John Tom Varey set to be a future star

John Tom Varey with Shiney Singh…the lad looks special

THE success enjoyed and silverware amassed by Walsall’s Box Smart Elite club is so vast, it’s hard to comprehend.

Try this for starters – 10 national titles in two years, a Commonwealth bronze medal and European silver.

The gym doesn’t need a trophy cabinet, it needs a warehouse.

One of the brightest among the stars is John Tom Varey, a truly outstanding amateur who appears destined for very, very big things.

At last weekend’s Haringey Box Cup – one of Europe’s most significant tournaments – the 17-year-old struck gold and was crowned best youth boxer of the three day extravaganza.

That’s the third time in a row Box Smart Elite have gained the best boxer trophy at the Alexandra Palace, London, event.

As head coach Shiney Singh put it: “John Tom really is something very special.”

And he’s a teenager who has overcome tragedy and simple geography to reach the top.

He actually lives in Blackpool, yet makes the long train journey to the Walsall gym three or four times a week. That’s an eight hour round trip at a cost of close to £150.

He fights for the memory of brother Frank – another highly decorated Box Smart Elite boxer – who tragically drowned in 2021. Frank was only 17.

John Tom has pretty much won it all. He’s lost only three of 38 contest, represented his country 12 times, winning 11, collected a European silver medal and picked up every national title going.

He showed his star quality in the Haringey tournament. Fighting at 48kg (that’s around seven-and-a-half stone in old money), he beat open youth champ Adam Morris (RABC) in Saturday’s semi-final.

In the final, John Tom boxed magnificently to unanimously outpoint Dagenham’s Billy Macey, a boxer who has been on a surge to the top.

“Billy Macey was the one they’d all come to watch,” said Shiney. “He’d stopped 11 or 12 kids, but John Tom boxed superbly.”

On facebook, Shiney posted: “John Tom Varey capped off what has been another unbelievable season this year by bagging himself the best boxer award at the biggest box cup in Europe.

“Two fantastic displays of boxing over the course of the weekend saw him get the nod with his finals day bout dubbed bout of the tournament, getting all in the Alexandra Palace talking.

“Special praise from the likes of Ade Oladipo and Steve Bunce, acknowledging what a talent this young lad is and he’s still only a first year youth!”

Shiney added: “If you didn’t know..remember the name, a star in the making.”

Few would argue with that.