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The Champions Inn Boxing Academy was founded in 1961 by Amanullah Khan. The major reason was to combat gangsterism and criminal activity in the area. It was a case of one man taking on the entire Lenasia. This he did by introducing Boxing to the community. In fact Aman brought boxing to the Indian community of the then Transvaal. Aman started his gym in the yard in his home in Greyville. Word spread like wildfire and it wasn't long before the community responded positively. His training was top class and the proof of this was evident in the success his proteges achieved in tournaments.
In 1963 the Champions Inn Boxing Academy joined the South Western districts boxing association. Some years later the housing department gave Aman Khan a two room dwelling to use as a gym. This venue became small because of its popularity and amazing success rate. The late Mr Mohamed Mamdoo who owned a farm in what is now known as Extension 13 gave the gym to the use of his property which was known as 'the barn'. The gym was housed there for about six or seven years. Mr Mamdoo passed away and the property was sold to the housing department.
The gym then moved to the Trinity High School in 1984 and has been there to this present day. The gym kept on producing boxers of national standards and among them was Waheed Camroodeen, who is currently the owner and founder of the Lenasia Times. Late Edries Sayeed was another boxer of repute. Kid Morris was a flyweight of extreme talent. He was a colourful and stylish fighter.
Aman’s son Imraan, who is now late, fought some of the best amateur boxers of the day and he beat them. So was his son Irfaan who was unbeaten in fights but he had to retire due to him breaking both wrists in a biking accident. The popularity of the boxing academy grew and spread far and wide.
The female boxers were not left out. Aman produced may female boxers, the most famous of them being Waseelah Nana who made history by being the first Indian female boxer in Africa. Waseelah was also a professional boxer. Daneil Ward started his boxing career at Champions In Boxing academy. Ward went on to win a commonwealth title.
Some of the achievements of the Champions Inn Boxing academy are:
1. Aman Khan brought Boxing to the Indian community of Gauteng at the time it was known as Transvaal.
2. The gym has been in existence for 60 years. During this time more than 50 000 people of all nationalities have passed through the doors of this gym.
3. The Champions Inn Boxing Academy is the only gym that trained its members for free for a record 60 years.
4. In 1993, Aman Khan and his late brother Farouk Khan brought the greatest boxer of all time , the legendary Muhammad Ali, to South Africa.
5. Muhammad Ali visited the Champions Inn Boxing Academy and did some bag work and shadow boxing in this humble gym. Ali was impressed with the training and coaching skills of Aman Khan.
6. The Champions Inn Boxing Academy is claimed by pundits of the game as the longest serving gym in the world by its original founder member Aman Khan.
The gym runs boxing and fitness classes for ladies during the weekends and mixed classes during the week. Many members of the Champions Inn boxing Academy get jobs in other gyms to train patrons, and when there's a casualty they unashamedly come for help to Champions Inn Boxing Academy. The Champions In boxing Academy has been the very first gym of any sports code in Lenasia.
Boxing has undoubtedly been accepted as the best form of self defense, fitness training, strength building and fortifying endurance levels against any other form of self defense. People from all walks of life and surrounding areas attend the champions Inn Boxing Academy to achieve an advancement in their health and capabilities. Many women have found a natural way to lose eight without dieting or becoming weak and losing energy.
Many female boxers from the Champions Inn Boxing Academy have won female boxer of the year awards. Just to name a few:
* Tarryn Vassen was a hard hitting no mercy fighter, she beat the South African champion in two rounds.
* Tasmiyyah Ajmoodeen was a true student of the art. Her boxing skills and hand speed made her popular wherever she fought. Her sister Azra was just as good and not shy to let the big bombs land on her opponents.
* Sabeah Shaik was a boxing fan's delight. This girl could float like a butterfly and sting like a scorpion.
* Zakiyyah was a real beauty with film star looks but a serious threat to anybody who dared to challenge her.
* Aadilah Kajee was a very thin person but her punching power spelt destruction for her opponents.
Training at the academy is rough and tough but very beneficial. Give it a try, it may just be what you are looking for. For a free lesson call Mohamed on 083 440 4403 or Aman on 076 587 7783.
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