schools.

"He's done it because he cares about young people and boxing. But never once has he ever asked for any form of payment.

"I've said to him I can get him some money, but he said 'no'. He really is an inspiration and a very good motivational speaker.

Potts came into contact with many young offenders with his work with the police and through his love of boxing, has persuaded some to give up a life of crime .