Coaches | Boxing Cat

Certified by England Boxing

Active amateur boxing coach

Registered First Aider

DBS certified

South Paw

"Boxing is the purest sport; one fighter aginst another, basic rules, no equipment. Surely the most visceral spectator sport there is"

A lifelong fan of the sport, Dan came to participating at 39 while training for a triathlon. He was looking for an alternative to boring cardio, and managed to lose almost 4.5 stone (60lbs / 27kg) along the way. Dan found the combat sport community unexpectedly warm and welcoming, and decided to pursue competitive boxing in the white collar arena, which he continues to take part in today.

Dan has 2 daughters under 5, a day job outside boxing, and has personally fallen foul of a slowing metabolism. He understands accutely how difficult it can be to fit training into modern life, and the commitment required to take control of your physique, and firmly advocates the mental health benefits of such high-intensity sport.

Dan is passionate about coaching and regards himself a student of the sweet science. His ability to break down combinations and contextualise strategy makes for a rapid learning curve.

"I find myself geeking out on footwork and defence. Hitting without being hit is nothing short of an artform, and coaching this starts from the feet up."

Favourite FIghters: Tyson, Canelo, Lomo, Crawford, Katie Taylor

Certified by England Boxing

Registered First Aider

DBS certified

Orthodox

"Boxing is a multitude of things, but one of the fundamentals is overcoming your fear. It is typically a working class sport, full of people motivated to overcome their fear and achieve a better life."

Mark's interest in Boxing stemmed from his father, specifically watching the first Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns fight in 1981. But it wasn't until his career took him abroad, where he had to overcome many fears and challenges in foreign environs, that he found the courage to box himself in his late 30's. He realised late on, that facing your fear - whatever the outcome, typically paid big dividends. Due to his age, he accessed competitive boxing through white collar bouts.

Mark had been a boxing geek for a long time reading many books on the sport. The reality, he found, was very different but he unexpectedly thrived, sparring in gyms in Manila, honing his craft in New York (Gleason's Boxing gym); then latterly developing further still back home in London (AllStars West London).

Mark began coaching amateurs circa 2016 at Double Jab ABC in New Cross. Until the pandemic, he cultivated both White Collar and Amateur fighters, developing corner man and coach skills, with a high success rate.

"Post Pandemic, Catford presents a new challenge at a foundational level, that I'm keen to participate in. Boxing is transformational, and has been my calling ever since conquering my fear; and accepting the challenge to fight!"

Favourite fighters: Roberto Duran, Sugar-Ray Leonard