Tony Davis (boxing coach)
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 26 March 1974 |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Sport | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sport | Boxing |
Event | Light heavyweight (former) |
Tony Davis (born March 26, 1974) is a British boxing coach, former boxer, and military veteran. He is recognized for his work with Great Britain Boxing, his involvement in developing boxing programmes internationally, and his actions during the 2017 Westminster attack in London.[1] Davis has contributed to training athletes and establishing boxing structures in several countries, including the United Kingdom and Bahrain.[2][3]
Tony Davis was born in 1974 in Gateshead, England[4][5]. Davis began his career in the British Army, where he served as a Physical Training Instructor and later as Head Coach of the British Army and Combined Services Boxing Team.[6] He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was responsible for overseeing physical training and boxing programmes for service personnel. During his military career, he received several commendations, including the Chief of the General Staff’s Commendation for service to the British Army.[7]
Boxing and coaching career
Davis competed as a full-time athlete in the England Boxing World Class Programme from 2000 to 2005, representing England in international tournaments and Olympic qualifiers at the 81 kg weight class.[8]
Following his athletic career, he transitioned into coaching and education:
- Served as a World Class Programme Coach with GB Boxing (2013–2018), training athletes for the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, and World Series of Boxing (WSB).[9]
- Worked as a Coach Educator for England Boxing, tutoring and assessing Level 1–4 coaching courses.
- Became the Boxing Development Manager for the Bahrain Olympic Committee, where he established the country’s first national boxing federation, coached Sheikh Khaled Bin Hamed Al Khalifa, and led Bahrain to qualify for the Olympic Games in record time.[10][11]
Westminster attack (2017)
On 22 March 2017, Davis was present near the Westminster terrorist attack in London. He was among the first to reach PC Keith Palmer after the officer was stabbed outside the Houses of Parliament. Drawing on his military and first aid training, Davis attempted to assist the officer until emergency services arrived.[12]
His bravery was widely reported and recognized as an example of courage and composure in crisis. For his actions, he received numerous awards, including the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, the WBC Good Samaritan Award, and the St John Ambulance Everyday Hero Award.[13]