How I Fell In Love With Boxing

Whilst so much of my work was consumed by role play and fancy dress, boxing kept it all real. I relished the layers and edges being stripped away, to pure bone and muscle and sweat. And laughter, too – exhausted, out-of-control giggling. The camaraderie of the banter, the hard knocks, the no excuses, the never giving up. Then there’s the style: the wraps, the gloves, the baggy boyish layers – nothing new or shiny or too show-offy (well, mostly…). And the feeling of being enveloped in the softest hug of hoodie and sweats afterwards, heart pumping, running home. And then I stopped, suddenly blissfully pregnant with my son, Luc, now 16. I dabbled in yoga and Pilates and tried to do as I was told for a while. Life had changed forever, but I still needed to run. I missed the team spirit, the high and the release.

But still, I like the drama of the raised stage, the ropes and the bounce. I’d train around work, or sometimes on the way to the school pick-up, arriving sweaty and ragged. I’d miss it when I travelled, and more so when the world shut and slowed down last year. The gym has moved house now and it’s different, on the map with more light and even a coffee machine. The Box Clever car park became iconic and beloved and will be missed, but the heart of the gym are the people – Pete Liggins and his brilliant team, their loyal friends and clients. It’s a community, a family of sorts. Excellent merch, too, by the way. I’ll always be the girl who wants the stickers, the tour tee, and the souvenir. Old habits die hard. My daughter and I still argue about who our favourite Box Clever hoodies actually belong to (what’s mine is hers…).

I’ve seen more and more kids boxing at the gym over the last few years. Partly due to the golden reputation of Box Clever, but also perhaps a sign of the emotionally unstable times, the vulnerability of teens, the search for meaningful strength and identity. I know children for whom boxing has helped rebuild their sense of self, but also given a sense of belonging, something worth fighting (living) for. Something that’s theirs.

I understand the emotional pull, but Pete has hard facts and expert experience. “It’s widely acknowledged that boxing can play a pivotal part in a child’s development, improving hand, eye and foot coordination whilst improving fitness and full-body strength. Participation also teaches social skills, boosting confidence and self-esteem, whilst also instilling discipline. With childhood obesity levels rising, boxing also improves the young person’s overall health and nutritional knowledge, inspiring healthier choices.”

A study by researchers at the University of Cambridge concluded that those children who do more physical activity are likely to possess stronger “self-regulation” – to be able to control their behaviour and emotions – at an earlier age, particularly important for children from families who find it harder to access sports clubs or other forms of physical activity outside school.

I do not underestimate the impact of a thriving boxing club in a local community. It’s about more than training, or the next fight. It’s about connection, and potential, and sometimes simply showing up. Maybe making a friend. Maybe finding a mentor. Maybe just getting out of the house and off the streets or the phone. And then the magic happens.