I launched my business from my tiny Cheetham Hill flat - now I'm working with Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Ben Shalom was just 23-years-old when he launched a boxing promotional company from his small flat in Cheetham Hill.

The young entrepreneur spent years organising club nights and concerts in his spare time before borrowing £10,000 for his boxing promoter's license. It wasn't until he began hosting small boxing shows across Manchester that he started rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan.

His business – Boxxer – snowballed and Ben went on to land a huge deal with Sky Sports last June, broadcasting events live on the channel. The now 28-year-old is currently the youngest licensed promoter in the UK, holding shows at huge venues including Manchester Arena.

“Working in my flat, we used to drive past Manchester Arena every day,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “Now to be doing shows there is incredible; Noel Gallagher, Sadiq Khan and Gary Neville were in the front row.

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“I grew up in Manchester and I had friends who were boxers. Boxing, for me, is the best and most beautiful sport in the world. It was almost the sport where the fighters were elite but paid terribly and the events were poor. Sponsors were interested but broadcasters were far and few in-between. I started going to shows to figure out how boxing could improve.

“I borrowed enough money to get my licence. At the time, £10,000 was a huge amount of money for myself to find a way to learn about boxing and boxing shows. I did events at uni so I felt like I had the opportunity to get involve with the sport I loved and that’s where it stemmed from.

“It’s been a long journey but whether it was Ricky