“Sport has made me realise my potential!”

Here at Sports Tours International we are building the world’s largest active lifestyle community and we want to inspire more people to be active and to take up sport. In this blog our newest Community Ambassador and professional boxer Cherrelle Brown discusses how participating in sport has helped her realise her potential and completely changed her life. So over to Cherrelle …

There are many reasons why people will choose to do sports. For some it may be as simple as improving health, fitness, gaining confidence and making new friends. For others, it means a lot more. Sport can help to get some people away from bad influences, it keeps them out of trouble and off the streets. In my case, it was boxing that helped me see my potential and it gave me the opportunity to change my life.

Boxing isn’t for everyone, some say it is violent, some say “why would you want to get hit”, and others would say “why do girls box in the first place?” When people have asked me why I have chosen this lifestyle, I explain that boxing chose me – it’s meant to be.

Before I started boxing, I did not have short term or long-term plans. Like many people from a difficult background, there is a “predetermined destiny” to simply do what you see around you.

Six years ago, I never intended to live the boxing lifestyle. I had heard of boxing and knew some of the famous fighters like Muhammed Ali (of course), Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, but that was about it. I worked for a company that didn’t appreciate me and did not have any learning or career progression opportunities. At the age of 25, I was wasting my life by hanging around with dodgy people and had no real ambitions or motivations. “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”. I have heard this many times, but it was usually met with my eye rolls as it sounded so judgmental and I simply didn’t understand the depth of it’s meaning.

When I first stepped into Islington Boxing Club, I had my first real encounter of self-worth. Finally, I felt focused and had goals to aim for. I still remember the sound of the shouting coaches, the swinging bags and the bell going off at the end of each round. The boxing bug bit me the first time I stepped foot in the ring.  I knew that this wass my chance to shine.

From there on, I completely submerged myself into the sport and began training twice a day, loving every moment of my new life and identity. The hard work and discipline paid off.  In my first season I remained undefeated and won my first Novice National title. I continued to dedicate myself to the sport and managed to achieve three Elite National titles which led to me boxing for England on several occasions securing golds, silver and bronze medals.

In addition to boxing, I decided to enrol myself onto a Fitness instructor and Personal Trainer course. It was my first taste of education for a long time and I loved it, I learnt so many new things and wanted to implement them straight away. I was hungry to keep on learning and understand more about the theory behind my sport and the human body. Today, I am extremely proud and excited to be able to attend university to study Osteopathy at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Sport saved me! It changed me and re-moulded me into a person with more opportunity. If it wasn’t for boxing, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

We believe that Sport is for everyone and we want to help more people realise their potential through sport. Cherrelle is part of our team of Ambassadors who work hard to inspire people to participate in sport, she is not only a fantastic athlete she is a fantastic role model for women of all ages and is living proof of how people can knock down the boundaries and thrive through sport.

Here at Sports Tours International we are building the world’s largest active lifestyle community and we want to inspire more people to be active and to take up sport. In this blog our newest Community Ambassador and professional boxer Cherrelle Brown discusses how participating in sport has helped her realise her potential and completely changed her life. So over to Cherrelle …

There are many reasons why people will choose to do sports. For some it may be as simple as improving health, fitness, gaining confidence and making new friends. For others, it means a lot more. Sport can help to get some people away from bad influences, it keeps them out of trouble and off the streets. In my case, it was boxing that helped me see my potential and it gave me the opportunity to change my life.

Boxing isn’t for everyone, some say it is violent, some say “why would you want to get hit”, and others would say “why do girls box in the first place?” When people have asked me why I have chosen this lifestyle, I explain that boxing chose me – it’s meant to be.

Before I started boxing, I did not have short term or long-term plans. Like many people from a difficult background, there is a “predetermined destiny” to simply do what you see around you.

Six years ago, I never intended to live the boxing lifestyle. I had heard of boxing and knew some of the famous fighters like Muhammed Ali (of course), Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, but that was about it. I worked for a company that didn’t appreciate me and did not have any learning or career progression opportunities. At the age of 25, I was wasting my life by hanging around with dodgy people and had no real ambitions or motivations. “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”. I have heard this many times, but it was usually met with my eye rolls as it sounded so judgmental and I simply didn’t understand the depth of it’s meaning.

When I first stepped into Islington Boxing Club, I had my first real encounter of self-worth. Finally, I felt focused and had goals to aim for. I still remember the sound of the shouting coaches, the swinging bags and the bell going off at the end of each round. The boxing bug bit me the first time I stepped foot in the ring.  I knew that this wass my chance to shine.

From there on, I completely submerged myself into the sport and began training twice a day, loving every moment of my new life and identity. The hard work and discipline paid off.  In my first season I remained undefeated and won my first Novice National title. I continued to dedicate myself to the sport and managed to achieve three Elite National titles which led to me boxing for England on several occasions securing golds, silver and bronze medals.

In addition to boxing, I decided to enrol myself onto a Fitness instructor and Personal Trainer course. It was my first taste of education for a long time and I loved it, I learnt so many new things and wanted to implement them straight away. I was hungry to keep on learning and understand more about the theory behind my sport and the human body. Today, I am extremely proud and excited to be able to attend university to study Osteopathy at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Sport saved me! It changed me and re-moulded me into a person with more opportunity. If it wasn’t for boxing, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

We believe that Sport is for everyone and we want to help more people realise their potential through sport. Cherrelle is part of our team of Ambassadors who work hard to inspire people to participate in sport, she is not only a fantastic athlete she is a fantastic role model for women of all ages and is living proof of how people can knock down the boundaries and thrive through sport.