Category: People of LegendsPage 1 of 2
Thanks to trailblazers the likes of Olympian Syed Abdul Kadir and pro boxer Muhamad “The Chosen Wan” Ridhwan, boxing has been growing in popularity in Singapore.
Some turn to boxing to lose weight, gain confidence and live healthier lives; some use boxing as a vehicle to overcome their inner demons and turn their rage into a productive and positive form of expression.
In collaboration with Legends Fight Sport, a boxing gym in Singapore co-founded by The Chosen Wan, The Everyday People presents People of Legends.
This interview series highlights gym members with very interesting stories to tell, so be sure to keep an eye out for it every other Sunday, starting from 10 February 2019.
People of Legends | “Sometimes, I do wonder. What if my brother called me the day he wanted to kill himself? Is there something I could have done? That emotion is very unresolved, because there’s nothing that you can do about it now.”
People of Legends | “I went for counselling, and the counsellor gave me very good advice. She said my ex-wife is out there smiling, laughing and enjoying her life as though I never existed. She’s living her best life right now, while I’m here spiralling. Don’t I deserve to be happy, too?”
People of Legends | “In 2015, a family member whom I was close to committed suicide. It’s taken me a few years to talk about this without crying. With time, I’ve been able to speak about it to a couple of close friends, but beyond that, I don’t really bring it up in conversation.”
People of Legends | ““I was that fat kid for most of my childhood. I just remember liking to eat a lot in school. You cannot find many photos of me from back then because I tried to avoid taking pictures as much as possible…
People of Legends | “I think boxing has helped me manage my ADHD because it forces me to concentrate and stay calm, which is something I am still working on improving, given that my mind often goes into overdrive.”
People of Legends | Legend’s new kid on the block talks about how her visit to Perth inspired a new outlook on life.
People of Legends | “In the ring, you’re by yourself. You may get punched or knocked down, and regardless of whether you win or lose, you gotta stand up and keep going. That’s how things go in real life.”
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People of Legends | “On days where I feel unmotivated and don’t feel like running, reminding myself that there are people out there who believe we can raise money and fight for a cause really gives me drive. It gives my punches more depth, and my jabs have more meaning now.”
People of Legends | “No matter where you are in the world, hearing the sound of jump ropes and people punching bags make a gym feel like a very familiar environment.”
People of Legends | “I guess I had to learn to be super independent. And thanks to boxing, I learnt to be more confident, even without the presence of a male figure. In the past, guys would be overly touchy, be it at work or in public spaces. Some customers would lean on me and even touch my butt.”
People of Legends | “The very next day, I went to visit my dad and placed the medal on his grave. I talked to him, knowing that he could somehow listen to me…I kept my promise to him in the end. I hope he’s proud of me. I know he’s proud of me.”
People of Legends | “I was one of those kids who always got bullied, pushed to the wall, slapped on the face. Looking at Iman, I did not want him to experience the same thing. So I thought I needed him to learn self-defence.”
People of Legends | “I think that if you can face a stranger head on, take punches and be able to hug it out after that, everything else you do on a daily basis is going to be so much easier.”
“A Greek god? Lol! I wasn’t born like this. I was a very skinny guy. When I graduated from secondary school, I was about 50kg.”
People of Legends | “He made me realise I’m not the smartest after all; I’m not the strongest after all; and I’m not the most confident after all. People can beat me up when I’m alone in the ring. All that street fighting practice was nothing. This was real boxing.”
People of Legends | “I’ve never told anybody this, but ever since I won my first tournament at 14, I would put my gold medal around my mother’s neck. I’m not sure why I do this; maybe it gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing that I can make her proud.”
People of Legends | “When I was in prison, my counsellor told me that since I like to fight so much, why not fight in the ring instead? He told me I was smart but I was letting my friends control me. I can think for myself; don’t be their puppet. I took his advice to heart.”
“Boxing is such an enigma. There’s just something very ironic about it. It’s predictable yet so unpredictable. We fight in a ring even though it’s a square. We try to kill each other for three rounds; but, at the end of it, we respect each other even more.”
People of Legends | “Everybody has their own pace and goals in boxing, so don’t be pressured by what others think you should or should not do. You know where your heart is. Everyone has their own journey in boxing so do what feels right to you.”
People of Legends | “Because I’m dyslexic, I got judged for being very behind in class. I was mentally and physically abused by the other kids in school; but, it doesn’t matter anymore because I’ve worked hard to be at the level where I’m at now.”