Getting ringside with Industry Boxing
When Industry Boxing first contacted us to talk about their ladies only ‘white collar’ events we will admit at first we were a little shocked and a bit concerned, we were also really intrigued.
Who on earth would want to get into a boxing ring we thought? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot of young women do.
Ladies only boxing promises from the start that for those taking part they will get you into incredible shape. They tick all the boxes you might expect, weight loss, physical fitness and improved stamina.
But as we found out and perhaps more importantly, those taking part told us how it improved their confidence, they met new people and made new friends from all walks of life and how the prospect of raising money for breast cancer research spurred them on. And all that before showing friends and family their new skills in the boxing ring.
Preparation is all important, although no experience is needed, the young women who signed up to box in April this year included librarians, solicitors and accountants. Everyone received 10 weeks of professional boxing training to prepare them before they were invited to choose their own nickname and select the music they’d enter to ring to before having the chance to fight for a trophy.
We caught up with 2 young women who took on the challenge
Nicola “The Nickster”, 39 from Teddington, is an ex Physical Training Instructor in the military. She was looking for a new challenge and after hearing about it from a friend decided to give it a try. Of getting into the ring she remembers
We get to know each other so well, the last thing you want to do is hit your new friend… then she punched me and it was game on!
Mounia “Moon” aged 24 from London had for as long as she remembered wanted to box and finally felt she would get her chance after finding the all female event. When the going got tough you think of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, that gave me the motivation I needed. When I signed up I weighed 81 Kilos, by the time I stepped into the ring I was down to 68 Kilos!
So far over 40 young women are have signed up to take part, they describe a brilliant experience, great camaraderie and making lifelong friendships. Those we have spoken to are still training and plan to step into the ring again. So far these formidable women have raised over £15,000 and it’s a great feeling to have them on our side.