“Anyone will succeed in whatever field of endeavour in life by acquiring the same virtues and character that boxing world champions do – dedication, perseverance, courage, extreme self-discipline and prayers.” – Manny Pacquiao.
This quote from the great Manny Pacquiao perfectly epitomises why more young boys and girls should pick up a pair of gloves, put their mouthguard in and try boxing. It gives a voice to the voiceless, confidence to those that lack it and gives you the ability to stand up for yourself.
Training in a combat sport such as boxing is the closest thing a human can get to developing a super-power.
Ever since 2020, knife crime has been increasing in the UK with tragic stories about teenagers losing their lives in needless ways becoming a more unfortunate reality.
This is where boxing can step in.
Not just for those associated with crime, but for the lost youth who may have strayed off the right path, boxing can help them get their life back in order.
Take Anthony Joshua for example. He is a shining light as someone who’s trajectory in life changed for the better after discovering boxing.
Joshua was arrested for fighting and was placed on remand in Reading Prison and revealed he initially started learning to box when he came out on bail to protect himself if he got a long prison sentence.
In an interview with Apple Music’s Song’s For Life, Joshua said: “I thought, If I’m gonna do a long sentence and I’ve got these little idiot kids in the jail, then I’m gonna come in there and I’m gonna back myself.”
“So, I started pumping weights, me and my cousin… I signed up to one of these hard man gyms.
“Because I was on tag – obviously I’m out on bail conditions so I’ve got the tag on my leg – so I have to be home at 8pm every day.
“I was in a strict routine at a time when I was only 17/18.
“And I think that’s what helped me with my boxing. When I came off tag, I was already in a position where I was ready to take off with boxing.” Joshua said.
To say Joshua’s boxing career took off after this is an understatement, Joshua ended up becoming an Olympic gold medallist and two-time unified heavyweight world champion, firmly putting his life of crime in the rear-view mirror.
Shairb Mohammed is one of the many amateur boxing coaches who oversees people throwing their first ever punch between the four walls of a boxing gym.
Mohammed explains some of the first hand benefits he has seen from people who began boxing under his stewardship.
“Just by continuing to show up to training, they’ve already shown resilience and determination to come in there and they’ve shown a bit of enthusiasm which puts you in great stead for life.
“Somethings are hard, some are repetitive, but you’ll do that in your working life, in your academic life and it’s good to see them do that in boxing as they are skills that will transfer into other aspects of their life.” Mohammed says.
Mohammed also went into further detail about how those who continue to stick with boxing continue to reap the benefits.
“It shows they have discipline and dedication; you’ve got to show up on time. Boxing is all about respect you’ve got to show it otherwise the club will pull you up on it almost immediately. It also helps young people respect structure and authority.” He says.
Will Gillies is one of the boxers trained by Shairb Mohammed and reveals when he initially got into the sport and why he has stuck with it.
“I started boxing when I was 11. Physically it’s made me a lot stronger, but it’s also made me more confident. Boxing has made me a man. It’s toughened me up and given me discipline.
“It’s made me a better person, it’s taught me respect and at one of the gyms I train at, there’s loads of different groups of people there, lots of minorities and it’s made me more open minded to other groups and allowed me to meet people that I’d never normally meet.” Gillies says.
Despite boxing’s benefits, it is understandable why it would be intimidating for someone new to walk through the doors of a boxing gym for the first time.
Shairb Mohammed says this is common, but has some words of advice for people wanting to get involved.
“Boxing clubs across the UK are full of beginners. They want new people to be there, if boxing becomes exclusive it’s always going to lose out, so boxing is inclusive.
“Most clubs don’t get funding, so they need members in there and most coaches are volunteers. They want to help people, that is their job so by you coming, it gives them an opportunity to do that.”
