Founded in 1962, Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club, known as Madison Square, boasts one of Africa’s premier boxing rings. The club’s storied history began in a 1936 garage owned by Mrs Marion Elizabeth Couldrey, initially serving as a service centre for farm machinery and later as a British Army garage. Mrs. Couldrey’s husband, Frank James Couldrey, was a well-respected editor of the Kenya Weekly News.
After WWII, the building became a military depot leased to Jack Thompson until 1957. In 1958, Maxie McCullough and Major F. Ryan acquired the building, transforming it into a boxing club by 1959. McCullough, a seasoned boxing recruiter, mentored future national hero Phillip Waruinge, and established a bar within the club to fund its activities. McCullough’s dedication was legendary, rarely missing a training session until his untimely death.
The club produced numerous champions, such as Phillip Waruinge, who won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games at just 17. Other notable boxers include Isaiah Ikhoni, Peter “Dynamite” Odhiambo, Daniel Mwangi, and Steve Muchoki, who all achieved significant success in regional and international competitions.
Despite its faded glory, Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club remains a beacon of the sport, drawing crowds to its tournaments and nurturing new generations of boxing talent.
