Majidi (standing left) speaking to his young boxers.
How one coach is reviving Sibu’s lost boxing culture.
THE moment the bell rings inside Joe’s Academy of Boxing (JAB), the room comes alive with the thud of gloves, the shuffle of footwork and the laser focus of young boxers who call the academy their second home.
For head coach Zurkarnain Majidi, the scene is more than just training – it is the revival of a legacy.
Sibu was once a boxing powerhouse, dominating Sarawak’s combat sports scene from the 1970s to the 1990s.
But by the early 2000s, the sport had faded. The gyms grew quiet and the once thriving boxing culture slowly disappeared.
That silence didn’t sit right with Zurkarnain, a physical education teacher at a school in Sibu.
“I wanted to revive boxing in Sibu. In 2016, I started training athletes in car parks and public parks with almost no equipment and no proper venue,” he recalled in an interview.
The response from teenagers and school students was encouraging.
Those humble open-air sessions marked the beginning of what would become JAB, which was officially registered under the Sports Commissioner on Jan 28, 2021.
Teenage boxers training rigorously on punching bags. Early exposure allows young boxers to develop proper movement patterns, ring intelligence and competitive confidence.
Zurkarnain’s father, retiree Majidi Omar, became the president of the academy as well as a coach.
From the start, the academy was never meant to be just a training ground.
Its mission is to empower individuals of all ages through the transformative sport of boxing.
It promotes fitness, discipline and personal growth in a safe and supportive environment.
More than teaching athletes how to throw a jab, the academy aims to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong values – qualities that many of its young members had never been exposed to until they joined.
One of the academy’s strongest focuses is youth development.
In total, JAB trains 130 young athletes from multi-racial backgrounds and various schools in Sibu.
This includes 80 teenagers (70 boys, 10 girls) aged 13-19, and 50 younger children (40 boys, 10 girls) aged seven to 12.
“This age group is the most critical stage for building strong foundations – technically, physically and mentally,” Zurkarnain explained.
A boxer from JAB getting ready for his fight. More than teaching athletes how to throw a jab, the academy aims to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong values – qualities that many of its young members had never been exposed to until they joined.
Early exposure allows young boxers to develop proper movement patterns, ring intelligence and competitive confidence.
Just as importantly, structured training keeps young people on the right path.
“Boxing guides them away from negative influences and helps them develop character through discipline and routine,” added Zurkarnain.
By investing in youth boxers, the academy is building a sustainable pipeline of future talent for district, state and national levels.
Training at Joe’s Academy of Boxing from Monday to Saturday follows a structured progression.
Beginners learn the basics – stance, footwork, simple punches and light defence.
Sparring is minimal, with the focus on correct technique rather than contact.
Zurkarnain said intermediate boxers advance to combinations, angles, feints, counters and harder conditioning. Sparring becomes more regular, helping athletes build ring experience.
Advanced boxers train at high-performance levels, refining their style and preparing for fights with intense conditioning and simulated rounds.
The team competing in Sabah. Dedicated coaching has enabled the club to establish a strong presence at state and national levels.
Across all levels, core values are emphasised.
“Discipline, respect, hard work, self-control and perseverance are just as important as physical skill,” said Zulkarnain.
Safety remains a priority. Protective gear, strict supervision, age-appropriate drills, warm-ups, cool-downs, hydration and medical checks are non-negotiable.
“I stop any activity the moment it risks injury. Their well-being always comes first,” he said.
Talent identification at JAB is grounded in observation and instinct.
“We look at coordination, speed, balance, discipline and willingness to learn. A good attitude and consistency are just as important as natural talent,” Zulkarnain continued.
To reach more young people, the academy conducts school outreach, basic boxing clinics and talent-spotting programmes in collaboration with teachers and community leaders.
The hard work put in by the coaches has enabled the club to make its presence felt at the state and national boxing arenas.
At the Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Games (Sukma) in 2022, one of JAB’s male boxers representing Sarawak won a silver medal.
Core values such as discipline, respect and hard work are emphasised at every level, with safety prioritised through protective gear, close supervision and age-appropriate training.
At the subsequent Sukma in Sarawak, three male boxers captured two silvers and a female boxer also took home a silver.
On Nov 15, the club won seven gold and three silver at the Sri Aman Twins Championship.
“This was an excellent achievement by athletes from JAB,” declared Zurkarnain.
Among the academy’s brightest prospects is 15-year-old Adam Ng Guan Sen, who was selected to represent Malaysia at the 2025 Asian Youth Games.
Beyond medals, the academy’s greatest impact may be social.
The gym has evolved into a positive community hub, offering young people a structured environment where they can grow.
Many parents have told Zurkarnain that training has boosted their children’s responsibility, communication skills, and resilience.
Teachers, too, notice improvements in behaviour and discipline.
“You can see the changes – they become more confident, respectful and focused, both inside and outside the gym,” he said.
Boxing, for these youths, is more than a sport; it is mentorship, belonging and purpose.
From training in car parks to producing national representatives, Joe’s Academy of Boxing has rewritten the narrative of Sibu’s boxing scene.
And for Zurkarnain, the journey continues: to forge not just champions in the ring, but also youths who are responsible, disciplined and purposeful in life.
