Amar Kayani: “I want to see how far I can get and for me, the ultimate goal would be to win a world title.”  

Amar Kayani: “I want to see how far I can get and for me, the ultimate goal would be to win a world title.”  

By Matt Elliott

The world of boxing is full of intriguing backstories; tales of men and women who have turned to the sport to instil discipline into their lives or as an escape from a path they were on, that they were so desperate to escape. This is why, despite the obvious dangers that are associated with boxing, amateur clubs up and down the country, should be applauded for the great work that they do in their local community.

Amar Kayani’s story is no different. Raised in Slough on the outskirts of London, Kayani admits that life was tough growing up and that it was easy to be drawn into a life of crime.

“Slough is not as bad as everyone thinks but there are bad elements. Everyone wants to have a reputation here and when I was growing up everyone was quite aggressive at the school I went to and wanted to prove themselves. I ended up getting drawn into that and I was fighting all of the time, in bus stops and on the way home, as you do as a kid but then it spiralled out of control a little bit. As I got older, I became more involved, and I ended up having a few court cases. I wasn’t a bully, but I used to get into so many fights for such minor reasons.”

As a teenager, Kayani had started to attend a local boxing club, initially as a way to learn how to defend himself, but admits he kept getting drawn back into the murky life that lay outside of the sanctuary of those four walls. Then his lightbulb moment occurred. He recalls exactly when that was and how it helped him realise that he needed to alter the direction in which he was heading.

“It really hit home when I was sitting in court having been charged with GBH. I had my mum and dad there with me and I looked over at them and saw my mum crying and my dad looking upset. Everyone thought I was going to go to jail, but God gave me a lifeline that day and I was found not guilty. Afterwards, I decided I needed to try and turn my life around.”

Not only was this the moment that Kayani decided to give his full attention to boxing, but he also set the wheels in motion to create Kayani camp; an opportunity to give something positive back to the community and to help prevent others from making the same mistakes he had.

“Kayani camp was driven by my own experiences. People used to knock on my door and ask me if we could do some pad work and I was like, yeah. I used to go around the back and, I remember my dad looking out of the window, I probably used to annoy him, as I used to have loads of kids just running around and we were there until dark doing pad and bag work and we used to spar as well. There are still some clips on YouTube of me in my garden sparring with my 10oz gloves dressed in jeans and a Timberland top. I was fifteen or sixteen, sparring with other schoolkids. It all started there, and I realised I liked coaching and helping people out so I decided we would open a gym along with my brother who is a big influence as well.” 

The club recently achieved amateur affiliation and they are hoping to host their first show in February. Kayani’s boxing career means he cannot dedicate all of his time but outside of training camp he is still heavily involved, and he doesn’t think it will be long before they start to produce some future talent.

“We have four classes a week but as a professional boxer when I am in camp, I can’t commit to attending, so my brother and family take turns. As soon as my fights are over, I am back in there and helping everyone out but it’s good because you become like a family and so many of them come to my fights. It is really good fun and I really enjoy it and we have over one hundred members now. There are also some really good kids in there. I see a few of them hit the bags and I think, if they take it seriously, they can go quite far.” 

Kayani’s own boxing career is continuing to accelerate. After a relatively successful period in the amateurs, in which he had just over thirty fights and won a couple of titles, he decided in 2019 to turn professional. Under the guidance of trainer Stuart Scott and recently signed by Warren Boxing Management, Kayani boxes out of the Warriors gym in High Wycombe and in December his professional record moved to 6-0 (2 KOs). Now at the age of twenty-eight, he admits it was an easy decision for him to turn professional.

“If I could do one thing differently I would have turned professional sooner. I started boxing quite late anyway, I was sixteen or seventeen, so I’ve done alright in the timeframe I’ve been boxing properly; I’ve done ok for myself but I would say the sooner you turn pro the better, especially if you are determined to go down this route. I know some people have goals and ambitions to stay in the amateurs but if they want to get on the pro scene then my advice is to turn over as soon as possible.”

Last year saw Kayani fight twice but it also turned out to be the most difficult year of his life so far. In August, Kayani was reminded so cruelly of the dangers that remain in society as his cousin, Mohammed Rafaqit Kayani, was stabbed to death on the streets of Slough. Amar reflects on this and the lasting impact it has had on him and his family.

“My cousin to me was like my little brother. He was at my house every day; he’d be with me and train with me and go running with me. He’d call me almost every morning and say let’s go for a run. We used to eat together and when I wasn’t training, we went out for cheat meals, so when he lost his life to knife crime it hit me hard. The first month or so I wasn’t speaking to anyone, I was struggling to sleep but obviously that happens when you go through something that traumatic. I just kept relaying things in my head, and I kept thinking, what if that and what if this? It has ultimately made me stronger and as a Muslim, I believe everything is done for a reason, so it’s like a blessing in disguise because in my religion when someone passes away in that manner, they are guaranteed to go to heaven because basically, it’s like being a martyr. It’s a bittersweet ending to his life but obviously, I would rather have him back than anything else, but it is what it is, I can’t dwell on the past, and I can’t keep wishing he was here because he’s not, so I’ve just got to make do and pray for him.”

The death of his cousin has made Kayani even more determined to succeed with his ambitions and he now has an added focus.

“I have a whole new drive now. I was always passionate and determined to do the best I can but now I am not just doing it for myself, I am doing it for him, and I know he is watching from above. Since I was boxing in the nationals, he was with me and after every fight he would say ’just think, one day you are going to be fighting for titles‘ and I just think back on those times and where he wanted to see me get to. I have got to get there now for him as well, so that certainly drives me.”

Looking ahead to this year, I wondered what would constitute a successful year for Kayani following the difficulties of the preceding twelve months.

“I want four fights minimum. I would love to do five, but I think four is realistic and anything above that is a plus. What I’ve spoken to my management about already, is we are going to start with another six-rounder, then an eight-rounder and then we are going to try and go for the Southern Area Title at welterweight and if I am successful then perhaps the English title by the end of the year. I have told them I am not just here to make up the numbers, because I have boxed quite a few people in the amateurs, some really good fighters and I, not just me but my family, coach, and team, all think I can get quite far in this game. I think the bigger the challenges the more I perform. When I am boxing journeymen they all just cover up and block the body and head and it’s hard to look good against them but when I move up through the levels, I think I will perform better and then you will see the best of me.” 

For those who are unfamiliar with Kayani’s style, he describes himself as a sharpshooter, admitting he likes to be slick and to counterpunch. With a clear plan for the year ahead and with confidence in his ability, how far does he think he can go?

“To reach the pinnacle of the sport. I know some people say it’s unrealistic, but I want to aim for the world titles. If I can get the Southern Area, then it will be the English and then the British and then we will see what happens after that. For me though, there is no point in entering the game and being a professional boxer if you don’t want to go the whole way. I don’t want to look back and think I took part and became a professional, I want to see how far I can get and for me the ultimate goal would be to win a world title.” 

Whatever Kayani achieves in the remainder of his professional career, the work he has already done with the Kayani camp and the lives he has helped to transform ensures he has already created a legacy that is arguably even more important than any titles which may follow in the future.