Meet the Team
Sabain Ikondo
Sabain Academy Boxing and Education (SABE) is named after the hounrnery memory of Sabain Ikondo.
Director of Community Strategy and Partnerships
Valissa Shay
I grew up on a council estate in Deptford, so co-founding SABE is deeply personal to me. I have seen first hand how limited access to opportunities can impact young people, their confidence, and their future pathways. That experience drives my commitment to creating meaningful, long-term change within our community.
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As Director of Community Strategy and Partnerships, I lead on building strong relationships with local schools, youth services, and community organisations to ensure young people can access consistent, high-quality support. My focus is on developing sustainable programmes that remove barriers to participation and provide structured pathways for growth—both in sport and in life.
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Through SABE, we are not just delivering boxing sessions; we are creating a safe, disciplined environment where young people can build resilience, confidence, and ambition. We aim to support every participant to reach their full potential, whether that leads to competitive sport, education, or personal development.
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My vision is to develop not only skilled athletes, but grounded, confident individuals who positively contribute to their communities.
Aaron Morris
Director of Boxing and Recruitment
My journey into boxing started early, but it wasn’t until my mid-20s that I truly committed to mastering the sport. What drew me in was the technical depth — the ability to develop speed, precision, and skill through just six punches.
That same attention to detail now underpins my coaching approach.
As a qualified England Boxing Level 2 coach, I bring over 12 years of experience in the sport, including 7 years coaching within highly respected amateur boxing clubs across South London. During this time, I have worked with a wide range of athletes, from beginners to elite competitors, playing a huge role in the development of multiple National Elite Champions, Box Cup Champions, and other high-level performers.
Whether your goal is to get fit, learn proper boxing technique, or compete, my focus is simple: to help you maximise your potential in a structured, supportive, and high-performance environment.
I am currently working towards obtaining my professional coaching licence as part of my continued development.
Ashley Cole
Director of Sponsorship
I am a boxing enthusiast; I was first introduced to the world of boxing at a very young age, as my father was a an amateur boxer. Watching his passion and dedication for the sport, it intrigued me and I started to attend boxing classes at the age of 12. This boosted my love of the sport and also built my confidence as a person.
Being friends with a number of boxers from all different backgrounds and experiences has shown me what dedication and hard work it takes behind the scenes. This has furthered my knowledge of the sport and given me the the urge to help the children of the future.
With this vision we have built SABE. Coming from a area where it's not easy to grow up and could be steered on the wrong path, boxing has really opened my arisen. Seeing a lot of people I used to know either dead or in jail, this has really inspired me to do all I can to help change the next generation in the community.
