Boxing academy in Mitchells Plain home hopes to train champions

Mikaeel Adams training at the Whiteboy Boxing Academy in Mitchells Plain.

On most weekdays, you’ll find young boxers hitting punching bags, sparring and training at the Whiteboy Boxing Academy in Mitchells Plain. But there is no boxing ring or formal training facility. Curry can be smelled coming from the nearby kitchen and a young girl sits restlessly watching cartoons and drawing. This is the home of coach Ashley Whiteboy, and it is where he has been running his free boxing academy for a decade.

Whiteboy says he is working with youths mostly on the “wrong path” or unemployed.

“Boxing has changed their lives … They can protect themselves,” says Whiteboy. Fitness and boxing improves their self-esteem and confidence, he says.

The academy has a core of about ten athletes, aged between 15 and 25, and many more who pop in.

The boxing gym is at coach Whiteboy’s home in Mitchells Plain, where his family lives. The club is searching for a larger property nearby where they can set up a better training facility and boxing ring.

“I need to make some of these guys pro. When they’re pros they make money,” he says.

On training days young athletes punch bags and push weights inside the house, while others do fitness drills in the courtyard, or the street and parking lot outside – a problem on rainy days.

Bags, gloves and weights were donated or purchased by Whiteboy. Some of the bags are tied together with duct tape.

“We’re running this without money,” he says.

SouthPaw boxing gym in Westlake has been assisting Whiteboy by letting his boxers use their facilities when needed, but the 45-minute drive there and back is expensive for them.

Coach Ashley Whiteboy is from a boxing family and was once a professional boxer. He has been a coach for 20 years.

Whiteboy comes from a boxing family and he has been coaching for over 20 years.

“My father was a boxer. My grandfather was a boxer,” he says.

He launched the academy when he was training at a sports centre in Philippi. But travelling here was difficult for him and the athletes staying in Mitchells Plain.

“I felt that I needed to uplift our community,” he says. He moved the boxing club to Mitchells Plain.

Imtihaaz Adams trains on punching bags that are being held together by duct tape. The equipment at the boxing academy is donated or purchased by Whiteboy. Some of it is falling apart. The training room is also used as storage for children’s toys.

Angus Norkie, who helps Whiteboy with administration, said he submitted a proposal to the City of Cape Town In August 2024, requesting usage of the nearby Stephan Regal Hall, or any other hall as a “safe space for youth to learn boxing and life skills” and create “employment opportunities through boxing”.

The City responded that the hall was not suitable for various reasons and it had to accommodate multiple activities.

Some of the athletes train outside as there is not enough space at Whiteboy’s home for all the activities. In winter, it’s a problem.

Norkie says they need a proper space. They also need it for sponsors to be able to advertise. “We can do much more, if we just had the support,” he says.

Shameeg Williams, who boxes professionally, started training with Whiteboy two years ago and says he has learnt much. “My big plan is to become world champion,” he says.

Mikaeel Jacobs, 18, says that coaching under Whiteboy is “phenomenal”. “You can feel you’re getting stronger”, he says.

Michayle Adams, 20, says, “I was a very insecure child”, but boxing helped him. Currently unemployed, he hopes to go professional.

Whiteboy says his dream is to see his athletes become successful, and boxing is his tool to spread success and grow their community.

Mayco member for community services Councillor Francine Higham said the City will be engaging with the club in the following week and will try to assist them.

Shameeg Williams is a professional boxer from the academy. “My big plan is to become world champion,” he says.

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