From right: boxer Mahmoud Azzam, coach Victor, and boxer Raghad Al-Dahouk

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Wael Al-Otaibi - Jeddah - Special to Al-Jazeera:

The rise of Saudi boxing to the forefront of the sports scene is no longer merely linked to hosting the biggest global fights, but has become an extension of a national project that invests in people, believing that the making of a champion begins before the bell rings: by discovering talent, refining it, building their character, and preparing them to compete at the highest levels.

Geographical references

In recent years, boxing in the Kingdom has undergone an unprecedented qualitative transformation, supported by the development of sports infrastructure, the expansion of the base of practitioners, and the emergence of specialized clubs playing a pivotal role in discovering and qualifying talents according to the latest training methodologies, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to build a more active society and produce champions capable of competing regionally and globally. In this landscape, the 'Jeddah Boxing' club stands out as one of the pioneering models embodying this transformation; it has surpassed the concept of a traditional gym to become a specialized school for preparing the boxer physically, technically, and mentally, and building their character before achieving their accomplishments.

The club's philosophy is not limited to teaching punching and defensive skills, but extends to instilling values of discipline, commitment, self-confidence, and respect for the opponent, developing quick decision-making, and the ability to handle pressure, in addition to enhancing physical fitness and mental flexibility, through progressive training programs suitable for different ages and levels, starting with teaching basics and ending with preparing players for competitions according to the highest technical standards. Club owner Mahmoud Azzam said that the idea of 'Jeddah Boxing' was born in 2019 inside a simple wooden car garage, gathering a group of young people who passionately followed boxing on television, at a time when the sport suffered from limited spread and a lack of specialized trainers. He explained that the beginning was with coach Victor King, who today holds the position of the club's head coach, as he trained them in the basics of boxing, and over time, those interested in the sport began to flock to the place, until the small garage gradually turned into a fully-fledged club that today is a member of the Saudi Boxing Federation. Azzam affirmed that the renaissance Saudi boxing is experiencing today is the fruit of the great support the sports sector receives, and the nurturing environment for talents provided by Saudi Vision 2030, which contributed to changing society's view of combat sports and increasing youth turnout. He said: 'We cannot talk about the development of Saudi boxing without referring to the prominent role played by His Excellency Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh. By attracting the biggest global fights to the Kingdom, boxing has become present in the Saudi sports scene in an unprecedented way.'

He pointed out that the club welcomes all age groups, appreciating the Saudi Boxing Federation's launch of the Masters Tournament, which targets older athletes to expand the base of sports participation, noting that Jeddah Boxing players have also won gold medals in this category.

For his part, boxing coach 'Coach Mahanna' embodies the concept of investing in talent; he began his journey with the sport since childhood, before specializing academically in training sciences and gaining field experience spanning more than seven years between Egypt and the Kingdom. Boxer Raghad Al-Dahouk, who won the bronze medal in the Women's Open Tournament for 2026, embodies the fruits of this training environment, affirming that success inside the ring begins with psychological preparation before physical preparation.