Bradford College

Future Boxing Legends Emerge from Academy

Bradford College is helping to boost female participation in Boxing and is rapidly becoming one of the leading players in boxing education - making huge strides since the opening of the Academy Boxing Club in 2008.  The latest star to emerge from the Academy is Saira Tabasum - with her first win over Rachel Simpson from Penrith Elite ABC.  

Saira follows in the footsteps of former Bradford College student Nicola Adams who also trained at the Bradford Police and College Academy Boxing Club when it opened and Savannah Marshall who took part in the 2009 ABAE Female Box Camp. They both won silver medals at the World Championships in Barbados earlier this year.

Commenting on Saira Tabasum’s latest victory, Paul Porter, Bradford Boxing Development Officer said: “Saira displayed a gritty and skilful performance, recording her first win!  It was a unanimous points decision over Rachel Simpson from Penrith Elite ABC.”

Paul continued: “Saira boxed well throughout, giving her opponent a standing count at one point, and there was no doubt at the final bell whose hand would be raised by the referee.”

Bradford Boxing Development Officer, Paul Porter has been instrumental in seeing the Bradford Police and College Boxing Academy go from strength to strength.  Paul, an amateur boxer for ten years for Enfield Amateur Boxing Club, came to Bradford College from the Amateur Boxing Association of England two year ago to set up the Boxing Academy, which was supported by the Police Community Clubs of Great Britain, the local police and Bradford Council’s B Active campaign.

Bradford College's Women's Boxing Programme has also been recognised as part of the London 2012 Inspire Programme.

Paul reflected: “Saira is a role model for any Bradford woman or girl wishing to take up the sport and a better trainer than most lads! She takes every session in the gym seriously, and does her homework outside, studying videos of the top international female boxers, such as Katie Taylor of Ireland. Saira's next bout should be in the English Universities Championship in December in Portsmouth. It'll take a very good boxer to beat her!”

Commenting on how it felt to become Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy's first female winner, Saira said: “It’s great to think I’ve achieved something like this.  I’ve put a lot of time into training and now it’s starting to pay off.” Saira smiled and added: “It actually feels really good!” Saira is studying for a degree in Biomedical Sciences and juggles the commitments of boxing with her studies.

Explaining how she got into the sport, Saira said: “I’ve always enjoyed watching it and I’ve always been quite a sporty person so when I started my degree and saw there were lunchtime classes available I thought why not.  I came down and Mally the coach encouraged me to come to the evening sessions as he thought I was quite good.”

Saira continued: “We’ve got great opportunities here, the coaches are really good.  I went on the Box Camp here as well – there’s lots going on for women to encourage their participation in the sport. Hopefully if women see that I can do it, it might encourage them to take up the sport.”

Coach Mally Maciver concluded: “She’s a credit to the club… she’s an excellent boxer and all the male boxers look up to her for her commitment and dedication to the sport. She always puts the effort in and is an excellent role model for everyone in the sport!”

A string of successful male and female boxers are emerging from the Academy – one of the leading players in boxing education, on Saturday Bradford College AASE* students Darren Tetley and Damon Jones both won at the National CYP** Boxing Championships Finals in Portsmouth.

*AASE - Advanced Apprenticeships in Sporting Excellence
**CYP - Clubs for Young People - Formerly the National Association of Boys Clubs