10/08/2026
🥊 THE ESSENCE OF COACHING IS PARENTHOOD AND LOVE ❤️
MICHAEL RAGOT: THE COACH WHO DOESN’T JUST TRAIN BOXERS — HE RAISES CHAMPIONS
There is a side of boxing that the public rarely sees.
People see the punches.
They see the gloves.
They see the medals.
They see the winners standing on the podium.
They see the referee raising a hand after a hard-fought bout.
They see the celebrations when a boxer wins.
But behind every successful boxer is often someone who has invested countless hours, sacrificed personal comfort, offered encouragement after defeat, corrected mistakes, provided discipline when necessary and, above all, believed in a young person when others may not have seen the potential.
That is the essence of coaching.
And sometimes, the best coaches are not simply coaches.
They become parents, mentors, counsellors, disciplinarians, motivators, teachers and role models.
That is why the statement “The essence of coaching is parenthood and love” perfectly captures what grassroots boxing is all about.
At the heart of this philosophy is Michael Ragot, Head Coach of Ongata Rongai Boxing Club (ORBC), a coach whose work demonstrates that boxing can be much more than a sport.
It can be a pathway.
It can be a family.
It can be an education.
It can be a second chance.
It can be a source of discipline.
And for many young people, it can be the difference between becoming lost and discovering purpose.
