21/08/2020 – On 15th August we received the devastating news of the passing of our much loved London Academy Head Boxing Coach, Sam Bezzina. An extremely talented coach with a cheeky, fun loving personality, Sam led our boxing team over the past two years with skill beyond his 26 years, playing a key role in the development of many of our members, both as boxers and confident, resilient young people. We have lost an exceptional coach, mentor, brother and friend.
Before beginning his coaching career, Sam was himself a talented amateur boxer, representing Ongar, Repton, Newham and West Ham boxing clubs and having great success at schools, junior and youth level, including becoming a UK National Schools Champion.
He was a Games Maker at the 2012 Olympic Games, walking competitors to the ring, and graduated from the University of East London before beginning coaching at West Ham boxing club. Much to our delight, he took up the role of Head Boxing Coach at the Fight for Peace London Academy in 2018.
Over a two year period at Fight for Peace, Sam had a big impact, leading the development of our young boxers, creating an extremely popular junior boxing session and helping produce a London regional and UK national champion – the latter being the first in our history.
While we will remember Sam as an energetic joker and someone who loved to laugh and have fun, he was also extremely compassionate and in tune with the needs of the young people he coached. Never was this more apparent than when he was in his boxers’ corners, providing expert technical advice with a calmness and patience that instilled confidence, belief and trust in those entering the ring.
His empathy meant he was able to understand what his boxers were going through in and out of the ring and this allowed him to support them to move forward, or take a step back, as their situation required.
He was a master in his field at a very young age and we considered it our honour and privilege to have him on our team. His great technical skill and coaching prowess, and his caring and fun loving nature, will be deeply missed by all of us at Fight for Peace. Our young people have lost a powerful role model and excellent coach.
A memorial wall has been created at the Fight for Peace Academy in honour of Sam and we invite anyone wishing to visit, pay their respects or leave a message or memory to please do so on any Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 6pm.
At this most difficult time, we remain focused on ensuring that our young people and staff, particularly those closest to Sam, are supported as we all grieve and come to terms with his loss. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to Sam’s family, friends and loved ones at this desperately sad time.
