How boxing shapes identities while contending with racism...| SOFA SENSEI'S #46 | Christian Davis

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Monday, 6 November 2023 - 1 hour 9 minutes

This week we are joined by PhD researcher, Christian Davis who talks to us about his work which gives an account of the social structures within a Leicester gym serving ethnic minority communities. It aims to understand how race, gender, social class, and masculinity intersect to affect inclusion/exclusion in this space, and how local sports clubs and the local community influence the construction of urban identities.

Our discussion covers Chris meeting the right people at the right time and benefitting from good role models who saw more for him than he saw for himself. Chris went to university via an unconventional route and faced an internal battle with imposter syndrome on the way but somewhere along the line, he discovered his joy for learning and won an award for Student of the Year!

While discussing boxing, we touch on the racialised elements that form part of the narratives in the build up to fights and sporting events more broadly. For example, Tyson Fury publicly questioning the size of Francis Ngannou’s manhood may seem like a harmless joke but is rooted in the sexualisation of Black Men; Linford Christie’s “lunchbox” and the notion of the Great White Hope in Heavyweight boxing are also examples where race is a key talking point. Good and bad. Chris’ research bringing together race, class, gender and more within boxing is truly a fascinating endeavour.

Stay tuned for part 2 next week where we get to know Christian with our 7 signature questions!

Connect with him and follow his life now: https://www.instagram.com/crissy_joe3
Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/Chrisjoedavis

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SOFA SENSEI'S is a podcast on the akhi&saltfish Digital Network about combat sports from the perspective of what some may call couch coaches or armchair experts but we are SOFA SENSEI'S who say it how we see it, with a fighter first perspective.

The Network also features:
- Before Our Friends Die, where we talk about a diverse range of interesting topics.
- Cool. Fine. Done. Wicked. A podcast about music we’re passionate about. If any of those catch your interest, subscribe and stay tuned, we’ve got more coming your way!

00:00 - 19:34 - Chris’ journey into academia, Sociology, Identity and more
19:35 - 28:48 - Chris’ experiences in academia
28:49 - 37:22 - Great White Hope, Fury Ngannou, Racial Stereotypes in Sport
37:23 - 43:19 - Chris’ research in a Leicester Boxing Gym
43:20 - 48:05 - findings relating to Women and Race
48:06 - 52:16 - finding related to Men and Masculinity
52:17 - 56:40 - Who is included and excluded in a boxing gym?
56:41 - 59:16 - Living the life of a boxer for 2 years
59:17 - 1:09:05 - Is Damage in Boxing Worth it?

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