David has been involved in the family business since he was 13. With five generations of boxers in the family, 27-year-old David competed for 10 years and coached before taking over as CEO in 2020.

“Dad was brought into the Railways boxing gym in 1956 after breaking into the Griffins biscuit factory when he was eight years old. Boxing and that gym changed his life and help set the course for mine.”

“Mum and Dad poured everything into the Naenae Boxing Academy. When they opened the doors in 2006, 120 kids walked in the door, and it’s been chock-a-block ever since.”

Billy Graham received a World of Difference grant from Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation in 2008, which provided him with funding to further develop their youth program.

David received the World of Difference grant from Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation in 2015 with an extension grant from 2016 to 2018 to further extend the programme.

Boxing academies are now located in Naenae, Cannons Creek, Mid Canterbury, Te Awamutu and West Auckland with affiliate gyms in Snell’s Beach, North Shore, Papatoetoe and Reefton.

“Boxing is a vehicle to engage and connect, to serve my community and support young people to reach their potential. We have 1400 young people going through our academies every week., “says David.

“The financial support from Te Rourou is fantastic. We need it, but the relationships that we’ve forged through the foundation is where the real value lies. They’ve allowed us to take my dad’s dream and make it a reality across New Zealand.”