Nottingham bar set to punch above its weight with new VIP area and boxing deal
A popular Nottingham bar has teamed up with an up-and-coming city boxer in a 12-month deal – and has announced a new VIP offering.
Southbank City is now the sponsors of British & Commonwealth Featherweight Champion Leigh Wood after agreeing a 12-month contract with the Gedling boxer.
Director Owen Roach said: “As an independent Nottingham business we have always supported local sport in this city, whether it be sponsoring grassroots football & cricket teams, or being the shirt sponsors of Notts County and Nottingham Forest players – plus our reputation for showcasing the great history and heritage of elite level sport in the countless ‘Evening with’ shows and fan experience events we host annually. It seemed logical to us to help another elite level local sportsman in Leigh Wood as he moves on towards his world title ambitions.”
Co-director Thomas Holodynsky added: “Don’t underestimate how much being a homegrown Nottingham independent venue means to us, we’re very proud of this city of ours, we’ve worked hard over the years to build our reputation as the go to place for live sports, music and events in Nottingham and as big boxing fans ourselves, we really think where Leigh is at in his career and as a sportsman to be proud of really fits in with our brand as a premium venue and our company ethos of giving back to Nottingham and our dedication to arts, sports and culture.”
Wood now trains full time in Essex with his new trainer Ben Davison as he looks to build on his British Featherweight title victory in February.
He said: The support from Southbank City will take the pressure off my finances, especially living in a different city in turn leaving me to completely focus on my training and achieving my goals. It is a great local partnership; one I am excited about. Southbank City is well known for sport in the city and has a great reputation.”
Wood has lofty ambitions for the next stage of his career with various options ahead of him.
He added: “In the next 12 months I will be looking to either win the Londsdale British title outright or push on and fast track for a world title. Southbank City’s support is essential to achieve this, not just financially, but also helping me build my profile ready for a return to fighting in Nottingham by engaging with locals and fans – I’m looking forward to coming down to Southbank City, who are great hosts, to watch sport and interacting with people that have supported and continue to support me on my path to become world champion, the great people of Nottingham.”
Roach added: “We have lots of plans to bring Leigh to the venue for meet and greets, Q & As and fan interaction when we have major sports on in particular when Nottingham Forest are playing or to add his comments to any fight nights, particularly in our all new 1998
Club beneath Southbank City, which is all about VIP and exclusivity and will be a premium offering.”
“We will also be supporting each other on social media as we look forward to welcoming Leigh to our YouTube channel SBC TV with updates on any upcoming fights he has as well as getting his comments on any boxing cards on the horizon,” Holodynsky added.
Wood said: “I would like to say thank you to the guys at Southbank City for the support and hopefully a long-standing partnership, the faith shown in me means a lot. I hope the people of Nottingham will get behind me and the venue moving forward as we look to bring big fight nights back to Nottingham.”
