Interview with Adam Haniver, Advisory Board Member of Boxing is Love

‘Boxing should be banned in civilised countries’

These were the worlds of George D Lundberg, an American Physician who went on to claim in 1962 that:

‘The principal purpose of a boxing match is for one opponent to render the other injured, defenseless, incapacitated, unconscious.’

These anti boxing sentiments were reinforced by figures like UC Berkeley educated Professor in English George Hochfield, who published a polemic in 1987 on ‘The Incompatibility of Athletic and Academic Excellence’. The article was laced with words such as ‘Degradation’, ‘Hypocracy’, ‘Childishness’, and ‘Cant’, in satirical efforts to humorously argue that it was absurd for universities to spend any money on sports. In the UK, boxing was removed from school curriculums in 1962, and attempts to reintroduce the sport didn't begin until 2007.

Is this really the case? England Boxing’s Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Excellence program (DiSE) is actively challenging this old fashioned stereotype on a larger scale within the boxing community. Its alumni are consistently decorated with accolades, proving that boxing and education can indeed thrive together.

‘Boxing and academia can’t go together. It is nonsense!’ - Adam Haniver

On 23 March, we spoke with Adam Haniver, coach for the England Boxing DiSE program at Brighton Metropolitan College, one of the six centres that delivers the program around the country.

The DiSE is a two-year program in England designed to develop aspiring elite boxers into well-rounded individuals. Combining a rigorous academic curriculum with high-level boxing training, the program fosters a holistic approach to development. Its goal is not only to retain talent within the industry but also to actively promote the benefits of further education for elite boxers.

In conversation with Adam, here are our three key takeaways:

Adam Haniver

Boxing and higher education are compatible

Adam challenges the traditional view that boxing and further education are incompatible. He emphasises that boxing can complement academic pursuits, and that higher education can enrich the boxing experience.

Boxing can be a pathway to higher education

The DiSE program shows that boxing can be a powerful tool for developing the skills and discipline needed for success in higher education. Many boxers who participate go on to pursue degrees in sports science, coaching, and other fields. The skills gained from boxing align closely with those required to excel academically.

Higher education can enhance boxing performance

Adam argues that higher education can help boxers gain a deeper understanding of the sport, including the science of training, nutrition, and psychology. This knowledge can lead to improved performance and a longer career in boxing. He also points out that boxing is essentially problem-solving at its highest level, performed under pressure, requiring both mental and physical endurance at their peak.

About Adam

Adam himself graduated from the University of Brighton, where he boxed for both the university team and Hastings West Hill Boxing Club 28 years ago. He believes university provided him with a strong foundation, not just academically but in life. He observed that higher education helps individuals develop communication skills, learn to collaborate with athletes and coaches, and understand the importance of looking after themselves, all during which individuals grow up rapidly. Adam is also the founder of The Box Gathering.

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