East London has a rich history of producing some of the finest fighters to have ever graced the boxing ring and become champions of the world. From the heavyweight division’s last undisputed champion, Lennox Lewis who was born in West Ham to former middleweight and super middleweight champion Nigel Benn ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Of Ilford. To Canning Town’s Anthony Yarde and current WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie from Hackney.
Who Will Be The Next Star?
There are hundreds of amateur fighters trying to be the next British, European and World Champion at a weight division that suits them best. I spoke to one of East London’s top prospects Beni Mondua, 21 from Ilford about his journey and ambitions in the sport of boxing.
Sitting down with Beni at the gym, ‘BoxUp’ that he attend in Ilford, East London I asked him “What made you get into Boxing?”.
“I had a lot of anger issues when I was younger, and I always got into fights, so I just went boxing one day and I haven’t left the gym since”, Mondua replied with increased passion towards the end of his sentence. Beni has been boxing since the age of 12 and has represented England at junior ranks, he is currently a national champion.
Beni gave me the opportunity to have a look around the ‘BoxUp gym’ where he has been training since his mid teens. On my journey through the gym I noticed how dedicated the small groups and the disciplined the individual boxers were. Honing in on an enjoyable craft putting their energy into something positive, rather than being out on the streets getting into trouble.
Discipline
“Do you think Boxing can help young people in East London to channel their anger and use it to better themselves?”, was my question to Beni after my tour.
“Yeah, I do, but boxing is not just for young people. I think anyone can walk into this gym and work hard and better themselves! Boxing to me, isn’t about just punching someone its being disciplined and using that discipline in every aspect of life”.
Aim
Lastly I asked Beni, “Where you see yourself in five years’ time?”
Beni said “World Champion. I’m not training as hard as I do just to set myself limits, I believe if I put my mind to it, I can achieve anything even if no one else believes in me I won’t doubt myself”.
