Six competitors. Five champion titles. And a prestigious best club award. The Brighton Boxing Academy made history at the Mile Oak Ringside Box Cup in Bognor Regis just weeks after opening. In their first major tournament, the academy sent six fighters to the event, with five of them returning with gold. The club itself was also recognized as the standout team of the competition, a remarkable achievement for a new gym.
Founders with Vision and Experience
Brighton Boxing Academy was founded in just three months by Sonny Burtenshaw, Harvey Dykes and James Morey. All three invested their own money and relied on the support of a few local sponsors and friends to build the facility from the ground up. Burtenshaw, a skilled sports photographer with over two decades of construction experience, took charge of the gym’s development and uses his media background to raise the academy’s profile. Dykes, a professional boxer who has competed at major events including Sky Sports and Zuffa Boxing, brings top-tier fighting experience to the gym. Morey, a world-traveling coach, offers insight and knowledge gained from coaching boxers at every level of the sport.
Together, the trio created something unique in their community. Dykes provides elite-level boxing experience, while Morey shares his global expertise in training. Burtenshaw, with his construction and media skills, handles both building and branding. Their combined strengths make the academy different from other local boxing clubs, offering a new standard of training and support.
The founders believe boxing is more than just a sport. They see it as a way to improve physical health, mental resilience, self-esteem and confidence. Their vision is to provide a safe, supportive space where people of all ages and skill levels can grow. The academy already offers tangible results, with fighters like Remy Martin, Alfie Jacobs, Otis Child, Seb Mitchell, Izzy Mitchell and Logan Dore proving their success in recent tournaments. These athletes have helped the gym win two golds at the Capital Box Cup and a silver at the Haringey Box Cup.
It’s not just about winning medals or gaining recognition. The Brighton Boxing Academy aims to show how boxing can be a force for good in people’s lives. The club’s achievements—five titles and a top club award in just a few months—support that mission. By combining talent, training and community spirit, the academy is quickly becoming a name to watch in local boxing.