Dominance in sport goes beyond the physical; consistent, dedicated training requires mental discipline.

Sport: Boxing
No. of years in sport: 4
Stats: 3-Time National Champion, National Youth Championship – 2016, National Elite Championship – 2017 and National Open Championship – 2018

Ahmed started on his boxing journey when, growing up in the UK without his father’s presence, he felt the need to learn skills to protect his family. He tried boxing, inspired by his older brother who was also a boxer, and he instantly fell in love with the sport.

Ahmed has successfully won the National Championship 3 times so far, and yet the achievement that means most to him is how fighting (in the ring) has helped him get over his fears and deal with issues that were impacting him negatively.

“Fighting saved me. If I don’t get punched, I don’t feel good! We fight, we shout, and then we go have a meal together while limping,” he laughs. “The boxing community is filled with so much energy, I love it.”

He admits that, because many people believe that fighting is an unnecessary sport, he didn’t get much support in the beginning. “Boxing is an aggressive sport, sure, but when I’m in the ring, the last thing I feel is aggression,” he explains. “Instead I feel passion, a burst of energy. Tough beats tough, it’s never anger beats anger.” One of the best things he has learned from the sport is self-control, and he hopes that society starts to see all these values as part of boxing, instead of its perceived violence.

Ahmed trains hard to improve his boxing technique, and his regimen is diverse; it includes dancing and yoga. He certainly feels more physically capable now than when he first started out, and he is grateful for the growing support of those around him. Training with Nettles Nasser, who participated in the previous Mohammed Ali Trophy competition, Ahmed aims to become world champion, and his journey will start in Saudi.

Instagram: ahmed_monshi