Gloves & Grit Fitness is a boxing studio that welcomes young athletes eager to pursue boxing and kickboxing and compete in a variety of local and provincial competitions.
Trained by boxing and fitness trainer Jesse Smith, his humble journey began at the age of 17, when he started training with former boxer Gert Strydom and Ultimate Fighting Championship pioneer Wiekus Swart at TapOut Academy in Randburg.
His passion for boxing is matched only by his dedication to his students. With patience, encouragement and a healthy dose of tough love, his students are making waves in the boxing industry.
“I unfortunately suffered a motorcycle accident, which almost cost me my right leg, which also affected my kicking, so I could not compete further. By the grace of God, my passion for the sport allowed me to combine the techniques I learned in my many years of training and competing and the potential I see in the young students by achieving their dream of being boxing champions.
Currently, he has six students, which consist of boxers and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes.
“Our rising MMA star is Shadrack Yemba, who will make his professional debut on August 8 at the Extreme Fighting Championship.
“The younger boy who has so much fire and passion is Uzziah Davids, who will be boxing this coming Saturday in Alberton. The students are a very diverse group, each with their own story and motivations for why they joined the studio, but they share a common goal, which is to walk in the same path as Drikus du Plessis and the legendary Jacob ‘Baby Jake’ Matlala,” Jesse said.
Under his guidance, the students learn not just technical skills but also valuable life lessons. Jesse told the Roodepoort Northsider that the learners have developed discipline, perseverance and self-respect, and as they are prepared to face their opponents, they are discovering the true meaning of grit and determination.
