A Preston teenager has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by winning a silver medal at a national boxing competition.
Mark Killeen, 16, reached the final of the Manchester Box Cup in late June, with the support of his family helping him every step of the way.
The young boxer has channelled his experiences of bullying and the grief of losing his grandfather into motivation, reaching success on the national stage.
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Mark’s mother, Maxine, spoke about the impact of losing his grandad last year, who was a former boxer and one of Mark’s biggest supporters.
She said: “When his grandad died last year, both he and his dad took some time to deal with the loss, something they both struggle with daily, but his grandad was a huge supporter of his and even said before he passed not to let him quit.
“He has had 12 fights total, 9 in the last 3 months, gaining momentum facing bad decisions, but five of his last six were by unanimous wins, and we are very, very proud of him for getting in the ring.”
Alongside his silver medal at the Manchester Box Cup, Mark also won the Global Gloves Box Cup 2026.
As an autistic teenager, Mark says boxing has helped him focus and prepare for each school day, while also giving him a sense of belonging.
Maxine added: “Mark feels as though he has found his place in the boxing gym; it’s given him confidence to meet new people and know he is accepted, as all boxers hold respect for the sport and each other.
“Mark struggled with the coordination, so even the basics of movements have taken months to grasp, but he has thrown himself into training day and night with his dad as well as at the gym.”
