Seventeen-year-old Ethan Waring’s world fell apart one day in November three years ago when his dad passed away suddenly following an accident at work. Ethan’s progress as a boxer is offering a way partially to come to terms with what occurred and prove to himself and others that he’s becoming the man his father would have wanted him to be.
“It was all so quick,” said Ethan who turns 21 next April and lives in Retford with his mother and three younger siblings. “It took months of initial disbelief for it to sink in. I needed an outlet to help me cope. Something that wouldn’t be easy. That would numb the pain of loss with the pain involved in proving that I could be mentally and physically resilient. I wouldn’t say the sport’s saved me, but it has helped as it’s provided me with a focus requiring discipline, commitment and dedication.
“I’d always been sporty and liked watching boxing but never thought to give it a try until my friend Archie Jones persuaded me to join him at Franco’s Gym in Gainsborough. I did a couple of practice rounds with a fighter called Zac and I was hooked. I wanted a challenge where the outcome depended just on me but where I could enjoy the mutual support and friendship of a team. Boxing fits the bill. People think you get hurt in the ring and you might do but it’s putting your body through the agony of training which is life-enhancing.
“In the ring I want to put on a show and prove that I’m tougher than my opponent. The other boy is just that, an opponent with his own ambitions. He’s not my enemy. There’s always respect for the opponent and afterwards we usually chat about the bout. I’m nervous before the fight. I’m putting everything on the line. It’s up to me to prove what I’m made of.”
A former student of Retford Oaks Academy, Ethan admits that he “wasn’t academic at school. I always liked construction and now work as an electrician based in Doncaster. I’m better with my hands than my head, although success in the sport demands developing a high boxing IQ. That’s why we train to feint to stop the opponent assessing your game plan. It’s not brawling although supporters like to see their boy fight and prove how courageous he is. Courage is the most important quality in life.”
Ethan has been competing for about 18 months. His highlight was winning the welterweight (66kg) title belt on TJ Evolve’s show in Leeds on 1st November. He added: “My story is personal, but I’d urge anyone to give combat sports a go even if initially a person is hesitant about competing. I’ve been told that I’m a role model for the younger fighters and I love coaching them. I’m at the gym for up to six sessions a week then there’s the running, what boxers call roadwork. That’s when I do my thinking. I’d love to be able to concentrate full time on boxing and maybe get a professional contract. Bring titles back home. How good would that be?” Individuals and companies who might potentially sponsor Ethan can contact him by email at EthanWaring5002@gmail.com or on Instagram @e.waring12 or Facebook Ethan Waring.