Ismail Hussain fights to revive Bengaluru's boxing culture

Bengaluru, 

Once regarded as the country's boxing hub, Bengaluru has seen the sport's fortunes fluctuate over the decades. Inter-school boxing was banned after a student died during a bout at Bishop Cotton School, and the departure of the British Army further reduced the sport's prominence in the city. Today, however, local coach Ismail Hussain is working to revive boxing and nurture a new generation of fighters. In recent years, India's success in boxing at the Olympics, coupled with the growing popularity of more affluent clientele.

Drawing on his experience in the Gulf, he believed wealthier families would be receptive to combat sports. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), has led to the emergence of several boxing gyms across Bengaluru. One such facility is Mohammed Ali Boxing Academy (MABA Boxing), run by Hussain. For him, however, the journey has been anything but straightforward. A promising boxer in his youth who rose through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) system, Hussain's career was cut short by a brain injury. 

“When I started training, I realised boxing was in my blood. I built a strong team and began earning some money alongside my job. In 2019, just before Covid-19, I decided to return to the sport and train youngsters. I started coaching local boys on neighbourhood grounds and later completed my NIS qualification in Patiala. I became the Karnataka state team coach, a referee and a licensed official with the Boxing Federation of India. Then I decided to focus on educating people about the sport,” Hussain said.

He began coaching in public parks, putting up notices to attract aspiring boxers. Charging only nominal fees — and often none at all — he trained children from underprivileged backgrounds and prepared them for competitive tournaments. “Only 10-12 per cent of the students paid fees of Rs 2,000-3,000. I provided gloves and equipment, and many children were trained free of cost. They started performing well, and that journey continued for four years. After the pandemic ended, I gained confidence and eventually opened this gym,” he said of his facility in J.P. Nagar.

At the academy, Hussain sought to attract a more affluent clientele. Drawing on his experience in the Gulf, he believed wealthier families would be receptive to combat sports. While many youngsters were keen to learn boxing, parental concerns often proved to be a hurdle. “It is all about educating parents, particularly regarding injuries. Many worry that boxing will make their children aggressive. But in my experience, athletes often become calmer and more disciplined. Of course, there may be exceptions, but I was able to convince many parents from affluent backgrounds,” he said. 

With several of his students winning medals at district and state-level competitions, Hussain believes Karnataka has the potential to produce Olympic boxers if adequate infrastructure is developed. His vision is to establish training centres in the most underserved areas and provide young talent with access to quality coaching. “Cuba is a small country, yet it has produced Olympic champions. We need to invest in such communities by creating centres, hostels and appointing qualified coaches. Over a decade or two, you will start seeing champions emerge,” he added.