Usman Zulfiquar Khan: Boxing Coach and Fitness Professional

There are two kinds of people who live on the face of this earth. First are the ones that we find all around us, the ones who just live to survive. The others however, are the misfits who make things happen. These misfits live by going head on with all that life throws at them. Tackling one problem after another, they struggle hard till they truly find their life purpose and in the process become champions. This second type doesn’t really conquer the world, they conquer what is most important; themselves.

Muhammad Ali, arguably one of the greatest boxers to have ever lived, once said: “Live everyday as if it were the last, because someday you’re going to make it right.” Usman Zulfiquar Khan (UZK), who is not only a top notch fitness professional and a boxing coach but also a champion in his own right, lives by these words. In a country like Pakistan, where very little attention is paid to something like physical fitness, the 31 year old has vowed to not only improve the entire scenario but also train youngsters to become great of the future, who will not only make a name for themselves on the international stage but also make their entire nation proud.

The team at OrangeInk (OI) decided to catch up with Usman and get a little insight about the man himself, what he hopes to achieve and what he thinks about the future of boxing and physical fitness as a whole in a country like Pakistan.

OI: Who exactly is Usman Zulfiquar Khan?
UZK: I would like to define myself as primarily a fitness professional and a boxing coach. I was two time state champion in Illinois and became the Golden Glove champion in the 125-pound category back in the United States. I have been a personal trainer for about 13 years now. I did my B.Sc. Honors in Kinesiology from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, USA back in 2009. Being a Pre-med student I always had interest in both medicine and sports so I thought why not combine the two and pursue my passion.

OI: So why choose boxing?
UZK: I had always been a troublesome child and got easily angered, I face the same case even today. So growing up I thought why not channel this anger into something positive that will not only relieve me but will also help me gain respect professionally. Also I believe that you don’t just play boxing. When you step into the ring it’s just guts against guts and I guess that’s what I wanted to do all my life; test the barriers of my capabilities in the face of adversity.

OI: How was your boxing journey like? How did it all start?
UZK: Obviously it was not an easy one. In fact, it was a tough one. Back in the day I was a chubby lad at least till the age of 15. I still remember how troubled a child I was, like I said I was always looking to control my “anger issues”. After I began training on a professional level, I had to adjust a great deal. The most difficult part was training. I remember I used to get my ass kicked more often than not. Adopting to new eating habits and a healthy lifestyle was also a huge barrier for me which ultimately proved to be extremely beneficial in the long term.

OI: As far as your career is concerned, what do you reckon has been the highlight so far?
UZK: I would rate my first ever victory as one of the best moments of my boxing career. I fought a Puerto Rican kid, Moralis in my 4^th fight and after a tough time, I emerged victorious. Almost everyone remembers the first time they conquered their opponent and obviously for me it was the same. The most cherished moment, however, was my first championship which was the Illinois State Championship which I won back in 2007.

OI: On a personal level, who was your biggest support?
UZK: My Abba supported me a lot. He went through thick and thin with me and I can never forget that. My Amma, on the other hand, was fond of the fact that I became an athlete but obviously she didn’t like the fact that I was becoming a boxer because she was afraid.  After I got married, my wife was the biggest support for me. My wife was the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me and she was everything and more than everything to me and God just took her away from me very soon.

OI: You just said that you stayed in the States for almost all your life. What made you return to Pakistan?
UZK: The main reason why the entire family returned to Pakistan was my father. My father was almost in his late 60s when he decided to retire and he wanted to do so only back home. For me family was and still is my number one priority. So I had to come back to Pakistan.

OI: Who was your favorite boxer and who was your main motivation?
UZK: My favorite boxer is the incredibly gifted Roy Jones Jr. I was really impressed by his speed and strength and that’s what made me idealize him from the start. My main motivation however, was Mike Tyson. Mike was always a larger than life character. He was the one that made me struggle for more.

OI: If you could fight anyone, who would it be?
UZK: That’s a really tough one. Back in the day however, I really wished to fight Oscar Dela Hoya.

OI: How do you see Pakistan progressing on the international scene?
UZK: Of course all of us have heard all the talk about how immensely talented the Pakistani youth is and I have to second that. But the real problem lies in the logistics. Unless the Local and National governments do not promote such combat sports, we can achieve only a little percentage of what we’re capable of. Olympic fighters have been served with “Chai & Pakoras” as a pre-workout meal for almost as long as one can remember and that in itself speaks a lot about how serious we are as a nation.

OI: What’s next for you?
UZK: I am working on a new venture having military sort boot-camp. Other than that, my main focus remains on training the upcoming lot of fighters.

OI: Any message for our readers?
UZK: The only thing I would like to say to all those out there is that all of you should brace yourselves because a huge storm is coming. I intend a lot in changing the mechanics of the entire fitness scene in Pakistan.