Boxing coach on dangers of knife crime and how sport helps

Ismael Khan is the father of four and founder of Purge Boxing Academy, a gym inspiring young boys to get into the ring. 

Now the Girlington coach has shared his own experiences of prison life.

Ismael, who was jailed for four years following a fight, believes boxing could be the key to a future without knives, gangs and drugs. 

The boxing coach told the Telegraph & Argus: “When they watch people TikTok talking about knives, gangs and drugs. These kids think you can be like these. They don’t know it’s killing people. 

Ismael Khan and his son, Khunais, at Purge Boxing Academy (Image: Newsquest, Mike Simmonds)

“It’s happening a lot. Kids are hanging round on street corners because there’s not enough where kids can go. 

“If they’re fighting in the streets, why not put boxing gloves on in the ring? What’s the point of stabbing someone when you can go in the ring and a qualified coach can watch it?”

He said: “I’ve seen the prison life. I was very young. I was with the wrong crowd. I was 15 and I had it the hard way. When I was in prison, I saw what prison was, people getting beaten up, killing themselves.

“You can act like a gangster but the day you go to prison it’s a different life.

“This is why I became a coach. I got married, I had kids. I didn’t have the best of life.”

Ismael Khan and his son, Khunais (Image: Newsquest, Mike Simmonds)

When Ismael was younger, he attended the now closed community centre known as the Bradford Police Boys Club.

• Read more: The youth centre changing lives in a former church (with its own prison cell)

Ismael said: “They used to go box, play football, play a bit of pool, someone there to talk to and share their problems. They used to take us out to trips and keep us away from trouble and committing crime. 

Ismael Khan back when Khunais was at the start of his boxing career at six years old (Image: Newsquest)

“When you used to go to the youth centre and you look at the kids doing the boxing, you think this is valuable. 

“There’s boxing gyms open but these gyms are charging. These kids don’t have funds to buy a pair of shoes or gloves.”

He added: “My father put me into boxing. He put me into army cadets. My life was busy. I really enjoyed it. 

“It’s disciplined me in life.”

Ismael’s boxing gym has become a haven for many young men across West Yorkshire, including his own son, Khunais, who is a three times Yorkshire champion. 

Describing the impact of boxing on young men’s lives, he said: “It helps them in every respect. Some kids might have a bit of aggression and anger. When they’re in the gym they’re taking that aggression out of themselves.”