Jain Njie is making waves in the world of boxing, with his rapid rise to prominence at just 14 years old. Born in London to a Gambian father, Jain’s journey into the sport began at the age of two, following in the footsteps of his father, Robert Njie, an internationally recognised boxer.

After years of training, Jain earned his first professional bout in 2021 in London, where he advanced to the quarterfinals before falling short. Despite the loss, he kept pushing and secured a spot in the London Championship again in 2023, this time reaching the semi-finals.

In 2024, Jain’s hard work and perseverance paid off as he claimed his first-ever championship title, delivering an impressive performance in the final.

“I achieved the London Championship. I would say my first-ever London Championship match, when I won, was the biggest achievement for me,” he says.

Like father, like son, Jain’s personal trainer and coach is his father, who was once in the ring himself. He expresses gratitude for the support his father has given him, passing down his skills at such a young age.

“It’s a lot easier as all the things he learned, he passed down to me, so I get the extra experience compared to the other boys my age,” he adds.

As a teen boxer, Jain faces the daily challenge of balancing his academic journey with his boxing career. He wakes up at 6 o’clock every morning to go jogging before attending his classes.

“I wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning, go running before school, and I do extra workouts,” he says.

In addition to boxing, Jain is a promising footballer and writer. His mantra is: “Never put all your eggs in one basket.”

“I also play football for the West Ham development team, and I write poems in English. I’m a good writer,” he says, while thanking his father for all the support he has provided during this period.

While dreaming of becoming a world champion like his father, the young Njie hopes to represent either his country of birth, England, or his father’s homeland, The Gambia.

“My main aim is to box in the Olympics for either England or The Gambia, depending on whichever opportunity comes my way,” he declares.

Though he aims to make his father proud by representing The Gambia, Jain also admits that he would prefer to represent England, saying, “Because they have a good foundation and a lot of facilities for their boxers.”

For now, he is training hard in preparation for another England Young Boxing Championship. “I have one coming up in the next four to five months,” he adds.

By Adama Makasuba