There’s a growing buzz around our next Fight for Peace home boxing show in five days. As nerves compete with keen excitement, there is a simmering sense of unrivalled anticipation. Our athletes are eager to meet their opponents, and for two of our junior boxers, Platon Mihalovs and Moheb Latif, it’s their debut bouts .
They’ve trained at Fight for Peace for well over a year, but preparing for their first bout requires further discipline, resilience and confidence. When asked how they felt about the match, both described their excitement, with Platon highlighting its significance as a “stepping stone” to becoming an even better boxer.
For anybody, competing demands both mental and physical strength, but training junior boxers for a debut bout brings its own unique challenges, such as the changes experienced during adolescence. Both athletes are training closely under Coach Nathaniel Hounsihoue, who spoke about the resilience and drive they’ve shown throughout this transition between childhood and adulthood.
Building confidence has also been a huge part of their training, with Moheb commenting on the “moral” support provided by the coaches at Fight for Peace. This has contributed to self-belief, courage, and determination. Our coaches are attuned to developing perseverance in athletes and to supporting this outlook that challenges are a part of growth. As articulated by Nathaniel, it’s about “creating a safe space for the small failures that can really change the way they approach their life outside.”
These skills have also been echoed outside of the ring, where Moheb and Platon jointly mentioned how their “confidence really improved in boxing and outside, in life.” This comment resonates with the foundations of our Life Champions approach which is embodied by all coaches at Fight for Peace. This programme equips coaches with the training, ability and confidence to support young athletes beyond coaching in the sporting context, supporting young people to become champions in sport, and in life.
This also prepares our junior boxers to feel ready for any challenge they may face. While Platon and Moheb are competing on home ground, the atmosphere of the show will be unlike anything they have yet experienced. To prepare for this, Coach Nathaniel described placing the athletes in sparring matches in unfamiliar locations, building comfortability with the unknown, and enhancing adaptability to changing circumstances.
Looking at Platon and Moheb’s journey to their debut bouts is a brilliant reminder of the power of dedication and self assurance. With Coach Nathaniel supporting the physical aspect of training as well as their personal development, both athletes have seen positive changes in and outside of the ring. This spotlights the way sport can be used as a tool for wider development, pushing beyond the confines of the gym, and impacting young people’s lives for the better.
We at Fight for Peace are truly proud of the progress made by Platon, Moheb, our competing athletes, and everyone who participates in our sessions.
Our next home boxing show is on Friday, 23rd May at the Fight for Peace Academy. We’re ready for an inspiring showcase of skill and determination. We’ll see you there.
