Forging futures: Dalton Smith helps launch pioneering South Yorkshire boxing scholarship

Boxing, education and community came together in South Yorkshire on Thursday as the new DC Boxing Scholarship was officially launched at Maltby Academy.

Delivered by DC Boxing in partnership with Maltby Academy and The Sixth Form Partnership, the programme will give 16–19-year-olds the opportunity to pursue their boxing ambitions alongside A Levels and/or vocational qualifications when its first intake begins in September 2026.

The launch was given added world championship stardust by Matchroom’s WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Dalton Smith. As he prepares to defend his WBC crown on home soil for the first time against Alberto Puello, Smith took time away from preparations to support the next wave of talent emerging from his local area.

The Sheffield World Champion met the young people in attendance, took part in an open workout and shared experiences from his own journey through the sport – from the grassroots of South Yorkshire to the summit of the professional game.

“Not everybody is going to be a fighter. Some of these kids might go on to be doctors, nurses, architects or joiners, but boxing can give them the foundations to live a good life,” said Smith.

“You’ve got the exercise, a healthy routine and a positive way of dealing with things, especially with mental health being such a big part of society now,” he added.

“You can get all of that from a boxing gym – and that can have a lasting impact, whatever path they choose to follow.”

Clubs from across Yorkshire also came together for inter-club sparring, while the day included training and a free medical clinic funded through England Boxing. Empire Fighting Chance, England Boxing, Yorkshire Sport, Sported and other local partners supported the launch.

At the heart of the scholarship is a simple idea: young people should not have to choose between their education and their ambitions in boxing.

Alongside academic study and a structured training programme delivered by England Boxing-qualified coaches, students will be able to develop coaching, leadership and employability skills, gain work experience and access additional qualifications.

Support spanning social media, photography, video and CV development will also help students shape their professional profiles and prepare for whatever comes next.

For those with competitive ambitions, the programme provides a route through club, regional and national competition. Crucially, it also recognises that success does not have to mean becoming a professional boxer, with pathways into coaching, further education, employment and other careers built into the scholarship.

The launch represents a significant step forward for DC Boxing and another example of the wider impact being driven through Matchroom’s partnership with Empire Fighting Chance.

Through the growing national network, community boxing clubs are being supported to strengthen their organisations, forge new partnerships and expand what they can offer young people.

Earlier this year, DC Boxing was among five partner clubs invited to the Houses of Parliament as the national impact of community boxing was presented to policymakers.

Plans for the scholarship were then brought into focus during Sheffield fight week in May, when Matchroom and Empire Fighting Chance visited Maltby Academy to meet students, staff and the team behind the programme.

Thursday’s launch provided another marker in that journey – translating the strength of a trusted local club into a new education pathway for its community.

“This is exactly the kind of progress we want our partnership with Empire Fighting Chance to support,” explained Alex Le Guével, Head of Community Development at Matchroom Boxing.

“DC Boxing has taken the trust and credibility it has built locally and used that foundation to create something genuinely ambitious for young people,” he continued.

“The scholarship gives students the chance to develop as boxers while remaining engaged in education and gaining qualifications, skills and experiences that can stay with them far beyond the ring.

“Having Dalton here as a local World Champion to support the launch and share his journey brought the opportunity to life for the young people in the room and made the occasion that bit more special.”

For the young boxers in attendance, Dalton’s involvement offered more than just the chance to meet a World Champion. It brought the pathway in front of them sharply into focus, from his beginnings at Steel City Gym in Sheffield to the summit of the professional sport.

Having witnessed the groundbreaking work taking place, Smith was proud to add his support to the growing movement behind community boxing.

“I’ve seen first-hand what Matchroom Boxing and Empire Fighting Chance have put together through this network and the difference it is already making for young people,” said Smith.

“Programmes like this create opportunities, help get young people off the streets and encourage them to lead healthier lives, all while giving them something positive to be part of. That’s why I’m proud to give the network my support and do what I can to help spread the word.”

Reflecting on what the scholarship represents for DC Boxing’s continued development, Aaron Morten, Head of Growth and Partnerships at Empire Fighting Chance, highlighted the opportunities it could create far beyond the ring.

“The DC Boxing Scholarship is a brilliant example of what can happen when a boxing club, a school and partners unite behind a shared ambition for young people,” said Morten.

“DC Boxing is growing into a genuine hub of opportunity for its community. This is about far more than producing talented boxers; it is about helping young people build confidence, leadership skills, qualifications and real-world experience that can support them well beyond the sport.”

Attention will turn back to the professional stage next week when Smith comes face-to-face with Puello for the first time at the official launch press conference, where the undercard for his eagerly anticipated homecoming World Title defence will also be revealed.

With recruitment now underway, young people aged 16–19 across the region can apply to join the scholarship’s first intake from September, combining their education with high-quality boxing training and opportunities for personal and professional development – while showcasing what community boxing clubs can achieve when their local knowledge, relationships and ambition are given room to grow.

To find out more and register your interest, visit The Sixth Form Partnership.