Why Australian Boxing Coaches Let Muslim Boxers Skip Training
“Some people think [Muslim] women shouldn’t box but mostly just support,” the 26-year-old said. “They saw that I was very passionate about boxing. This is what I like to do. I don’t care what they think. This is my life.” And what if someone does not support? “I would say, ‘Anything to say’?” he laughed. “Then ‘whack!’” Juggling his faith along with his love of boxing has become a problem, especially during Ramadan when Muslims cannot drink or eat between sunrise and sunset. “I really believe in my beliefs, so it’s not something I can avoid,” he said. “I made sure I did my prayer. It’s something I can’t do. Just like Ramadan. Due to Ramadan, I couldn’t do camp in Sheffield. There’s no point in me leaving. “Training in Ramadan is very tough. You practice before you start fasting. Then you go to the gym [at night] one hour after you eat. You are hungry but you have to control your cravings with food because you can’t eat too much, especially if you have comp. “It was diffic