TWO West Fife boxing clubs have landed a knockout four-figure cash boost thanks to one of the sport’s biggest names.

Rosyth-based Trench, and Valleyfield Miners, amateur boxing clubs, were the beneficiaries of a fundraising ‘Evening with Ricky Hatton’, which raised £5,470 at the Glen Pavilion on April 28.

The former WBA (Super) light-welterweight champion was brought to Dunfermline by Craig Roxburgh, who previously organised events in aid of Dalgety Bay youngster Josh Cathcart, who has a bionic arm.

The Press previously told you how Josh was fitted with a £42,000 bionic arm in 2015 after being bullied for being born with the lower half of his right arm missing, with a race night and sportsman’s dinner organised by Craig raising £5,000 and £13,000 respectively.

Boxing fanatic Craig, whose son, Lewis, trains with Trench, decided to help the clubs – run by friends Gordon Brennan and Barry Paton – by bringing Hatton north after getting to know his manager through his previous fundraising efforts.

He said: “The night itself was tremendous. We sold 240 tickets and raised £5,470, which will be split 50-50 between Trench and Valleyfield. It will help pay for equipment for both gyms; I know how expensive equipment is so it will help.

“Ricky spoke about his journey in boxing from the beginning right through to his fights in America. He talked about his demons with drink and drugs, how he wanted to kill himself, and falling out with some of his family. He proved that he could get back on the road and was fighting fit, even although it didn’t work out.

“He’s got an active gym with five or six boxers who he looks after and has a lot of things keeping him busy. He spoke about being in a dark and lonely place when he retired.

“It takes a big person to tell everyone things that are not so good as well as the good things.”

Also on the bill was comedian and ‘Only an Excuse’ star Paul Reid, and former Nottingham Forest and Everton striker Duncan McKenzie, and Craig added: “Ricky was speaking for over an hour and he took time to speak to everyone, had a laugh and a joke and stood for selfies. I think that’s what people appreciated.

“I think everyone enjoyed it.”

Trench, who currently train at Camdean, are in the process of seeking planning permission to move to a new premises in Dunfermline, while Craig added that Valleyfield hope to be ready to open “in a couple of months”.