Luke Herries
At the Hastings Giants Boxing Academy there are plenty of incredible kids to be inspired by. One of them is 17-year-old Luke Herries, who had struggled through his teenage years before joining the academy a year ago.
Once lost and unsure about his future, Luke is now enlisting in the army, a path he never thought possible before Giant's manager Craig McDougall’s influence. “He’s a great and real growth model to me. The way he leads, his kindness, he inspires me,” Luke said. “The academy completely changed my life. It gave me self-discipline, a strong community, good influences and good leaders. It’s more than physical fitness, it’s also about mental strength.”
Luke’s father, Dan Herries, saw the transformation firsthand. “He got his glow back,” Herries said. Initially hesitant about his son joining a combat sport, he quickly realised it was not about fighting. “It was a connection, brotherhood, personal health, and just awesome mentorship,” he said. “Now Luke has realised the potential that we saw in him as a young boy. He’s a contributor to society ... and we’re awfully proud of the changes he's made.”
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Zakir Yusof - From Refugee to National Champion Copy
Whenever Wellington teenager Zakir Yusof steps inside the boxing ring, he is determined to make proud all those who have supported his journey from refugee to national champion.Born in Afghanistan but raised in neighbouring Pakistan, Yusof arrived in New Zealand in 2017 with his mother and two brothers. He couldn’t speak English and spent his first weeks in a refugee camp, where he met his father for the first time--he had left when Zakir was a baby to try to build a better life for the family.
Zakir Yusof - From Refugee to National Champion
Whenever Wellington teenager Zakir Yusof steps inside the boxing ring, he is determined to make proud all those who have supported his journey from refugee to national champion.Born in Afghanistan but raised in neighbouring Pakistan, Yusof arrived in New Zealand in 2017 with his mother and two brothers. He couldn’t speak English and spent his first weeks in a refugee camp, where he met his father for the first time--he had left when Zakir was a baby to try to build a better life for the family.
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