PRESS RELEASE - PHUKET BOXING NIGHT SMASHES TARGET, RAISING OVER 1.5 MILLION BAHT FOR CHILDREN FIRST FUND

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release — 15 May 2026

PHUKET BOXING NIGHT SMASHES TARGET,RAISING OVER 1.5 MILLION BAHT FOR CHILDREN FIRST FUND

A sold-outcrowd of 340 watched 20 first-time fighters step into the ring at AngsanaLaguna Phuket on 9th May — and together they raised over 1,500,000 Baht forChildren First Fund, blowing past the original 1,100,000 Baht target by nearly40%.

The inauguralPhuket White Collar Boxing event, organised by Paul Judge and Drew Mitchell,was no ordinary charity night. Every fighter in the ring was a non-professional— a local business owner, teacher, or healthcare worker — who committed to 12weeks of intensive training for the chance to compete, and to make adifference.

The moneyraised will fund a brand new electric mobile library and books, takingeducation directly to orphanages across Phuket Province.

Communityin the ring

Head trainerAndrew Stannard — 88 amateur bouts, six-time England representative, andThailand-based for over 20 years — put all 20 fighters through their pacesacross three sessions a week for three months.

The lineupreflected the breadth of Phuket's expat and local community. Urs Leo “TheLionheart” Grueter, 53, a Swiss wealth manager, threw punches alongside Robert“Bad Grandad” Hodge, founder of sustainable property developer ZeroDevelopments. Chris “The Mersey Matador” Greene, Head of Modern Languages atthe British International School Phuket, shared the card with Phanarai “TinyTornado” Chaichompoo, a Senior Physiotherapist at Optimise, who framed herfight as a promise:

“Nochild’s potential should be limited by their geography.”

Theheadline sponsor who got in the ring

Laguna Phuketcame in as headline sponsor and host — but Managing Director Paul Wilson wentfurther than most sponsors do. He laced up the gloves himself and fought on thenight under the alias “The Newcastle Nightmare.”

“Thisevent shows how community, challenge, and purpose can come together to make areal difference. To the fighters, organisers, and volunteers — your dedicationis inspiring,” he said afterwards.

A causewith deep roots

Children FirstFund (CFF) was established to mark Laguna Phuket’s 30th anniversary, buildingon the resort’s longstanding commitment to community education. Its motto saysit simply: “Nourishing Hearts, Inspiring Dreams.” The fund’s mission is to giveorphans across Phuket Province not just care, but real opportunity — and themobile library funded by this event will put books directly into the hands ofchildren who need them most.

The teambehind it

KhunPon MartialArts provided the training venue — a recently launched, state-of-the-art gym —free of charge throughout the programme. Major sponsors HOMA, MitchellInternational Wealth, Optimise, Slice, Canine Point Academy, and Breathe helpedmake the night possible. Martin Carpenter hosted a six-hour event withoutmissing a beat.

Co-organisersPaul Judge and Drew Mitchell said:

“Thisevening was something very personal to us both. Having stepped into the ringourselves in Singapore and the UK, we know what it takes. But this was aboutgiving something back to a place we call home.

We’vebeen humbled by the fighters’ commitment, the sponsors’ generosity, and acommunity that came out in force. It wouldn’t have happened without them.”

Organisershave hinted the gloves may come out again. Watch this space.

About Children First Fund

Established tomark Laguna Phuket’s 30th anniversary, Children First Fund honours the resort’shistory in community education by extending its reach to orphans across PhuketProvince. Guided by the motto “Nourishing Hearts, Inspiring Dreams,” CFF givesLaguna guests a meaningful way to invest in the community that hosts them.

About Phuket White Collar Boxing

Phuket WhiteCollar Boxing brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, and local residentswho commit to a full training programme before competing in a professionallyorganised event. For more information visit phuketboxing.com.

Media enquiries:

Paul Judge / DrewMitchell — info@phuketboxing.com