Michele Aboro trains in a morning session at the gym. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Londoner Michele Aboro is universally recognized as one of the greatest women boxers in the world. In her extraordinary 22-year professional career, she has won six world titles in kickboxing, boxing and K1. She retired undefeated in 2002 and moved to Shanghai in 2010, where she opened the Aboro Academy gym with her partner in Jing'an district.

Aboro undertakes personal training almost every day to maintain her own demanding standards. As the head coach, her job includes giving group boxing classes, personal training sessions and teaching her Aboro coaches.

She won six world titles in kickboxing, boxing and K1 in her professional career. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

In between classes and meetings, she runs her company. Her regular companions every day are two cute Teddy dogs who stay with her in her office. Sometimes she walks them along a nearby alley. "It's the only place where they can run without any problems," Aboro said.

After visiting a friend in 2010, Aboro decided to move to Shanghai. She was impressed with the energy of this city and the kindness of the people here. "I like living in Shanghai, everything is fast and efficient," Aboro said. After living in Shanghai for almost six years, she has become part of city life and knows the best local shops and the best places to eat authentic Chinese food.  

Aboro enjoys her favorite beef noodle dish with a colleague at lunch. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

She has noticed that in recent years more locals are coming to her gym for training.

"The fitness industry in China has changed a lot. When I first arrived in Shanghai, I could hardly find a place to train. That was why I thought of opening a gym in the city," Aboro told the Global Times. "Nowadays, Chinese people are more conscious of the importance of training. Back in 2013, this was really an expat gym. Right now we have almost 35 percent local customers and half of our staff are Chinese."

As well as the gym, Aboro also runs a non-profit organization, the Aboro Foundation, which gives disadvantaged young people fitness training and helps them find related jobs like coaching. "For me, the Aboro Foundation is what boxing is about: Giving back to the community," Aboro said.

Fitness is all important in boxing. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

A new learner is at work in the gym. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Aboro shows students some basic moves. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

This article was written by Sun Jingyan
Newspaper headline: Boxing clever