'Goosebumps': Benjamin Reid makes sure John Verran's Bulldog Gym legacy lives on

"It's a little bit emotional for me, I don't really know the right words," Verran said.

Because for her, this is more than a Thai boxing gym nestled a stone's throw away from the Amaroo shops. This is her late husband's legacy living on.

Canberra fighter and promoter Benjamin Reid has relaunched Bulldog Gym in Canberra as a tribute to his former trainer John Verran 11 years since his death.

The gym will officially open its doors on August 10, reviving the Bulldog name which has been non-existent in the capital since a group of scrappers trained in a shed about three or four years ago.

Verran's mark in Canberra cannot be understated. Under his wing were the likes of Ben Edwards, who was living with him when he died from a heart attack. Edwards says he will "never forget that date, and never forget everything he did for me".

Reid still remembers getting the call about Verran's death.

"Even talking to you about it right now, I've got goosebumps and it makes it hard to believe," Reid said.

Which is why the 37-year-old is desperate to give back. By his own admission he was a difficult teenager heading down the wrong path.

"That's the thing, I was just a young kid. John had the knack of turning boys into men," Reid said.

"As much as I do have a good mentor in my father, John just came from a different walk of life where he was able to help me with a lot of my adolescent issues.

"After my first fight, he literally took me under his wing. He put his arm around me, he hugged me tight, and he said to me 'you're with us now Benny, you're a Bulldog'.

"He never took a backward step from being there for me. Whether I was right or wrong, he was there for me. He mentored me for a long time and also taught me to be accountable for things I had done that were wrong. That comes with great patience and virtue.

"I was a difficult teenager, we crossed paths when I was 19. I'm now 37. It was an experience and a friendship that will never be forgotten.

"His kids now, they are important to me. I really hope to repay to his children what he has done for me, and I hope to do that for others as well.

"That's how I feel about mine and John's relationship. I'm also very close with his widow Jakelin. Her and John's kids play a big part in the gym, they support it wholeheartedly."

Like 11-year-old Kobi, who was almost lost for words when he tried to sum up how it feels to learn about the impact his father had on others. He says it makes him feel "happy and special". Needless to say it is the same for 20-year-old Caitlin.

"I knew he knew a lot of people, but not until after he passed away did I really know the effect he had on a lot of people's lives," Caitlin said.

"It means a lot. It is really good to see, what Ben is doing is amazing. The dedication he has shown with it is remarkable."

That's why Jakelin found herself awake at 3am two days before the gym was slated to open, thinking about how proud John would be to see Bulldog live on.

"I find it really touching because I see how much of the motivation of doing it for Ben is, for the influence John had on his life," Verran said.

"I couldn't think of anybody better to continue the culture of it, just because of how John used to get people who were going off track or in the wrong direction, give them something to do, be an influence and inspire them."