Prince William pledges his support to efforts fighting youth violence on visit to sports training charity

PRINCE William proves a knockout — as he pledged his support to efforts fighting youth violence.

But Wills, 41, declined the chance to take part in a sparring contest with young female boxer Jess Bryden.

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She described to the prince how she had managed to turn her back on county lines gangs at only 13.

Visiting sports training charity Best’s HQ in Swindon, the Prince of Wales joked to Jess, 18: “Hopefully if I talk to you long enough I don’t have to go in the ring.”

Jess, who mentors for the charity set up by her father to divert youths from crime, said she’d been “mixed up in the wrong crowd”.

Wills hailed her journey as “very impressive”.

Parents Don Bryden, and Sarah Bryden, 52, set up charity BEST – Be A Better You with the aim of providing sports training and one-to-one mentoring which keeps teenagers and young adults out of trouble.

Jess boxes out of Scrappers ABC gym but also trains with other Olympic and amateur hopefuls at Britain’s boxing HQ in Sheffield.

Charity BEST – Be A Better You supports local young people through mentoring, sports coaching and education programmes which help young people who are involved in areas including crime and gang violence take the necessary steps to improve their life.

Wills also paused to chat to boxing mentor Sam Stoddart, 32, who has a prosthetic leg after losing his left lower limb stepping on a mine in Afghanistan in 2012 while serving with the King’s Royal Hussars.