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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