White collar boxing is boxing for people with day jobs and little or no fight experience. You train for a set number of weeks, get matched with someone at your level, and fight a short bout in full protective kit, usually in front of friends, family and colleagues, and usually for charity.
Where it started
The idea is usually traced back to Gleason's Gym in New York in the late 1980s, where office workers started sparring after work. The name stuck: white collar, as in the shirt you wear to the office, not a sign of anyone's background. Today it means amateur, one-off bouts for people who are not career fighters.
In London it has become a way to get properly fit, learn a real skill and raise money for a cause, all with a fixed goal at the end: one night, one fight, in front of the people who backed you.
How it works with us
At The White Collar Fight Club, the coaching is free. Here is the route from first click to fight night.
- Sign up. Your name, number, and boxing or Muay Thai. It takes two minutes and commits you to nothing.
- Intro meeting. Meet the coaches, hear how it all works and ask anything. Camp places open by email afterwards.
- Register for camp. You pay a £100 Fight Camp Deposit. It comes back after fight night once you've fought and hit both ticket targets.
- Eight weeks of fight camp. Boxing trains at Gymbox Victoria on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 19:30. Muay Thai trains at Gymbox Farringdon on Mondays at 18:00 and Wednesdays at 19:00. There's an optional Strength & Conditioning session on Saturdays at 13:30.
- Fight night. Three 2-minute rounds, with 1 minute's rest between, on a professional show.
The eight weeks
Every fighter follows the same programme, from your first stance to your fight plan.
- Week 1Assessment, stance, guard and footwork. Jab and cross. Basic defence.
- Week 2Hook and first combinations. Blocking, parrying and head movement.
- Week 3Controlling range, entries and exits, counters. First controlled sparring.
- Week 4Defence into counter, ring position, corner escapes. Matchmaking begins.
- Week 5Ring control, pacing three 2-minute rounds, simple tactics. Team sparring.
- Week 6Spar your proposed opponent in simulated bouts. Corner work. Matches signed off.
- Week 7Your fight plan, best combinations, technical sparring only. The fight card drops.
- Week 8Light pads and movement, weigh-in and team briefing. Then fight night.
The full detail is on the fight camp page.
Who it's for
- Complete beginners. 85% of our fighters started with less than three months' experience.
- Anyone 18 or over by fight night. There's no upper age limit. Read starting boxing over 40.
- Men and women. In boxing and Muay Thai.
- People who want a goal, not just a gym membership.
- Anyone who wants to raise money for a cause that matters to them.
Still not sure? Read is this for me? or take the 60-second quiz.
What it costs
- CoachingFree, for all eight weeks
- Fight Camp Deposit£100, paid when you register after the intro meeting. It comes back after fight night once you've fought and hit both ticket targets
- TicketsSell 15 tickets for fight night, 10 of them by week 3
- FundraisingRaise at least £50 for charity. That's the minimum, not the target
- KitYour own gloves and wraps, head guard, gum shield and groin guard, plus shin guards for Muay Thai
How the charity side works is in how fundraising works.
Is it safe?
It's a contact sport, so you will get hit. Everything around that is built to keep you safe: you're matched on age, weight and experience with no more than 5kg between you, 96% of fighters spar their opponent before fight night, you have a medical before and after your fight, and professional referees run every bout with medics ringside. The full picture is in is white collar boxing safe?
Questions
What does white collar boxing mean?
Boxing for people with day jobs and little or no fight experience. The name comes from office workers, not from anyone's background. You train for a set period, then fight a short, fairly matched bout on a proper show.
Do I need any boxing experience?
No. 85% of our fighters started with less than three months' experience. Week 1 starts with stance, guard and footwork.
Is white collar boxing free?
With The White Collar Fight Club, the coaching is free. You pay a £100 Fight Camp Deposit when you register for camp, which comes back after fight night once you've fought and hit both ticket targets.
How long is a white collar fight?
Three 2-minute rounds, with 1 minute's rest between them.
Do you wear head guards in white collar boxing?
Yes. Open face head guards or cheek protectors. Full-face head guards aren't allowed on fight night.
Can women do white collar boxing?
Yes. Our camps and fight nights are for men and women, in boxing and Muay Thai.
Your first round starts here
Eight weeks of free coaching, then a real fight night. Sign up in two minutes, then hear everything at the intro meeting before you commit to anything.
Join the camp →Take the 60-second quiz