Peacehaven’s professional boxer Liam Forrest aims for world title

Liam “The Lumberjack” Forrest is one of Peacehaven’s rising sporting hopes, a local lad who has carved his own path in professional boxing. Fighting out of the Forrest Boxing Gym in Peacehaven, he holds a professional record of 5-1-1 and is already preparing for his next fight scheduled for early 2026. His journey, however, started long before the bright lights and longer rounds.

From trying every sport to finding a calling in boxing

Liam’s entry into boxing came after experimenting with almost every sport he could. But nothing matched the feeling he found inside the ring. As he explains, nothing gave him a buzz like punching someone in the face and having his hand raised. Winning a boxing match, to him, remains one of the most rewarding experiences in life.

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He started boxing at the age of 12 and fell so deeply in love with the sport that he was competing just months later. After two white collar bouts, he had his first amateur fight at 15, beginning a journey that would include around 50 amateur contests, with more than half of them won. His amateur achievements are extensive: seven Southern Counties titles, two silver medals at the Harringay Box Cup, and reaching the ABA finals twice.

Building a path from Peacehaven

Liam began his amateur career at Moulsecoombe ABC in Brighton, where he won multiple titles before moving to Repton BC in East London. There, he became London champion and established himself as one of the elite competitors in his weight category in the south of England.

As his experience grew, he trained and sparred with some of Britain’s top professionals, including Chris Eubank Jr, Joshua Buatsi, Ohara Davis and Anthony Fowler. His ambition also took him to the United States, where he trained at the world-famous Mayweather Boxing Gym and Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas.

The reality behind a professional boxer’s grind

Liam’s journey into the professional ranks taught him how tough the business side of boxing really is. He explains that many people assume fighters are paid well from the start, but in reality it is expensive to keep a career moving.

From selling a minimum number of tickets to cover show fees, to paying managers, coaches, and training camp costs, every fight requires investment. This is why gaining sponsorship becomes so important, allowing fighters to promote local businesses while easing the financial pressure of chasing their dreams.

Inspiring the next generation

Liam founded the Forrest Boxing Gym with his own hard work and savings, giving himself a place to train while creating somewhere for young people to follow a similar path. His ultimate goal remains clear: to win a world title and inspire the next generation to believe they can do the same.