Trick or Train: Global campaign encourages kids to put down the sweets and pick up the gloves this Halloween

Halloween is traditionally a night filled with tremendous excitement for youngsters, but it can also be a time where many overindulge in sweets, roam the streets and sometimes find themselves getting into mischief.

Encouraging alternatives that promote healthy lifestyle choices, discipline and structure can help ensure a safer, more positive Halloween experience for all.

Trick or Train, a global campaign by Matchroom Boxing, seeks to provide a unique Halloween alternative – encouraging kids to stay active at their local boxing gyms, instead of going out trick-or-treating.

Thanks to our partners at Everlast, every participant also received a limited edition Trick or Train t-shirt, featuring a special Halloween inspired design.

Recognising the temptations available to kids at this time of year, a series of events were organised at Everton Red Triangle ABC in Liverpool and the Matchroom Churchill Gym in Santa Monica to offer a healthier, more structured way to spend the evening.

Boxing talents Peter and Joe McGrail attended the Liverpool event, with Peter focused on his upcoming domestic showdown against Dennis McCann in Riyadh and Joe fresh off a victory on the Catterall v Prograis undercard in Manchester. The brothers spoke with the next generation of ERT boxers, providing sparring tips and words of wisdom to those in attendance.

Full of pride for his local community, Peter McGrail was quick to point out the impact that the gym has in steering youngsters in the right direction.

“Obviously the lads are all in the gym there training and it’s not just our gym that’s round here – Everton Red Triangle – there’s 35-40 kids you know, coming in learning their trade boxing and it’s keeping them off the streets, so it’s great,” beamed McGrail.

“It’s brilliant for the community – and it’s not just our gym, you’ve got 4 or 5 gyms all within a 2-mile radius. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be doing the same as here, it’s great. The lads there, that’s where I was. I walked in here when I was 10 and you know, 18 years later I’m still here.”

Whilst in Santa Monica, Chad Madrid and Pedro Neme Jr delivered a special event for youngsters involved with the LEAD programme, a unique and impactful partnership between the boxing gym and Santa Monica Police Department, which uses boxing to steer young people away from negative influences and encourages them to engage in positive growth-oriented activities.

Speaking to the Matchroom cameras, Officer Chad Madrid explained the importance of boxing in diverting youngsters away from distractions outside the gym and into something more positive and meaningful.

“The boxing class we have here is imperative to our community. We’re working with at risk youth, kids who are just in the neighbourhood – so when we do this boxing class, we wanted them to have an outlet to do other things,” said Madrid.

“For a lot of these kids this is their main sport now, so we’re trying to treat them like athletes, teaching them about nutrition, about structure, schedule, it’s like their foundation for what they do as teenagers now,” he continued.

“With this class, we have contingencies with it. We tell they’ve got to do good in school, they’ve got to attend school, no truancies – and we keep up with them to make sure they’re doing everything they’re supposed to do. We try and provide not just boxing skills, but life skills – hard work, dedication, sacrifice… so really we’re trying to build young men into men – and we love it!”

By offering kids an engaging alternative to Halloween night, Trick or Train underscores Matchroom’s commitment to community and youth development. The campaign not only promoted fitness, but also reinforced the gym as a safe, constructive space for young people to build confidence, life skills and a sense of belonging.

With Halloween wrapped up, attention now shifts to Riyadh, where Peter McGrail is set to face domestic rival Dennis McCann in a highly anticipated showdown. The matchup has generated considerable buzz in the boxing community, as fans wait to see if McGrail can leverage his experience and recent momentum to claim victory against McCann in what promises to be a headline-stealing contest.