Bolton Boxing Coach Making Waves

A boxing coach is taking on drug dealing, substance abuse and violence in his home town of Bolton. Due to his impact many young people have turned away from crime and violent behaviour.

Rasib Muhammad, 44, has been training youngsters for the past 12 years at the Premier Boxing Club which has over 100 members from a variety of backgrounds.

He is a well-known and respected figure in the community. He is a close friend of, and has trained with, former world champion Amir Khan.

Rasib said: “Some of our gym members come from broken homes and very rough areas. We have youngsters from different cultures and ethnicities. Members come from black, white and Asian communities.”

He said there was a lot of crime and violence in the area of Haugh. It was a very rough area, and even the local council wouldn’t do anything because it had such a “bad reputation.”

But since Premier Boxing Club was established the level of crime has gone down significantly. Rasib has lived in Bolton his whole life and started boxing at the age of 13.

“As I train the youngsters I talk about life and what they should be doing and what they should focus on in terms of religion. I advise them about life in general too including education and sports and how to make their parents proud. I encourage them to become good role models and citizens in society,” Rasib added.

“Most youngsters I have trained have grown up and as a result there has been a change in the area. Now most of them aren’t into crime and hold down jobs or are in education and business.

“Everything I do, I do for the pleasure of Allah, I am motivated to make sure the kids are better citizens and better people in society. It has never been about money for me. Its about getting young people off the streets and giving them a better life whether they box or not,” Rasib stated.

“I want them to be better people in life and make their parents proud. There was a kid who had a bad experience with his parents and came from a rough background. He came to the gym and I would talk to him and try to guide him. This was a person who was on the verge of committing suicide so I offered him private sessions and I tried to help him.

He continued: “Few months later I heard that he was doing well and studying at university. He thanked me for helping him out.

“The gym is open to everyone, not just the Asian or Muslim community but to every person from every walk of life.”

Three people have embraced Islam at the gym and many others have expressed an interest.

“My main inspiration is our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the likes of Salahuddin Ayyubi. My mother also motivated me as she always advised me to be good. She was such a helpful person. I am also inspired by my teacher, Shaykh Ahmad Dabbagh.”

Rasib has also worked and collaborated with boxer Amir Khan on his show ‘Meet The Khans.’

“Boxing is popular in Bolton because of Amir. He opened the door for boxing. He’s a big role model as people want to be like him and achieve success like him,” he said.

One of Rasib’s students is Fabio Walsh or Muhammad as he is now known. He became Muslim about a year ago and has been part of the gym for over two years.

Muhammad, who is the national amateur champion, said: “Before boxing I was going off on the wrong path with people who wasted time by smoking, drinking and partying. I was really focused on girls and things like that.

“Islam has had the biggest impact in my life for all the positive reasons. It has created a routine in my life which I didn’t have before. Islam has provided a blueprint of how to overcome any obstacle in my life.

“Stresses and worries I had previously have gone as I have faith that it is all in Allah’s hands. I don’t have to worry about anything. Becoming closer to Allah takes the weight off your shoulders. I have felt at peace after taking the shahada.

The accomplished boxer added: “Before Islam, though I was a respectful person, I would go out with the wrong crowd and I could see my life slipping down a bad slope due to hanging out with people who partied and took drugs.

“The biggest thing that attracted me to Islam was being at the gym with people like Ras. He never spoke about Islam but I saw the brotherhood and the time and effort Ras puts in to the community and everything. He is a massive figure for me.

“Islam and boxing training go hand in hand. Even a non-Muslim boxer has to live the life of a Muslim to a certain extent such as lifestyle and diet. A boxer can’t go out partying or drinking or taking drugs. Islam removes the urges to do these things,” said Muhammad.

Former world champion Amir Khan said: “Rasib is a very dear friend of mine from a very young age. I used to watch him train. We first trained together in a boxing club in Halliwell. I remember Rasib was always there. One thing I can say about him is that he is a very dedicated person.

“During training he always used to encourage us as we were younger than him. He used to support us and push us hard.

“He has done a lot in the community by opening gyms and helping the less fortunate. I’ve heard that mostly he doesn’t charge these kids for training because they can’t afford it. It takes a big heart to do that,” Amir stated. “It’s not business for him, this is because he loves the sport and wants to give back. Boxing has given us discipline and respect.

“He was with me when I was an amateur. He is one guy who has never given up and has always pushed it and it’s good to see people like him as he is such a good role model. He is helping the vulnerable youth in his gym. I think its awesome. He doesn’t get the credit that is due.”