Image credit: East London History
From legendary gyms to iconic arenas, Waterloo has been a cornerstone of British boxing for over a century. Here’s a look at how our neighbourhood helped shape the sport, and some of the names and places that kept the gloves swinging.
Fitzroy Lodge: A Boxing Institution Since 1908
Tucked away beneath the arches of Lambeth Road, Fitzroy Lodge Amateur Boxing Club has been training champions and changing lives since 1908. Originally based behind the Imperial War Museum, it moved to its now-iconic location under the tracks after it was bombed in WWII.
But Fitzroy Lodge is about far more than fitness. It’s a community anchor, giving young people the tools, structure, and self-belief to thrive. Over the decades, it’s produced top-level talent like David Haye (former WBA heavyweight champ) and Cornelius Boza-Edwards (world super featherweight champion), but it’s the everyday stories of mentorship and transformation that define its true legacy.
Today, the gym also works closely with Carney’s Community, a brilliant local charity co-founded by Fitzroy Lodge coach George Turner and inspired by the late Mick Carney MBE, the club’s former head coach and a Waterloo legend. Carney’s Community supports disadvantaged and excluded young people through a powerful mix of boxing training, mentoring, and skills development.
Together, Fitzroy Lodge and Carney’s Community show how the boxing ring can become a place of hope, healing, and real impact.
The Ring: London’s First Indoor Boxing Arena
Step out of Southwark Station and you might not realise you’re walking on the historic ground of one of British boxing’s most important venues: The Ring.
The story begins in 1910, when Dick Burge, a former British Lightweight champion, and his trailblazing wife Bella Burge (a.k.a. Bella of Blackfriars) transformed the old Surrey Chapel – originally built in 1783 – into a dedicated boxing venue.
And they didn’t mess about. Aptly named The Ring, the venue became London’s first purpose-built indoor boxing arena for the working classes, hosting countless bouts and drawing crowds from all corners of the capital. Bella herself became Britain’s first female boxing promoter – and an unstoppable force in the sport.
Fighters such as Len Johnson, Jack Drummond, Alf Mancini, Jack Hood, and the legendary Ted “Kid” Lewis all stepped into The Ring. It was more than just a sporting venue; it was a cultural beacon.
Sadly, the building was heavily bombed during the Blitz in 1940 and later demolished, but its story didn’t end there.
The Legacy Lives On
Though the original arena is gone, its legacy punches on. Across the road from what once was The Ring now stands The Ring pub, a boozy time capsule filled with memorabilia and photos of the venue’s golden years. Until recently, the pub even had a working gym upstairs, and it’s not unusual to find old boxers sharing stories over a pint.
Next door, the modern Palestra building, now home to Transport for London, gives a subtle but brilliant nod to the past. “Palestra” is the Ancient Greek word for a wrestling, tying Waterloo’s boxing roots to an even older fighting tradition.
Boxing in the ’Loo: Then and Now
Waterloo’s boxing legacy is one of grit, community, and resilience. From the roars of the crowd at The Ring to the steady rhythm of training at Fitzroy Lodge, the area’s connection to the sport has always gone beyond titles and trophies.
