Having only taken up boxing as a hobby three months ago, Norfolk-based Ruben Antunes is now training hard and fundraising for his first charity boxing match. 20-year-old Ruben will be fighting for men’s mental health at an event on Saturday 4th February in Norwich with MensCraft as his nominated charity.
Ruben salutes how boxing has had a transformative effect since he began. ‘I’ve fallen in love with it – it’s changed me as a person. It’s made me a lot more disciplined to study after I finish work, rather than going out’. Training at Dereham Boxing Club three times a week has also given Ruben a new perspective on the sport’s mental health and wellbeing benefits. ‘Boxing gives me confidence. As soon as I step foot in the gym and my heart rate is going, everything else in life is irrelevant’.
The importance of men talking, sharing and giving each other support is something Ruben feels equally strongly about. ‘There’s a lot of pressure on men, in terms of ‘being a man’. Men can bottle up their emotions – we’re expected to just deal with things and not show weakness’. MensCraft’s work, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with men facing life’s challenges is something Ruben is keen to get behind. ‘I wanted to do something for a local charity which could connect with a lot of people’.
With such impressive dedication to his preparation, passion for boxing and understanding of men’s issues, we’re thrilled to have Ruben campaigning and fighting for MensCraft.
Ruben’s JustGiving page is open for donations, where you can read more about his motivations and stay updated.
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