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Cindy Ngamba is a perfect role model in boxing

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At its core, boxing is a good sport, full of genuine people. While its unruly nature sometimes leads to confusion and disappointment, there is undeniable beauty beneath all the chaos, connecting fighters and coaches through their shared experiences and incredible stories.

In a boxing gym where egos are left at the door and the only thing left is the constant desire to improve – to hone your skills, these stories will have a profound impact not only on those training in the gym, but on a much wider community.

Cindy Ngamba, a product of the Elite Boxing Gym in Bolton, defeated the number one seed in her weight class on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of the women’s middleweight competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But with a history that goes far beyond her sport, the 26-year-old is fighting for more than just medals. Despite living in Bolton for 15 years, Ngamba has yet to receive a visa or UK citizenship.

What’s more, at the age of 20 she was arrested and sent, along with her brother, to a detention camp in London, where she faced deportation.

With no way of returning to her home country of Cameroon, where sexual orientation can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, Ngamba remains determined to stay in the UK but knows her whole world could change at any moment.

“Cindy is the perfect role model for our gym,” said Alex Matvienko, former professional boxer and owner of Elite Boxing. “When people have a bad day, they look at Cindy’s story and think they’re living through Cinderella compared to her.

“Cindy went through some really traumatic times where if someone doesn’t mold you, they’ll break you – but she’s bulletproof.

“The immigration office might knock on her door [authorities]who might decide to send her home. She is an inspiration.”

Ngamba is representing the refugee Olympic team during a training session with the British national team in the French capital. Now she has a chance to become the first medalist in her team’s history.

Despite it being her Summer Games debut, the decorated amateur was given the prestigious opportunity to carry the flag at the opening ceremony, leading her 36-person team down the Seine.

“Most people would crack under pressure, but Cindy thrives under those conditions,” Matvienko added.

“When I saw him fight the best – Savannah [Marshall]Tasha [Jonas]Chantelle [Cameron] “I just knew she was special, and I saw her confidence grow over the years.

“Everybody loves Cindy; she lights up a room. She has a lot on her shoulders, but I feel like she was made for moments like this.”

In many ways, Ngamba’s openness to sharing his story is something that is being widely promoted at Elite Boxing, as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic when Matvienko created a community hub above his gym to provide a space for people to talk about their mental health struggles.

The support group at the gym is called Ricky’s Club, named after a competitive boxing trainer who committed suicide about a decade ago.

“I knew I had to do something for anyone struggling with their mental health,” Matvienko said. “Some weeks, we can have as many as 600 people come through our doors, so here’s a place where they can socialize, listen, and support each other.

“Boxing is linked to men’s mental health – you feel like you’re falling and then you get back up.

“I call it taking out the trash – it’s like emptying the trash can – and people tell me the gym saved their life.

“Ricky has had such a huge impact on so many lives. I have all these men who come in and tell me how they feel on a scale of one to 10. Some guys come in and say, ‘Today I’m a one; I’m suicidal.’ And then 12 months later they say, ‘I feel like a nine or a 10.’ There’s no better feeling.”

As a multi-faceted fitness club with a sturdy focus on making a difference in the lives of the local community, Elite Boxing relies on the support of around 30 volunteers who selflessly give of their time to make a real difference.

However, like any boxing club owner, Matvienko constantly struggles with securing financing; that is why Elite Boxing recently gained charitable status. The same decision has been made by many gym owners across the country.

“Being a restricted liability company was my Achilles heel because it prevented me from raising funds,” Matvienko said.

“Now the gym is CIC [Charitable Incorporated Company]which opened many more doors.

“But still, when you have a former boxer like me writing offers, [to request more funding]there will always be barriers. And my employees, while they can teach you how to roll with the punches, aren’t the best pitch writers either.”

It is demanding to accept that boxing, despite having a positive impact, especially on the younger generation, has always been one of the most underfunded sports in the country.

Yet there are athletes like Ngamba who, despite the odds, continue to shine at the highest level, and their story – one that can certainly be defined by Olympic glory – shows once again why boxing is a special sport.

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Boxing

Tyson’s conqueror, Danny Williams, was “never considered” for Morrison

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Kenzie Morrison Danny Williams

World Boxing News has learned that Danny Williams was never considered for a fight against Tommy Morrison’s son Kenzie on November 9.

WBN has learned from a source that Williams was scheduled to face Morrison next month when he returns to action at Firelake Arena in Shawnee. However, promoter Tony Holden confirmed what WBN initially reported, namely that Williams had been offered for the fight.

BoxRec also briefly placed Williams within Morrison’s record on November 9, before removing the former British champion. Williams famously knocked out Mike Tyson in 2004, but has since lived off his victory despite losing his British license more than a decade ago.

Holden, who represents Morrison and is looking for an opponent for the competition in three weeks, explained the situation exclusively to WBN.

“I never confirmed William’s story and I never considered him,” Holden said. “I said no when a local promoter suggested it.”

Williams, 51, last fought in August 202, losing for the 33rd time in his career. With 88 professional fights under his belt, Williams seems unable to turn down a payday despite his advanced age.

Morrison, a power puncher who has stopped 19 of his 21 wins, will look for his next conquest elsewhere. The fight with Mike Balogun remains on the table for 2025 after it was postponed from its original October date.

Balogun, who knocked out Kenzi’s brother Trey in the first round, claimed Morrison was pulled from the fight to spare him the loss.

Holden denies this view.

“Even though this post isn’t up to my standards, I’m going to write it anyway. Mike Balogun falsely claimed that I pulled Kenzie Morrison out of the fight because I was afraid he would lose. Please allow me to correct you, Mr. Balogun,” he stated.

“The decision was not made by Kenzie. Let’s raise the stakes and make it fascinating. If you emerge victorious this month, Kenzie will fight in November.

“We may decide this early next year. If your confidence remains unshaken, we can place a significant bet. Watch Kenzie take revenge on her brother and end your career.

Balogun, a former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, responded to Holden by increasing his salary for a potential collision next year.

“No matter how fair and honorable your decision was, just remember that ‘yesterday’s price is not today’s price,’” said the 2010 undrafted pick.

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Andrew Moloney is confident that if given the chance, he would have beaten Phumelele Cafu and Kosei Tanaka

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Andrew Moloney (left) attacks Pedro Guevara – photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Few people were more disappointed than Andrew Moloney when Kosei Tanaka lost his WBO super flyweight belt to Phumelele Cafu at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Monday night.

The 33-year-old Australian veteran was hoping to get a shot at beating Tanaka in the lucrative Japanese market.

Those dreams were dashed when South Africa’s Cafu delivered the performance of his life, knocking out Tanaka in the fifth round and finishing the fight strongly, beating the four-weight world champion by split decision.

“The plan was to target the WBO and really chase the Tanaka fight, but it all fell apart on Monday night,” Moloney (26-4-1NC, 16 KO) told The Ring. “I think the WBO is probably still the direction we go, but I’m not sure if they have a rematch clause or if Tanaka will take it. But after watching the fight yesterday, I would be really confident that I could fight one of these guys and win. We would like to follow this path.

“I would love to fight Tanaka in Japan as a four-division world champion. He’s definitely someone I’ve looked up to and wanted to fight for a long time.

“Last night was a little hard to watch. The way he performed, I’m more confident than ever that I have what it takes to beat Tanaka.

I assume there will be a rematch and I hope that Tanaka will regain the belt and I will be able to return to the ring and climb the rankings, and maybe this fight will still happen.

Tanaka entered Moloney’s orbit four years ago when he debuted at 115 pounds. Earlier this year, it looked like they were also on a collision course, with Moloney being number one in the WBO rankings. However, when an offer was made for the vacant IBF lightweight title fight between Vasily Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. in May in Perth, Western Australia, Moloney felt he couldn’t turn her down.

This decision ended in disaster. Moloney faced Carlos Cuadras, who withdrew from the fight with a ruptured Achilles tendon and was replaced by Pedro Guevara. Moloney entered the fight with a torn bicep and was largely reduced to boxing with one hand, which circumscribed his punching power.

Still, Moloney felt he did more than enough to win, and was shocked when Guevara was declared the winner by split decision. He was so disappointed that he announced immediately after the fight that he was leaving the ring, but a few days later he withdrew these comments.

It was a breakthrough moment in his career.

“Looking back, it’s a wonderful thing, but watching the Tanaka-Cafu fight made me think that maybe I would do a lot of things if I could turn back time a little bit,” Moloney explained.

“Before my last fight, I was number one in the WBO rankings and I rejected the option of waiting to fight Tanaka. But the opportunity arose to fight Guevara in Australia for the interim WBC title on a major card, and to be candid, I kind of regretted that the Tanaka fight was hanging in the balance, but ultimately we decided to stay busy and take the opportunity to fight in Australia.

“Also, the injury before the fight was another thing I thought about: will I undergo surgery, keep the top spot and wait for Tanaka, but I made the decision to go ahead with the fight with Guevara. Looking back now, maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. And looking at the way Tanaka fought last night, I thought maybe I should have waited. I’m sure I could beat Tanaka and take the belt away from him.

“So I take some consolation, but unfortunately you can’t turn back time.”

It’s been a frustrating year for Moloney, but he’s still hitting the gym and his team is working to get him another fight. The window of opportunity to box again this year is closing quickly, but he still hopes to return to the ring in December, most likely in his native Australia.

“I really hope so,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been working on. I have been training strenuous at the gym for some time, quite a few months. I hope to return before the end of the year.

“At this stage it will probably be December. I’m trying to block something, but so far no luck. I’m still training away as if the fight was to take place in December, the team is currently working on it and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll be able to finish it.

“I just hope we can get out before the end of the year, get back into the winner’s circle and start climbing the rankings again.”

Moloney, who fought at bantamweight for the first three years of his professional career before dropping down to super flyweight, surprisingly, said he would even consider moving up to another weight class given the right opportunity.

“It’s a tough time in the super flyweight division,” said Moloney, the eighth challenger to The Ring’s 115-pound title. “There’s a lot going on and it’s always strenuous to plan which route to take because everything changes so quickly. I’d pick Bam Rodriguez to beat Guevara, then there’s talk of a rematch between Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez on Up-to-date Year’s Eve. And then there’s talk of Bama, if they win, fighting the winner of that game in unification. The WBO seems to me the fastest way to win the title, so that’s the path we will follow.

“We have also rejected for some time the idea of ​​moving up to flyweight and getting crack there. There’s also some engaging scene going on there right now, but it’s still uncertain. I’d probably feel a little better at super flyweight, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Cafu and Tanaka, but like I said, I’d feel comfortable and confident against either of them, so hopefully he can make it it will happen sooner rather than later.”

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Doubts that fuel 19-year-old Benjamin Johnson

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Despite an impressive amateur resume, welterweight Benjamin Johnson of Springdale, Maryland, enters the professional ring with a shoulder injury.

Johnson will face Kevin Pantoja in a four-round fight at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Maryland, promoted by his trainer Lamont Roach Snr’s NoXcuses Promotions. The fight will be broadcast on Saturday on ProBox TV.

Johnson, 1-0 (1 KO), spent just 2:23 in the ring in his professional debut, displaying the quick, aggressive hands that won him multiple national titles. However, 19-year-old Johnson feels an advantage, believing he is being overlooked by his NoXcuses Boxing Gym teammates.

Pantoja, 1-1, 27, has never stopped being a professional – Johnson aims to change that.

“People underestimate me,” Johnson said. “It’s been like that since I was an amateur.”

He added that this underestimation increases his motivation in the gym. Johnson is determined to prove his worth not only to himself, but also to those who doubt him or, worse, don’t recognize him. “I never felt like I was recognized as that guy, so I feel like I’m underappreciated,” Johnson said of his amateur and now professional career.

Johnson sees the fight as a key step in his career, compared to feared forward David Benavidez by some teammates and touted by others as one of the most ready-to-fight prospects in the country.

“I train as much as I can,” Johnson said. “It’s about making a statement. The way you win shows people what you’re capable of, and I’m ready to show my best.

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