“No Pain No Gain” is the first thing that catches the eye when entering the Attoh Quarshie Boxing Gym, the “House of Pain.” The motto is emblazoned in large, fiery red letters on the wall behind the training ring.

Founded in 1981, the boxing gym in Jamestown, a poor district of Accra, is one of the most popular in Ghana.
Head coach Vincent Akai Nettey focuses not only on training professionals and amateurs but especially on youth development.
The training room measures only about 4.5 x 9 meters, where more than 20 athletes often train simultaneously with numerous spectators crowding in front of the ring.

Boxing is one of the most popular sports in Ghana. Jamestown and neighbouring Bukom are home to more than 30 studios that enable young boxers to realise their dream of a better life, which quite a few of them achieve. Above all, however, they get young people off the streets of the slums.

During my search for contacts, I came across the boxing department of 1860 Munich, which maintains a partnership with the studio, had already held its training camp there, and helped me establish the connection.
I had hardly expected to be so fortunate, and just a few months after my school reportage I travelled to Ghana once again.

As before, I was met here with incredible openness and friendliness. For two weeks I attended every training session, was able to move around completely freely, and soon felt like part of the community – one of my most wonderful experiences as a photographer so far!