Michael Gains, from Southend, publishes Jack the Boxer on 5 November: a time-travel story for ages 6 to 12, with his two sons in it and a coach based on Larry Gains.
A children’s book written by a man who grew up in Southend, with his two young sons written into the story and a boxing coach modelled on his great-grandfather, is published on Thursday 5 November.
Jack the Boxer: The Future Adventure is Michael Gains’s first book and the first in a series he has called Jack the Boxer, aimed at readers aged 6 to 12. Mr Gains is originally from Southend-on-Sea and now lives in Cardiff.
2 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by Michael Gains
The series follows a boy called Jack who wants to become a boxing champion. In the first book Jack is 11, and a time-travelling adventure teaches him, in Mr Gains’s words, “that being a true champion isn’t just about what happens inside the boxing ring, but also about how we treat others in everyday life.”
A coach based on Larry Gains
The character Coach Larry is inspired by Mr Gains’s great-grandfather, Larry Gains (1900 to 1983), whom he describes as “the Canadian heavyweight boxing champion who overcame significant racial barriers during his career.”
Larry Gains has a blue plaque at the Shoeburyness Hotel in Shoeburyness, marking his connection to the area. On the cover, Coach Larry’s Boxing Gym carries the date 1920 and a sign inside the door reading “Strong hands, kind heart.”
Logan and Luca are in it too
Mr Gains is a father of two young boys, and he has put both of them, Logan and Luca, into the story as characters.
“As a father of two young boys, I wanted to create something meaningful that children and families could enjoy together, while encouraging positive values that I believe are important for the next generation,” he said.
“Bringing them into a world I’ve created has made writing and publishing my first book an incredibly rewarding experience.”
The series, he says, is about Jack learning “valuable life lessons about courage, kindness, respect and the importance of making the right choices.”
What the book is about
This is the book’s own description, as the author supplied it:
Can kindness stand the test of time?
One young boxer. One mysterious golden watch. An extraordinary adventure through time.
Jack is an 11-year-old boy from the 1920s, with a big dream to become a boxing champion.
Every day, he trains alongside his trusted coach, Larry, who teaches him that being a true champion takes more than strength, skill and determination. It takes courage, respect and, above all, a kind heart.
But when Coach Larry gives Jack a mysterious golden pocket watch, his world is about to change forever.
In the blink of an eye, Jack is transported to Toronto in the year 2125, a dazzling futuristic world filled with incredible discoveries, unfamiliar challenges and unexpected friendships.
Far from everything he knows, Jack must find his way through a world unlike his own. Along the way, he discovers that even when times change, the values that truly matter remain the same.
Through friendship, kindness, courage and the challenges he encounters, Jack learns that doing the right thing isn’t always easy, that everyone deserves respect, and that even the smallest act of kindness can make a big difference.
As Jack continues his journey towards becoming a boxing champion, he begins to understand Coach Larry’s greatest lesson:
The greatest victories are not always won in the ring, they are earned through the choices we make every day.
A hometown launch
Mr Gains said he was keen for readers in Southend to hear about the book first, “especially as it’s my hometown.”
Jack the Boxer: The Future Adventure by Michael Gains is released on 5 November 2026.
Sponsored feature for Michael Gains, author of Jack the Boxer: The Future Adventure.
Have your say