Marija Malenica and Her Mountainous Mission

From skipping school and drinking cheap wine, to balancing on her dad’s car rooftop and selling weed in a coffee shop; Croatia’s Olympic hopeful Marija Malenica is not short of a story or two. Each story is book worthy, but with Tokyo 2021 on the horizon and a pro career full of promise, you get the sense that the best chapters are yet to come.

Marija’s journey began in Split, Croatia; the first of her many destinations. A ‘crazy place’ but home to many memories and the start of many life lessons, she explains.

“We lived in a small flat, in an area you could say was a ‘bit crazy’ or mixed, but it was always alive. There was always something happening, from dog fights, to adults drinking and watching football outside together. The kids were safe though and they always respected the adults. My parents didn’t have a lot of money but that taught me many important lessons and I would never change that.”

The fondest of Marija’s childhood memories were made together with her family, memories that showed as a family they may not have had the best of everything but they made the best of everything they had.

“I can remember the time we won a five day holiday in a nice hotel, on one of the islands nearby. There was a competition being run by a radio station and my mum was collecting stickers for it. We were listening to the radio to see who won the prizes and when it came to the second prize we all left the room with the exception of my mum, thinking there’s no chance we would win the main one. A few minutes later we were screaming with happiness. Another memory is when my dad used to sell statues to churches and would sometimes be away for a week. When he returned it would be with luck, or without. If he was succesful he would throw money in the house and we would all jump around dancing and throwing the money. We would then go to the supermarket for ‘sweet dinner’ meaning we could choose whatever sweets we wanted. And dad also had a very old car that he would put me and my brother on the roof of, riding around slowly. People thought he was crazy but in my opinion he just showed us you don’t need a lot to have fun and be happy.”

A young Marija was both shy and rebellious but also brave and persistent; some might say that’s a strange combination but those who know Marija will know her as a colourful character, who can do the most extraordinary things and that’s very much down to her make up. Those characteristics have given her an advantage over those around her, it’s because of how she does things differently, how she does things her way, that she stands out from the crowd.

“There are a few stages to the younger me, they even had nicknames. Early on in my childhood I was the shy Marija who would pee her pants at primary school because she was too afraid to ask for the bathroom. Followed by the rebel Marija, who listened to punk music, skipped school and drunk cheap wine. And later, the brave and persistent Marija, who took on the world by herself, experienced life struggles, the happiness of travel and the fruits of hard work. So I guess, a younger me was curious, brave, impulsive, not taking life too seriously. I just wanted to see it all.”

Prompted by her curiosity, Marija crossed paths with kickboxing at the age of 17, when she joined her local club.

“I wanted to join the local club earlier but my parents couldn’t afford it. My older brother was a boxer so that was a trigger for me, but it was mainly just curiosity and I was just going to the gym to have fun.”

Little did she realise quite how much fun she would have. Nor did she realise just how talented she was, but that soon became evident when she kicked herself into contention as one of the best in the world; National Championships, European Championships and World Championships were among her accolades, she really did have the world at her feet.

“I never thought it would take me to where I am now and shape me into the person I have become. I always looked at athletes differently and a few years ago I realised that I’m an athlete too!”

In search of a personal transition and a bigger challenge, Marija like many kickboxers, made the switch to boxing. “It was one idea that I wanted to make happen. When stepping into boxing I saw that the challenge was bigger and it’s a totally different sport and that’s what made me stick to it. I wanted to see how far I could go.”

Following Marija into boxing were the strengths she had acquired along the way as a kickboxer, which she insists, were mainly the mental ones. “I knew the feeling of being in the ring, preparation, excitement, winning and losing, making weight, stress and enjoyment, all of which made the transition easier for me.”

The fate of all boxers will be determined by their work ethic and mental strength, both of which Marija has in abundance. There have been many talented fighters who have fallen short of their potential, some down to injuries and bad luck, whilst others don’t have the level of desire to match their level of talent. For Marija, her commitment to boxing has never been in question and neither has her work ethic. From the age of 15 she was working in bars and restaurants during school holidays, whilst a move to Amsterdam saw her balance working in a coffee shop from 9-5 with being a dedicated athlete who was winning belts. She now lives in the UK, working as a personal trainer and boxing coach, alongside her boxing career.

Marija proudly states, “I’ve worked my ass off my whole life and I think that has helped me realise that without work there is no success. I’ve always had to work for what I want and I’m so happy that I have.”

Determination, fighting spirit and believing in her instinct, are what Marija labels ‘her biggest strengths’. Instinct has taken Marija around the world alone with nothing else but a backpack in hand, taking a risk with an aim to conquer. Her determination, on the other hand has made what might sound like ‘baffling ideas’, a reality, she explains.

“It took time for me to realise that anything is possible and from the moment I realised that, I found the power and courage to make my ideas a reality. I’ve lived in Paris, Amsterdam, Thailand, London and recently Dublin. When I get an idea, I think about it and feed it until I decide that I’m going do it. I didn’t need to have connections or lots of money, just the belief that I would find a way and I did but it wasn’t always easy. I did all of this for boxing. I took something from everywhere I went and experienced things I will cherish for the rest of my life. The bravest move I made was taking a night bus from Paris to Amsterdam, with a few hundred euros in cash, a backpack and a dream. I’ll never forget when I arrived there in the morning; I stood on the street and asked myself, “Now what?” But I waited for an internet café to open and found a hostel, went to Vos gym and introduced myself.”

Marija’s recent trip to Dublin was inspired by her dream to train with Pete Taylor, the father of Katie, who many regard as the greatest female boxer in the world right now.

“Pete Taylor is one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever met. Whilst there was lockdown in the UK, I found some online classes with Pete before travelling to Dublin. The hospitality, help in general, the unconditional and passionate sharing of boxing knowledge was nothing I could ever have imagined. I’ve learned so much from the technique to the training itself. He showed me that my potential is big and he has taken me to the next level.”

Mike Tyson may be her hero but for Marija she insists, “You cannot emulate Mike Tyson because there is only one of him, just like there is only one of me. I’m not trying to emulate anyone, but I am trying to take a little something from certain boxers I like, to create my own style which is a never ending process.”

Boxing has given Marija the confidence that she can become good in anything she pursues, although ironically, she admits to being scared of anything but boxing. But maybe Marija is your blueprint for how to overcome fear?

Chuck a backpack on your shoulder, envisage and then set off on your wildest of dreams. Once you have done that, then maybe you will feel content and fulfilled in life and everything else will be a bonus. At least that’s how it has turned out for Marija.

“The other day my dad told me that his wish is for me to make the Olympics before winning some belts later down the line, as a professional. He wants me to make it as I’ve worked so hard. But I told him, “I’ve already made it” because I truly believe I have. I already feel content and fulfilled, boxing has given me everything, it has shaped me and shown me who I am. Boxing made me be real with myself and confront all my demons, boxing took everything from me but gave me double. Without boxing, I wouldn’t be who I am. That’s the most important thing for me and the rest of my journey I will enjoy and the outcome – whatever God gives.”

Photo Credit – @BabsDaly

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

Joké Amechi And His Pursuit Of The Perfect Picture

He was stabbed 3 times in a college fight that could so easily have cost him his life. But in the times where he was plagued by shadows of doubt, shone through his biggest strength, his superpower…his resilience. Where would he be without it? Truth be told he doesn’t know but he certainly wouldn’t be sitting here today as a counsellor in training, a photographer, a videographer and a newly turned professional boxer. 

This is the story of Joké (Chijioké) Amechi and it’s not for the faint hearted.

“I grew up in Lewisham, south-east London; it has always been a busy borough with various ethnicities and a large urban presence – gangs and homelessness for example. My upbringing was basic but effective, judging by the way I am now. I didn’t grow up with my dad due to him working abroad, so my mum raised me and my siblings. I have two older brothers and one older sister, my mum was always pushing us to do well in education. If I was bad in school, she definitely disciplined me – my two older brothers were very troublesome from what I remember, and well known in gangs I believe. On the other hand, they never encouraged me to follow in their footsteps, but always told me to defend myself no matter what. My eldest brother was arrested and went to prison at a young age, I saw the impact it had on the family, my mum especially. Let’s say that I learned from observation and decided to not go down that path.”

Before Joké crossed paths with boxing, he admits to being a lot more hot headed and having a bad temper, which inevitably played a part in that regretful college fracas. But in spite of the fighting instinct he showed, a career in boxing was not something he considered, so he surprised both himself and his friends when he decided to have a crack at it after watching Mayweather v Pacquaio in 2015, the first fight he ever watched.

“I still find it weird how I stumbled upon boxing, considering that it’s not something I ever imagined doing, let alone professionally. Long story short, a few friends of mine decided to watch Mayweather v Pacquaio back in 2015 and asked if I wanted to watch it too. I had never watched boxing before but had heard the likes of Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr mentioned. During the fight I blurted out to my friends (jokingly) “I can do this.” My friends laughed and joked saying, “It’s not like football,” having grown up playing football at a decent level. After watching the fight I googled local boxing clubs, before buying my own gloves and heading to a club that closed down two weeks after I attended. I then went to my local gym which had a soft bag to punch and I was approached by a guy called Ralph, who asked if I box. I explained my situation and he invited me to Double Jab ABC where he coached at the time. I started out wanting to increase my fitness and the rest is history.”

Joké’s mum was undoubtedly anxious at the thought of her son boxing but at the same time she believed in him, and as time has proven, through the person he has become and the decisions he has made, she had every right to.

“To be honest, I don’t think my mum took me seriously when I told her I was training to compete – but then as I kept training consistently and talked about it, she started believing in me. I don’t think she really opposed to me boxing, she was just fearful from what she had seen on TV, but she has told me that she would not be able to watch me get hit.”

Joké’s decision to box has paid dividends, instilling in him a confidence and self-belief that anything is possible whilst providing a calmness that he was otherwise without.

“I believe I am a lot calmer, it takes more for me to lose my head now. Boxing has instilled me with so much confidence in that it has been the hardest thing I have ever done, physically and mentally, that there is nothing that I cannot do as long as I am consistent.”

He may not have the backing of other fledgling prospects but what he does have is the backing of those around him, who all know they have something special under their wings in Joké. And more importantly he backs himself and as long as you back yourself, anything is possible.

“The weird thing is my first coach noticed my talent way before I noticed the talent in myself. I was just willing to get stuck in and keep improving. Since turning professional and sparring quality prospects, I have noticed my talent more.”

Through the highs and lows of his life journey, Joké has always had one thing on his side; something that has always come calling when he has needed it the most, resilience. It’s a star quality that he has built over time, through embracing setbacks and not allowing himself to be disheartened, something his younger self struggled with. His biggest high has impacted his life, more than anything else ever will, with the exception of a new family addition that is still very much under wraps but certain to be a life changer. “My biggest high in life right now is meeting my fiancée, not to sound cliché but I kept so much to myself growing up man. It eats away at you – Leah (my fiancée) truly made me realise the strength in being vulnerable, and because of this I haven’t been happier, I feel free.”

There have been lows with one still very much present but that’s credit to his high expectations more than anything else. “Let’s just say that my biggest low in life is feeling like I am nowhere near where I should be in life right now. It’s difficult to explain, but this fuels my consistency in boxing, to become a champion in one of the hardest things I have done in my life – boxing.

I want to get a British title, minimum, in boxing. In life, I want to inspire people to not give up on their passions and dreams, to believe in themselves despite age. I think the world has a way of defining success by age, and if we are not a success, or have reached our goals by a certain age then why even try? That is very wrong in my opinion.”

With his quest to inspire people very much on track, thinking back to who played the role model for Joké himself, he admits it’s a question that he can never truly answer.

“Weirdly enough I can never answer it. No disrespect but I don’t think I have ever had a role model however there is a film that inspires me – and that is what a role model should do right, inspire? The film is called, The Pursuit of Happiness and it stars Will Smith. Hopefully, if you have seen it, then you will understand why this film is my ‘role model’.”

A photographer and videographer alongside his boxing, Joké admits there’s not enough time in the day for all his hobbies but with the time he does have, he utilises wisely. “I’ve recently started my own photography business. I genuinely love to read as well, mostly motivational and self-help books, as well as writing spoken word and poetry.”

Two years into his plant based diet and five years into his boxing journey, it’s clear Joké lives a healthy lifestyle. One that will help him grow into the champion, father, husband and role model he is destined to become. Ask any photographer and they will tell you that it’s hard to get the perfect picture.

But tell us Joké; sitting alongside your wife and child, with your health intact and a title strapped around your waist, surely…it can’t get much better than that?

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

Sedem and Her Decision of Great Significance

Life in Peckham was considered tough, particularly in the early 2000’s. But for highly touted amateur boxer Sedem Ama, the Christian values indoctrinated into her household through her Reverend father provided her with an inner peace that brought a sense of calm into what was a very lively neighbourhood.

An Accounts Director by day, for a PR agency, Sedem has lived and continues to live, a rather hectic lifestyle. But through her religion and her newfound love of boxing, a work/life balance has been found, as has a greater purpose that she wants to fulfil, through boxing.

Sedem crossed paths with boxing in what was a spur of the moment decision, made between a colleague and Sedem herself, with the aim being to start some Boxercise classes to relieve stress. Barring a small break from the sport after her colleague left the country and with work picking up, Sedem has not looked back.

“I’ve always been a fan of the sport – my dad would always casually watch fights when I was younger. Fast forward to my twenties, I was working in a very busy and fast moving industry and my colleague suggested that we attend a boxing class to de-stress and let off some steam. It was like a Boxercise class and I loved it immediately. It was a relief to focus on something else outside of work for a couple of hours and I often looked forward to the next session. My friend then left the country and work got so busy again, that I stopped going. Then, in early 2018, I joined GymBox which hosts a wealth of classes – including boxing for novices. I completely fell in love with the sport and kept going.”

In spite of the fact Sedem’s dad is a fan of the sport; seeing his daughter getting punched in the face does not make the viewing enjoyable but he supports her nonetheless, as do the rest of her family. “My family were surprised when I started competing. They thought boxing was just a hobby – and in many ways it was. Although they still aren’t too comfortable with me getting punched in the face, they are supportive and try to come to all of my fights.”

From winning gold medals at various amateur tournaments (Haringey Box Cup, London Development, National Development (Class A) and the England Boxing Development Championships) to sustaining injuries, Sedem’s boxing journey has not come without a setback or two. But whilst injuries have at times pushed Sedem a few steps back, her steely determination has ensured that she looks ahead and never back, ultimately keeping her eyes on the prize. “Life is about adapting. I wouldn’t say the injuries have been low points; they have been more of a learning experience, experiences that have shown me that you can’t take anything for granted – and that it’s important to look after yourself, in terms of recovery, rehabilitation and just general maintenance. Like everyone, we all have doubts, we all have reservations but my innate fortitude and determination is what I pray on as that is what gets you through your most challenging days. My goal is to keep developing both personally and professionally and God willing, I will conquer everything available to me in boxing.”

When facing adversity, Sedem takes inspiration from her role model Serena Williams, whose will to win goes beyond tennis, she has fought many great matches but her biggest fight has been in life, against her doubters, against all the obstacles that have been stood in her way, as a black woman. “I’ve always looked up to Serena Williams. I relate to her because she came from a modest upbringing and worked really hard, dedicating her life to the sport of tennis. I love how she has faced so much adversity as a black woman but still kept pushing to become one of the greatest athletes – male or female.”

Boxing has provided Sedem Ama with a newfound focus and most certainly a challenge. A challenge that will make or break many people along the way but for Sedem, it’s a challenge she relishes and one she continues to rise to.

Sedem has come a long way since that spur or the moment decision, a decision that without a shadow of doubt has proven to be the right one.

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

Inspiring Teens Through His Boxing Dreams – The Life of Amar Kayani

A lot of people say they want ‘titles’ and everything but for me personally, I just want to make a change. I want to look back on my life one day and see that I’ve changed the lives of some troubled kids in my area and their parents too. That will be enough for me. But I do want to become a world champion, I didn’t start boxing just to make money, I want to go all the way and leave my name in the record books.” – Amar Kayani

Amar Kayani is a professional boxer hailing from Slough, England. Known as ‘The Kandy Man’ by his adoring fan base, his life ambitions alone will fill you with admiration. Amar’s foundations have been built through his own trials and tribulations, some avoidable, others not so, but as Amar will tell you, it comes with the territory and “If you want to survive in the area I’m from, you have to know how to fight!”

“Slough is a really rough area where there’s a lot of knife crime and violence. It’s very much eat or be eaten. You have to know how to fight to grow up here.”

A university graduate in Law, Amar knows the rights from the wrongs but that came through learning from his own mistakes, studying and later, boxing.

Before his introduction to boxing, Amar admits to being a bit crazy, a bit off the charts. His weekends at the age of 13/14 would be spent fighting; simply making eye contact with someone at the bus stop would result in an argument and a fight. The regular confrontations came from living in an area where everyone had something to prove.

At a school where bullying was prevalent, Amar’s decision to box was based on the need to survive:

“A lot of parents put their kids into boxing, nurturing them from a young age, wanting to make their kid a champion. For me, I was one of the guys people would try and pick on a little bit so I started boxing from age 14-15, pretty much for survival. I wanted to be the tough guy, not the guy who got picked on, so I wanted to learn how to box. If I didn’t learn how to box, I could have got beaten up by anyone, whether it was those who would try taking money off people or the day to day bullies.

I never started fights but I would never back down from fights either. Growing up was a bad time for me, not in terms of upbringing but in terms of the trouble I would get myself in. Most of my front teeth are fake because they got knocked out when I was at college and when I was at school I would get bruises and cuts to my face.”

The fight in Amar comes from his father Sarfraz Kayani, who was also a boxer. His father moved to the UK at a very young age with nothing, and at a time when racism was even more prevalent. The fight for acceptance has passed through generations and remains a cause for concern today. It subsequently led to both Amar and his brothers taking up combat sport, Amar’s brother Sheraz Kayani turned to taekwondo where he competed at a very high level, whilst Amar chose boxing, first competing at age 14/15, with his other brother now his assistant coach.

You could call it his choice, or you could call it his destiny but his amateur achievements would suggest the latter.

A Home Counties Champion by 21, he followed that up by winning the Class B Development National title a short while later. In 2019 Amar took part in the ABA’s, where he reached the quarter finals before bowing out, which cemented his decision to turn pro. “I only had 30 fights at the time of the ABA’s and we got to the quarter finals. I knocked the guy down with a head shot but got a cut to my eye that led to the fight being stopped. If my eye didn’t get cut and they didn’t stop the fight, I would have won the ABA’s that year, if I’m honest.”

Now 2-0 as a professional boxer, where he campaigns at super-welterweight, it’s fair to say that Amar has taken to the pro game like a duck to water.

“I’ve loved the switch to the pros. I have always been a guy who loves to sit down on my shots, taking my time, manoeuvring, setting shots up, I love my angles too. In the amateurs it’s really rushed with the 3 x 3 minute rounds. The transition has been quite easy for me, it suits my style. People say I’m quite quick, I throw my combinations well. But I’m not going to talk about what I’m good at because that’s for the people to see.”

Amar is not yet the world star that lies within his destiny but within his community, he is already regarded a role model. And that’s thanks to the Kayani Camp which has been set up to guide the kids who are going through what Amar and his family went through growing up.

“I’m running this camp to guide the troubled kids in my community. We live in an area with such a high crime rate, I lost one of my close friends to knife crime a year ago. Kids are getting stabbed and messing about, I want those kids to one day be in the position I am in. I want them to find boxing or be in the gym, not on the streets. I want to go through Slough and not see people standing around the shops smoking cigarettes and sitting by the road. A lot of the kids hide their cigarettes and drugs when they see me because they know what I’m going to say to them.

Boxing teaches people discipline and focus, so I thought you know what I’m going to help these kids. Everyone was asking me if I could teach them how to box. My brother Zhoib Kayani was exactly like me growing up and together we have been guiding these kids and counselling them, since 2016. They might call us in the middle of the night and we will talk to them for an hour. We literally pick them up and drop them off to keep them out of trouble. It was mostly for the community more than boxing but now we have got some really good boxers out of it. God willing we are going to have a proper amateur boxing club early next year.”

As a Muslim boxer, Amar lives with certain values, one being that he will never smoke a cigarette, insisting “When you want something as bad as you want to breathe, you can’t be putting substances into your body.” He explains “I grew up with guys smoking and drinking, I see them now and they look terrible, they are still doing the same thing to this day. When I go out with them and if they try something on me, they will get battered (not like that) but I will give them a talking to. My father has instilled that discipline in me. I know it’s not something people talk about but my father used to batter me if I messed about or went out of line, he’d give me a good hiding. Without him I don’t know where I would have been.”

Kids often ask Amar for advice and he will always be there to give it to them but his advice will always be the same, “It’s not worth it.” He explains, “I get invited down to the mosque to speak to the naughty kids. As I mentioned, my front teeth are all fake (root canals) as a result of the trouble I got into at school so my message to them is “Do you want to have fake teeth in your mouth that you have to replace every couple of years because they get discoloured?”

These kids will speak to me about anything, they might tell me that someone has tried to make them sell drugs or carry knives. I will always look out for them. I’m quite well known in the area now so they can always count on me for help and advice to overcome their problems. Kids don’t like going to the police nowadays they see it as an insult. They want to speak to an older figure who can step in and help sort things out and I will always be that person they can reach out to.”

As each day passes, Amar unlocks the troubled mind-set of another young individual, achieving one of his life goals, in changing another’s life. The key to Amar’s destiny lies within his hands and when it’s found, awaiting will be the title success he has been craving.

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

The Rise of ‘The Devil Child’ – Louise Orton

She was a teenage tearaway whose life was heading in the wrong direction, her mum even considered putting her into care at the age of 13 because she could not cope anymore. But as her mum reached her wits end, she reached out for help and through her good friend’s suggestion; she found the answer she was looking for…”Louise, why don’t you try kickboxing?”

And the rest they say… is history.

Now a professional boxer with her stars aligned, I was joined by Louise Orton herself, as she talked me through her days of being ‘The Devil Child’ and how studying and graduating in Psychology and Criminology, Forensic Psychology and Mental Health Nursing helped her gain a better understanding of herself and her life experiences

“I had a disrupted childhood and experienced things no child should ever have to go through. I was affected psychologically and found it difficult to cope to the point I struggled to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I knew I was troubled and this filled me with anger which made me very wayward and mischievous. Having no regard for anyone, I found myself always getting in trouble at school and with the police. My mum even considered putting me in to care at the age of 13 because she could not cope anymore.

I would describe my younger self as “The Devil Child”. I was an absolute nightmare. I was very boisterous and got pleasure out of being naughty. I was adventurous and pushed boundaries.”

You could be forgiven for thinking that at this point, Louise’s mum was dealt a bad hand but at the same time, just as good can become bad, bad can become good so you need to pursue all avenues, and know that there is good in everyone before succumbing to your last resort.

Like a ticking time bomb, young Louise was both predictable and unpredictable, in that you knew she was going to snap but knowing when was anyone’s guess.

What was clear is that Louise was in need of self-control before causing any further self-destruction. Her mum’s friend’s suggestion for Louise to try kickboxing was very much a shot in the dark but when you look at the lives changed through the combat sport, it was evident it can provide light at the end of the tunnel.

Louise, who licked her lips at the thought of causing trouble, was very keen on the idea of kickboxing. It was a case of now or never and if she did catch the bug, how long would it last?

Like a fish to water, from the moment she stepped through the doors of the kickboxing gym, Louise was in her element. She not only had the opportunity to relieve her inner ferocity, she also had the opportunity to expend her endless energy, all but in a more controlled environment and in a positive way.

Her purpose had been found and brick by brick she rebuilt herself, to the point she has never looked back. She explains, “Kickboxing gave me an opportunity to let off steam and release my pent-up aggression that had consumed me for so long. I felt like I had a purpose and had found something I was good at, it saved me.”

Kickboxing cannot provide the window of opportunities that are available in other sports and it’s for that reason Louise made the transition to boxing when it became a recognised Olympic sport for females in 2009, when she was aged 18. With her feet now on the ground having been given the kick she so badly needed, she has since punched herself into contention as one of the best boxers in the country, claiming the following accolades along the way:

2019 Elite National Lightweight Champion

2019 Southern Counties Lightweight Champion

2019 Voted best boxer at St Marys ABC

2018 Haringey Box Cup Elite Gold Medallist 60kg (In the semi-final I beat Kellie Harrington who is World Lightweight Gold and Silver Medallist, European Games Silver and Gold Medallist, and 8 x National Champion. In the final I beat Alanna Murphey who is a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist).

2018 Haringey Box Cup Best Female Boxer

2018 TASS Scholarship Athlete

2017 Elite National Lightweight Finalist

2017 Southern Counties Lightweight Champion

2016 Elite National Lightweight Finalist

2016 Southern Counties Lightweight Champion

2016 Three Nations Lightweight Silver Medallist

2014 Development National Lightweight Champion

2014 Southern Counties Lightweight Champion

2012 Haringey Box Cup Elite Gold Medallist 60kg

Louise’s achievements have not come without a setback or two, some setbacks so great she even questioned her future in the sport. But like boxing is for so many, it’s an addiction and a drug you cannot live without.

“I had to pull out of the national championships a few years ago. I was struggling to juggle studying at university, working full time as a mental health nurse, training full time, trying to cut weight, maintaining the upkeep of a home, and maintaining a relationship with my friends and family. I was doing too much and I was struggling to perform at my best in all areas of life. I became physically unwell due to stress and ended up being hospitalised. I did have some time off and the thought did cross my mind as to whether I wanted to go back to boxing, however after a few weeks off, I was back in the gym. It’s like an addiction and it makes me who I am. I am lost without boxing and I love it. I can’t imagine my life without it.”

Much to Louise’s credit she has turned her life around. A far cry from the loose cannon of her youth, she’s different now. She has her goals set in stone and her final destination in sight. Her eyes are fixated on the mountain top, it has been quite a climb, it remains quite a climb but she’s no longer slipping.

“My aim is to become a world champion in multiple weight divisions and I would love the opportunity to box in Vegas. After boxing I would like to start a family with my boyfriend. We have spoken about setting up our own boxing gym as well however I am focusing more on the present rather than the future at the moment. But I would like to give back to boxing and would like to merge it with my day job as a mental health nurse working in the prison system, so I have also considered setting up an organisation for boxing and mental health.”

This is Louise Orton; once a lost cause.

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

Hoping to Become a Hero for Haiti – An Interview with Kathreen Sterling

Representing your country at the Olympic Games is the dream for many young kids. But only for a select few will it become a reality.

For Kathreen Sterling, overcoming the odds is nothing new and for that reason you would be foolish to bet against her, as she vies to become Haiti’s first female Olympic boxer.

Society has done its best to throw Kathreen off course, failing to accept her for the colour of her skin, failing to accept her as a female in a male dominated sport. But what does society know about Kathreen, does society know she was born a fighter?

Kathreen was born in Queens, New York and raised in the neighbourhood of Olney, Philadelphia, under the wings of her Haitian parents, both of whom worked hard to make ends meet. “Olney, Philadelphia wasn’t the safest neighbourhood but my parents did whatever they could to shelter me and my siblings from the outside. They raised us strictly, like typical Haitian parents; my father being the stiff-hearted provider and my mum being an emotional buffer for my dad. They worked modest jobs and made sure we never went hungry, but bills were chased after, to the point utilities were cut off.”

Academically, Kathreen ticked all the boxes, a Batchelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design, sits proudly beneath her name, on a CV that has more chance of being updated than being outdated, thanks to her lofty ambitions.

Before boxing entered the fray, Kathreen worked an office job that sent her on a downward spiral, as a result of its dead end nature and the unsavoury racist remarks, she would hear all too often. With racism still prevalent in today’s society, it’s saddening to hear of Kathreen’s experiences but with her fighting heart, she gives us hope that things will change. “I have always known black people matter but there have been many forces in this world to try and convince me otherwise. I experienced being the only black person working in an office some years back; I could feel the disregard for my dignity from a few of the clients. I remember being treated as a walking museum at work and hearing the uncouth comments made in my presence, or to my face. Personal accounts are not meant to deflate the reality of systemic racism and the resulting impact of anti-black sentiments around the world.”

In her moments of despair, came her saving grace…boxing.

It was February 2016 when Kathreen stepped foot into her first boxing gym, in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. Crippled by her social anxiety, lack of self-confidence and self-possession, it was going to take more than a punch of the pads to lift her from the canvas that the racist derogatory put her on. “I knew that learning something new could help me reset my mind after work. I wouldn’t say I loved boxing at first but I trusted that I needed it at the time.”

From the canvas, she rose, her feelings subsided and her mind reset, through boxing. “Boxing was the start of comprehensive unlearning in my life”, Kathreen explains. “It was a new education for me, instead of accommodating people like I was raised to do; I was praised when not conceding any part of myself in the ring. The single difference affected other important areas of my life. Boxing is still doing a number on me, beyond the physical level.”

Boxing is a sport where perfection is sought for but it can never be found. For Kathreen, it’s the challenge of the unsolved jigsaw that gives her the bit between her teeth and the hunger to succeed. Her first sparring session may have been frustrating but she now understands that only through mistakes can you learn to overcome. She is now building as a fighter and as a person, piece by piece. “My first time sparring was with a taller boy. He was only allowed to stand in one spot and throw his jab. It was very disorientating trying to make sense of how to put all the fundamentals together whilst getting my forehead tagged at the same time. I recall throwing messy punches to the boy’s torso and my trainer was getting frustrated with my lack of defense. Afterwards, I was disappointed in not being able to make sense of what to do in the ring that time, but I also knew it was just another puzzle to solve along the way.”

Being a female, there were further obstacles lying in Kathreen’s path to success, challenges she shouldn’t have to face but that’s society for you and unfortunately stereotypes are a big part of it. The values passed on by her mother and father insist that she must fight for everything and even with eyes brows raised and odds stacked against her, she stays true to those values today. My mother always said, “Never settle for less”; my father once said “If somebody hits you hit them back”. I obviously follow the latter advice with discretion!”

Kathreen explains the hardships she has faced as a female boxer but one thing remains clear, she will not be denied. “I can’t even count the amount of times I was the only woman in the gym training when I started out. I had to explicitly tell my first ever trainer that I wanted to learn boxing from him and I worked harder than most of the guys around me… I wasn’t interested in any other dynamic with him. I wasn’t taken seriously in too many situations to name (even by other women). To this day I still feel that even as big as my goals are, I encounter people who don’t take me seriously as a competing boxer. I can’t allow that to negate the work I put in to excel at this craft”

By the end of her first full year competing Kathreen knew that she had promise in the sport when she ended her first competition 3rd in the USA, for her weight class. She explains, “I had grown exponentially as far as my skill set was concerned despite the ground I knew I’d have to cover in experience.”

Kathreen has since made the decision to compete for Haiti, “that decision was pivotal to me”, she explains. “Making the final decision to compete for Haiti was pivotal for me because I had to take on a higher level of seriousness as a competitor to represent a nation. I was extremely proud to connect to my Haitian heritage in such a visceral way.”

Now boxing under the Haitian flag, Kathreen wants to solidify her place in the boxing history books as the first ever female boxer to represent Haiti at the Olympics. As a professional she wants to hold major world titles in multiple weight divisions which would be history making for a female fighter of Haitian descent. And outside of the ring, she maintains her potential will be fulfilled if she majorly improves the quality of life for the Haitians, living in Haiti.

Her strength of character is there for all to see, Kathreen is now looking forward to showcasing her strengths as a boxer too, hopefully on the biggest stage of them all, at the Olympic Games. “My biggest assets would be…a combination of my quickness, unexpected strength, and vision which affects my thinking in the ring. I’m a boxer-puncher. I like to use fluid and elusive footwork, but I’ll bang when I have to or when the opportunity presents itself. I enjoy seeing what someone will let me get away with in the ring and that’s what makes me fun to watch!”

As Kathreen chases her dreams, she is keen to share one final message that will keep you pursuing yours.  “Don’t fear making mistakes. All my mistakes have made me who I am today. My future mistakes will continue to shape me as much as my success will.”

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

Annamaria Cordella – A Recipe for Success

Women’s boxing has come to the fore of late with Matchroom Boxing a key ingredient behind its growing success. Female fighters are on the lips of the hard cores who were previously unaccepting but with their heads now turned, these strong independent women are finally getting the recognition and opportunities they rightfully deserve. There’s an array of hungry fighters coming through and one of them goes by the name of Annamaria Cordella, an Italian amateur who sits among the hunting pack.

Annamaria is another fine example of how boxing can change lives. From a troubled relationship, to low self-esteem; her independence has taken her on paths both right and wrong, but she fights each battle alone and for each one she overcomes, she can proudly boast one thing…that she did it her way.

She grew up in a small city in the South of Italy; a city she felt was too small for her. She explains, “I knew that I was waiting for something bigger but I didn’t know what it was or when it would come.” When London came calling 4 years ago, it answered all her prayers but getting there was anything but easy.

Before life started taking shape for Annamaria, she had a fight on her hands; she had to face the hardships of life.

“My parents divorced when I was 10 so my mum was always working to provide for us. I ended up in a toxic relationship from 14-17 and after leaving it, I made some bad life choices. Smoking, drinking and sometimes mixing with the wrong people but I did enjoy life.”

Looking back, Annamaria has some words of advice that she would give to her younger self who, she admits, was too naïve. “I should have put myself first and done whatever I could for others after that. I would make everyone happy, apart from myself. I would like to have learnt how and when to say no. And most of all I would like to have found that inner peace that I was looking for in someone else. We girls/women don’t need a man. My culture makes me think the opposite. But I’m my man now!”

Now living in a big city and chasing even bigger dreams, Annamaria has found comfort and purpose, through an unlikely source in boxing.

When she stepped foot into a London gym that very first time, her intentions were to keep fit, never to punch anyone nor to get punched herself. She hired a personal trainer for box fit sessions and used the punch bag as a stress reliever; there was nothing more to it, or at least that’s what she thought. But the gym later became a home away from home as it does for so many, whilst boxing took another lost soul, gave her direction and changed her way of life.

Reflecting on those changes, she admits, “I used to be extremely impatient, upset and stressed all the time. I had zero control of myself. I was still very friendly and smiley but something deep inside was boiling and with the smallest crumb I would get emotional. I was also complaining a lot, about almost everything.”

“My senior coaches at the Afewee Boxing Club in Brixton, Georges N-Katalay and Simon Stacks are really strict and they have instilled in me, a great discipline. I had to forget about complaining. My main coach Paul Santamaria, has been teaching me how to stay calm and collected, it’s a long process but the improvements are crazy. In my everyday life now, I can breathe, that boiling feeling is now calm water. If I get stressed or upset, it lasts for little time and I just get on with life. I see it like this, it’s like getting punched, I can’t get upset about it because I need to keep going if I don’t want to get punched more. ”

It was the opportunity to spar that lit the Italian’s spark for boxing. She recites, “One day I was on my own working away at the bag when a skinny guy asked if I’d like to do some sparring. He explained to me what it was and I said yes. I honestly loved it. From that moment I felt that I needed to find a coach and have a fight. And here I am 2 and a half years later, having gone through one white collar fight and three amateur fights with my coach, Paul.”

Before having her first white collar fight, Annamaria had never watched a fight before, only Rocky which caused her confusion when the fight was waved off, before her hand was raised in victory. She recalls, “When I had my first fight, the referee kept stopping me from punching my opponent and the third time he said that the fight was over. I remember being so upset, I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t understand what was happening. Even if my coach had told me that I’d won, I had way too much adrenaline to have heard him.”

In some cases, half the battle to becoming a boxer is getting the nod from your loved ones. For Annamaria, it was never in question whether they were sceptical or not. “My family are always supportive of me, with every decision I make. Also, they don’t have a choice because I’m stubborn and I’ll do what I need to do for myself. My grandparents are very old school and they are trying to change my mind about fighting. They think it’s dangerous and want me to do the training without competition. But what’s the point of training and pushing myself to the limit, if I can’t compete?

Annamaria is highly regarded by those who train her and their praise and hopes for the young Italian have confirmed to her that boxing is the career path she wants to pursue. “My first coach made me realise that I was actually good at boxing, he would often tell me how good I was.  He really believed in me and that helped my self-esteem, something I still struggle with today. My second coach and Georges have seen and believe in my potential too.”

Annamaria insists that boxing is the most challenging sport she has ever taken part in, listing her two amateur victories as the proudest moments in her career to date. But after her third fight ended in defeat, she questioned everything in her life. “I took the loss badly; I questioned everything in my life because I felt that I was doing something wrong. My fitness was great but my mind wasn’t there, I had to work my way up and get stronger. My life is like a rollercoaster, I get down quite often but I will always pick myself up and go higher than I was before.”  

To succeed in the sport of boxing, you need to be a certain type of individual. Hard work and dedication is a must but equally is the ability to listen and taken on any advice given to you. For those considering a career in the sport, here’s Annamaria’s advice to you. “Keep an open mind. Have no expectations and always be the student. Stay humble and push through the challenges. Commitment and discipline are the keys to succeed, put in the work and you’ll see the results. Be ready to sacrifice and lastly, forget about perfection.”

Annamaria thrives on being independent; it’s one of her biggest assets along with the sheer determination she displays in her everyday life. You can picture her beaming smile, when she says to me, “I made it”, referring to her times of struggle which she fought through to get to where she is today.

She will only take in what she believes is positive to improve her persona; a strong and independent woman is who she is and what she will continue to be. For that reason, she doesn’t really have any role models however she admires the likes of Mayweather and Katie Taylor for what they have achieved in life through boxing. But she insists that her best qualities come from her family, her little brother, her mum and her dad.

The Italian fighter is very much your gym rat; she works in it, trains in it and basically lives in it. In her spare time she likes to swim, shadowbox underwater, do zumba, squash, anything that is different and fun but at the time a way of developing as a fighter.

If her hard work, dedication and determination match that of her weighty ambitions, then in Annamaria, boxing has found a star.

“I’m working with the aim to go professional. I’ve got my eyes on all four belts. I would love to one day have my own boxing gym, teach everything I can to anyone who is willing to learn. I can’t wait to invest some of the money that I make as a professional, into charity. I’d like to settle down, have a family, buy a house by the sea and….dream about driving a Lamborghini.”

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

Q & A with Nicola Hopewell

Nicola Hopewell (29) from Worksop, England is a space planning manager by day and a professional boxer by night.

She danced her way into the limelight from the age of 4-16, winning various trophies and medals in the process and although the world remains at her feet it’s her fists that hold the key to her future now.

In an exclusive interview with the ‘Hurricane’ herself, we discussed her route into boxing, her personality, assets and her lifetime bucket list!

Can you take me back to your childhood and give me an insight into your upbringing?

NH – I am an only child and have lived with my mum and dad. I started dancing at the age of 4-16 winning various trophies and medals. I was always quite athletic and in the school teams for athletics, cross country, hockey, football and netball. I’ve always enjoyed spending time with my family, going on holidays and having days out.

When and how did your journey into boxing begin?

NH – I started going to the gym for a fitness class with my friend Jen, who is the wife of my head coach, Chris. After I had done a few sessions I loved it and started going to more sessions before learning how to box. I was soon attending the gym 5-6 times a week; I had my medical and boxed on our home show in October 2014, as the gyms first female amateur boxer.

Take me through the emotions you felt when sparring for the first time, from stepping through the ropes, getting hit, to hitting someone else?

NH – It was a long time ago but I remember being very nervous and cautious, as I was sparring lads at a similar weight to me. I sparred Nicola Adams 2 years ago knowing she had won 2 gold Olympic medals before turning professional, I was very nervous but once I was in the ring I was fine.

How did those closest to you react when you told them you wanted to become a boxer?

NH – My mum said to me, “Are you sure you want to do that?” Whereas my dad thought it was a great idea and wanted me to start competing. My mum came to my first fight and was very nervous before I stopped my opponent in the 3^rd round. My closest friend Phoebe loves the fact I box.

At what point did you realise you could make something out of boxing, was it something you saw in yourself or something someone saw in you?

NH – My head coach Chris saw something in me and I just kept progressing. I started competing in more of the club shows and was taking part in development championships which I won. I have won many box cups around the country and in Ireland I won the best overseas boxer. I also competed in the elite championships against some of the top level fighters in the country. I didn’t win but I got to the finals before losing to GB’s Lisa Whiteside and Tori Willets, but I can’t complain because I learnt a lot from those fights.

When I started boxing the same people over and over again and  was struggling for fights, Chris and I had a conversation about turning professional, he saw something to suggest I could achieve something in the pro ranks.

How would you best describe the person you were before boxing to the person you are now, has boxing changed you?

NH – I don’t think it has changed me, not as a person. I am quite a shy person but am always happy and cheerful. I would say the only changes have been to do with my lifestyle e.g. watching what I eat and drink and being more disciplined in going to the gym every night.

 Do you have any role models that you aspire to be like and what have you learnt from them?

NH – My role model when I started boxing was Nicola Adams. I think Nicola and Katie Taylor have opened up doors for female boxers. I hope to inspire younger girls to take up the sport as well, we have a few at our gym which I hope follow in my footsteps through the amateurs and into professional ranks.

What do you consider to be your greatest asset as a boxer and how would you best describe your fighting style?

NH – I’m a front foot boxer and it’s definitely my greatest asset. I throw bundles of punches so my opponents don’t know what to do with them. These bundles ended my first pro fight in round 2 and my 2nd fight in the 1st round.

Can you take me through what you consider to be your biggest achievements as an amateur?

NH – My biggest achievement as an amateur was winning my belts! I have 3 belts at flyweight, the East Midlands, Central England and the Esker Best Overseas boxer.

As a professional, what do you feel you need to achieve to fulfil your potential?

NH – As a professional boxer I want to box for titles and belts and as Worksop 1st female professional boxer I want to put Boyle’s Pro Boxing and Worksop on the map.

You have a job alongside boxing, what does your job role involve and did you have any other jobs prior to this?

NH – I am a space planning assistant manager which requires me to work 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday. When in camp I try to use my lunch to do some training, my job is computer based so it is nice to get up and about. Before this job I worked in a store for the same company.

What’s on your lifetime bucket list alongside your boxing goals?

NH – I’m quite laid back so I take each day as it comes. If I get an opportunity I will take it, a few years ago I had chance to go to Australia having newer flown but I went on a plane for 20 hours having never flown before.

You are giving advice to someone wanting to be the next Nicola Hopewell, what’s one thing you have done that you would tell them not to do and what’s something you do, that you would encourage them to keep on doing?

NH – I was quite late starting the sport at 23, I would advise anyone if it’s something they want to do, give it a go. It doesn’t matter how old you are. But don’t wait, just do it.

I have a very determined mind-set and if I want to achieve something I will keep going until I’ve achieved it. My advice would be to keep a clear and determined mind-set in order to keep achieving. My big heart and motivation is a key part of me as a boxer.

Nicola would like to thank Boyle’s Pro Boxing and head coach, Chris Boyle. She would also like to thank her sponsors, KC Sofa’s, South Anston Post Office and her new sponsor, Round One Boxing.

Nicola’s friend Phoebe wanted to close the interview with some kind words for one of the closest and best friends she has ever had:

“I’ve only known Nicola for the past 2 and half years. The 1st boxing fight that I watched in person was back in her home town in Worksop about 18 months ago. This was a time that made me realise how amazing she is and that she really is a hurricane!! When she won her pro debut, and then her 2nd pro fight a couple of weeks ago I was so proud of her. She amazes me with the amount of training and clean eating that she does (although the odd egg custard and meal out is definitely deserved). I hope she never gives up, keeps her head high with whatever the outcomes of her fights are and long may she continue to be one of the closest friends I’ve ever had!”

PHOTO CREDIT -@srmillerphotography

***INTERVIEW BY BEN WHITE***

“There is no one that can come to me and say, “Zolani, boxing is not good for you.”

Mdantsane, South Africa was once the home of many blood hungry criminals, whose quest for town power saw many innocent lives taken at their very hands. The high level of unemployment, a driving force behind its poverty stricken streets and the never ending gunshots would leave residents trembling with fear.

Located at the heart of the troubled town were the Tete family, who lived in a small four-roomed house that accommodated up to 12 people. Regular churchgoers, every day was considered a blessing because they were surviving, some days on nothing but incredible willpower. Food was scarce, expectations were low but they always held hope.

On 8^th March 1988, their lives changed forever. On that day, a star was born, ‘The Last Born’…Zolani Tete…their saving grace.

From the mansion he now proudly owns, former two-weight world champion Zolani Tete passionately delivers the story that has inspired a nation, taking me back to where it all began:

“I grew up in a very, very tough area, where there were lots of criminals running around, gun shots being fired and people being killed regularly. I don’t want to lie, if it wasn’t for boxing I would probably be like some of the friends I grew up with who are nobodies now. They stand on street corners asking people for 2 rand. My friends didn’t choose to be on street corners, they are struggling to support their families.”

Those early years of struggle were what motivated Zolani to fight for a better life and a better life he found, for himself and his family… through boxing:

“There were days we would hardly eat; we would wait for my mother to bring porridge to my younger nephew. If my nephew didn’t eat all his porridge, she would give it to us to share. My aim has always been to support my family; I know the struggles my parents went through to raise us as children. I wanted to make sure that they wouldn’t continue to struggle raising us.”

Zolani took up boxing having been encouraged to pursue a career in sport by his parents. His father was happy for him but his mum was very worried at the thought of him getting knocked out. “When you enter the sport of boxing, there’s that perspective that when you retire you will go mad and my mum was very worried about me getting hit in the head all the time as well.”

“But I saw something in myself from the way I boxed at the age of 9 and I thought, “You know what? If I can do what I’m doing now at 9 years old, I could be achieving what others boxers are achieving today. Why can’t I continue to do this?” I saw that boxing was taking people from nowhere to a place they thought they would never be. Those people were able to support their families and that’s when I started believing.”

After a commendable amateur career which boasted of 400 fights and only 3 defeats, Zolani continues to be a formidable force, but now as a professional. Knockouts aplenty, his highlight reels compliment the belief he had in himself. His rag to riches story has inspired a nation, the humility he shows makes him even more endearing. What’s not to love about Zolani Tete?

“I wanted to make sure that one day I would live in a mansion because I’ve worked so hard to get here. Alongside my mansion, I have bought another house that I rent out. I’ve bought two cars, one for myself and one for my wife. I’ve got to where I have now through boxing, nothing else. I bought two cars, through boxing; I bought the mansion through boxing, I bought my mum a prosthetic leg through boxing. There is no one that can come to me and say, “Zolani, boxing is not good for you.” That person doesn’t know where boxing took me from… I was struggling…struggling!”  Boxing has given me the opportunity to bring food to the table for me and my family.”

Tete will never forget the values passed on to him from his parents; values he will always be grateful for.

“My parents instilled in me that I can never live happily if the person next to me is not eating. I must share what I have with the other person and never forget where I come from. I came from a struggling but humble family. A family where we put God first and everything else will fall after God. I can never forget who took me from nowhere and put me where I am. There are lots of people I could thank for my career because where I am now is because of the hands of those who were there to support me. They made sure I reached wherever I wanted to go and achieved whatever I wanted to achieve. I always tell them, “It’s because of you I’m here today. It’s because of you, I’m driving a Mercedes Benz, it’s because of you I own a mansion.” I will always carry those people in my heart. Boxing was my way out of poverty.”

Carrying the hopes of a nation can weigh heavily on Zolani’s shoulders but he knows and his people know that for as long as he believes in himself and for as long as they believe in him, anything is possible. Before every fight, Zolani’s team sing a song, ‘Zolani Tete, please lead us’. Leading his team and leading his country is something he will continue to do. Everything he does, everything he achieves, is for them.

You can picture him beaming with pride at he proudly says his closing words , “You won’t believe it but even after losing my title to Casimero, they still call me Champ. They say “Champ, we’ll always believe in you.” One thing I say to those people is that I will be a champion again, if you believe and I believe then it will come true.”

Photo Credit – Frank Warren

Interview by Ben White