Pro Boxer Inspires Girls to Fight for Their Futures | National Geographic

[Music] Klam area in Niri, Kenya, there are so many people living around and there's so much violence going around here in this area. Most of the girls, all the women have here in this community the fear of being robbed or being attacked. Women fear to even walk freely and express their feelings. Self-defense is very important because without that self-defense, I don't think you are anybody in this world.

In boxing, there's something that we call the stance. A stance is how you stand when you want to box. If you have a bad stance, you can be beat by your opponent. When I decided to become a professional boxer, the reaction from my friends, even from some of my family, was not that positive because they thought that I'm going crazy. Somehow, this sport has always been seen to be a men's sport. I was once told that I will never have any future without any keys, any husband, nothing, nothing at all.

[Music] I have worn three belts, and now I'm a mom. I have a daughter who is 9 months old. I was in the gym on Thursday, and on Saturday, I gave birth. Being a mother is the most beautiful gift that God has ever given to us as a family.

[Music] James has always been there for me, and he's a very great man. I don't think I could ever have a better man than he. When I'm having a fight coming ahead, he's always helping me in preparation because he understands the kind of work I do.

[Applause] It doesn't matter how people see it; what matters is what we want. Our aim as a family is for you to be a very good boxer. You need to be focused, disciplined, and you need to have that confidence. You need to be so much concentrated on what you want to do.

When I first walked into the gym, I saw these two women doing sparring and hitting these heavy bags, and they were so strong. I just wanted to be like them.

[Music] Box girls to stop the violence and the rap cases that are happening in the Mariz community of Nairobi. We are trying to create an opportunity for girls to value themselves and be who they want to be, no matter where they come from. Sarah is a mother, she's a fighter, she's a teacher, she's a leader—she's everywhere.

To be a champion, the will must be stronger and bigger than the skill. That is what we're trying to create for the girls—just to have the opportunities for themselves and opportunities for other girls. We normally teach them awareness on safety and how we blend life skills and boxing, talking about time management, confidence, and being focused. Boxing teaches different kinds of skills.

[Applause] [Music] I want to fight again as a professional boxer because it doesn't matter whether I give birth to a baby; I still need to keep my dreams ahead. So I will continue to focus on my dreams. I'm going to fight, I'm going to fight, and I'm looking forward to fight in bigger fights.

[Music]