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May 13, 2022
Prominent British actor, Idris Elba, is fronting a new BBC Two television show, Fight School, which showcases his efforts to empower young people across the UK through boxing. Elba was inspired after seeing first-hand how a community of young people in South Africa were transformed by the introduction of a local boxing club whilst he was filming the 2013 Nelson Mandela biopic Long Walk to Freedom in the country.
The life-changing project also draws from on Elba’s own experiences as a young man coming from a disadvantaged background and being shown purpose through the power of boxing. “When I was young, I joined a boxing club, and my trainer Joe took me under his wing. It was a real turning point in my life, teaching me discipline and control moving forward,” said Elba.
“During my own experience of fighting there was a level of peace I was able to achieve. Boxing requires you to switch off all the noise and focus on the moment, a skill that I believe all people need, especially younger people who need direction.”
The documentary series kicked off on April 16 featuring nine young people in London. The programme shows the recruits, all of whom have struggled variously with poverty, crime, mental health problems and a lack of focus, undergo an intense training routine consisting of activity twice a day, six days a week.
The ultimate goal is for each member of the group to compete in an official amateur fight at one of the world’s most iconic boxing venues, after just five months of training. Professional coach, Greg White and Head of Amateur Boxing at Rathbone and Hawley ABC, Rachel Bower, will be training the recruits.
“I joined my local boxing club to keep out of trouble with the police, and it really installed the focus and discipline I needed at the time. Boxing for me was life-changing. I met some really influential people through boxing and that has helped shape my life today,” said White.
Elba has been passionate about helping London’s youth and earlier this year took a stance against knife crime following a record number of teenage murders in 2021. He spoke emotionally about the issue of knife crime as part of Arsenal’s ‘No More Red‘ campaign to help stop the knife epidemic in the capital during a FA Cup third-round game.
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