Pioneering The Boxing Lifestyle
boxing (noun)
the sport or practice of fighting with the fists.
lifestyle (noun)
the way in which a person lives.
BOXRAW exists to pioneer the boxing lifestyle — enabling the spirit of boxing to live inside and outside the squared ring.

Like many, I got into boxing so I could learn to fight. I was bullied growing up, but at the age of 12, I decided it was time to put a stop to it. That summer, I joined the local amateur club, began to fight back, and the rest was history. Over time, I developed a new perception and understanding of what boxing was. It was more than just ‘the sport or practice of fighting with fists’. It steered me away from a life on the streets and instilled in me the values of discipline, mindfulness, and love. To me, boxing is more to do with ‘the way in which a person lives’. Above all else, boxing is a lifestyle.
In 2017 I founded BOXRAW with a vision to be the reason why the world got into boxing and a mission to pioneer the boxing lifestyle.
This is me. This is BOXRAW…
Principles of the Boxing Lifestyle
Discipline
We’d train 3 times a week, each session starting with a 3k warmup, finishing with ton-ups and stretches. Mondays were sparring; Wednesdays — line work, bags and pads; and Fridays — hill sprints, bags, and weight checks. I didn’t realise it at the time but I was being bred into a life of discipline.
I wasn’t the most talented at the club but early on I figured out that if I consistently worked harder, faster and smarter, I’d dominate in the ring. We were taught to trust the process with a belief that those seemingly inconsequential tasks would make all the difference come fight night. In boxing, you can’t cheat the grind. If you haven’t been putting in the work, you’re going to get found out; and there’s nothing anyone can do for you. The ownership falls on you to be responsible for your own destiny.
I had bad days in sparring, sometimes questioning why I was even doing it. But my coach always reminded me that there was no such thing as failure — only lessons learned. It didn’t matter if I got knocked down because I always had the option to get back up, go back to my corner, reevaluate, and fight on. In this way, boxing mirrors life. The only difference is, in life there are an unlimited and unprecedented number of rounds. That is to say, failure is a choice — merely perception and need not define the journey you’re on.
Mindfulness
My mum hated the thought of me boxing. I was a violent kid growing up and she thought boxing would make me more aggressive. I understood where she was coming from, but I couldn’t stop myself. I loved everything about the sport and learned more about myself when in the ring than anywhere else.
As I grew older, I developed a subtle, yet raw sense of courage. I no longer felt intimidated and instead of reacting with emotions, I was able to control that aggression, carry myself better and rise above situations where anger would usually take over. Empowering in its nature, boxing makes you bigger. When you’re against the ropes you have to stay relaxed when under pressure and keep your confidence. You’re reminded that this isn’t a battle against anyone else, it’s a battle against yourself — it’s You vs You. You must shift a mindset of limitations, to one of potential; then counter, or reposition and attack — and that’s life.
Rather than thinking about the past, or imagining the future, boxing was the only outlet that allowed me to reflect, release and switch off from the outside world. It doesn’t matter if you’re competing, hitting bags, pads, or shadow boxing; boxing makes you mindful. The notion of hitting a moving object, moving your feet, AND protecting yourself at all times, requires focus, like no other. You need moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts, emotions and surrounding environment.
Love
At the age of 18, I got my head boxed off by a kid 2 years my junior. I pranced around the ring with my hands down, taunting him, only to leave with a popped eardrum and the finest slice of humble pie. You can’t play boxing. It trains you to be vicious, relentless and cunning towards anyone you share the ring with. But although confidence is essential, boxing teaches you to act with humility and judge not by appearance, but ability.
From school through to university, I felt like I was never truly accepted. The gym was the only place that gave me an identity based not on where I came from, but where I was headed. It was my second home and the people were my family — they had my back no matter what. The respect, admiration, and love I had for those I trained alongside, sparred and fought was undeniable. We were all on the same journey, just different destinations.
The club brought together cultures from all over the world, all on a mission of self-improvement. We knew what we had to put ourselves through to get what we wanted and knew we couldn’t do that without one another. You’ll meet some of your best friends in a boxing gym and when it’s all said and done, we are all one. Separated only by egos, beliefs, and fears. And to me, that’s love.
Final Round
I stand by the belief that we should all train our minds, body, and beliefs through boxing and chase greatness.
Boxing is science — through observation and experiment, it teaches you to understand the behavior of your physical and mental being.
Boxing is art — it pushes you to unleash your creative skill and imagination.
Boxing is life — we all have something to fight for. If not, then why exist? The need to evolve; the want to improve; the desire to succeed — it’s in our DNA to fight.
It’s our ambition to accompany any boxing journey around the world; whether it’s to strengthen your fitness, grow your confidence, or become a world champion. BOXRAW exists to pioneer the boxing lifestyle — one of discipline, mindfulness, and love.
Ben Amanna
Founder @boxraw
