A Heavyweight for the Streets?

Last night, two heavyweight boxers, the apprentice, Anthony Joshua and the master, Wladimir Klitchkco fought a memorable and epic battle at Wembley Stadium in London before a 90,000 sell out crowd, pay for view and a global audience witnessing this major sporting event if they could afford it!

Meanwhile, knife crime and extremism are the headlines in the capital with 5 lives under the age of 20 lost in the last 7 days and more incidents taking place under the radar. This has culminated in two anti-terror operations with a 27 year old stopped, searched and arrested by armed security officers near Downing Street (2 mins from the terrorist attack on 22nd March in Westminster) with a ruck-sack of 3 large kitchen knives! Later that evening police raided North West London with a 20-year old woman shot and seriously injured and a 16 year old and 43 year old arrested. This is part of a national anti-terror operation that is seeing our communities under surveillance and arrests made. The police have called for greater cooperation from our communities in helping to fight the on-going threat of terrorism. Is there a role for the Sport for Development and Peace movement in light of all that is happening?

For a quarter of a century, sport and the arts have been celebrated as the vaccine and antidote to engaging the hearts and minds of the young and channelling their energies into a more positive activities and aspirations. However, to date, whilst presenting great examples, a truly collaborative and coordinated effort sees the disaffection of our young people reflected in on-going community tensions.

42 years ago, two heavyweights rumbled in the jungle of the African continent before the eyes of the world, to witness the Greatest upset in sporting history. Following his victory over George Foreman, the Greatest, Muhammad Ali, was to be found on the streets of Kinshasa speaking with the youth of Africa and the world about how they should avoid drugs and gang violence and seek to improve themselves in being the best that they can be. 

With Anthony Joshua, from the streets of London, a 2012 Olympic Gold medallist of TeamGB pledging to inspire a generation and now the holder of unified heavyweight titles, his words of love and peace in the ring must surely resonate beyond the ring and use his potential greatness onto the streets locally, nationally and internationally and do the very same thing to help bring and end to the young lives being lost and provide a truly #LegacyOpportunity4All