(AsiaGameHub) –   From compliance experts mimicking Calzaghe to PR directors striking like Pernell Whitaker, the iGaming sector has developed a strong enthusiasm for combat sports in recent times.

This goes well beyond simply enjoying a fight. According to the pair who have driven this rapid change, the culture within iGaming has evolved alongside the expanding events schedule.

Both Lee McFarland and Julia Weygandt have praised the industry’s attitude, a mindset that has allowed them to fast-track the expansion of Behind the Gloves and offer a fresh perspective on sector gatherings.

Beginning with a simple pad workout in the park, neither McFarland nor Weygandt could have predicted that the Behind the Gloves project would resonate so deeply with the industry’s passion as it does today.

McFarland stressed: “What we have observed is the creation of a boxing and fitness community—boxing acts as the driving force—but it is about more than just boxing; it is about the community. You know, the value it provides to everyone, and that is the origin of this initiative. Personally, I understand how it benefits my daily life.”

He also disclosed that in his youth, boxing provided him with stability and helped him mature, learning early on that ‘there is nothing more thrilling than trading punches and experiencing the excitement of the battle’.

While Weygandt entered the boxing world much later in life, she also discussed ‘the incredible impact it has had on her lifestyle’.

Highlighting the varied advantages of the sessions, she commended the effect of morning training and beginning the day on the right foot.

Elaborating on her lifestyle change, she shared: “I just thought, I can’t keep doing this, going for a drink almost every day after work. So I got a personal trainer… I gave it a try, and I haven’t stopped since. It totally transformed my lifestyle.”

“I woke up at 5 AM every day and went to the gym. I had significantly more energy at the office. I was far more focused and disciplined.”

McFarland noted that this enthusiasm spreads throughout the workforce, arguing that ‘a fit and engaged team is happier and performs better’.

“I speak frequently with the CEO of Captain Up, and he tells me about what we are doing and the value he sees it bringing to others. As an organisation, we are pleased to see that,” McFarland stated.

“That is my surprise. I am surprised that commercial businesses are actually allocating funds to support the well-being of not only their staff but the broader industry.”

On a personal level, McFarland added that boxing has consistently been the perfect solution for enhancing his mental health.

He remarked: “I deal with daily stress. I have anxiety, like everyone else, so being able to release that in a controlled setting with a great group of people demonstrates just how beneficial boxing truly is.”

One notable feature of the Behind the Gloves sessions is the diverse range of participants they welcome, catering to those who wish to spar before a day of meetings as well as those simply wanting to work out before a hectic conference schedule.

The business rationale for these sessions lies not only in the productivity boost they provide for the rest of the day but also in the robust, if perspiring, networking opportunities they offer.

It was easy to see the various levels of connection forming between industry peers as they traded punches or encouraged one another through burpees. This is a dynamic that many business stakeholders seek, often spending vast sums on traditional networking events.

Weygandt remarked: “You encounter people you wouldn’t meet at a party because they avoid those types of events. Plus, you meet the genuine individuals. There are no suits, no business cards, and no makeup.”

“Everyone is just there, getting sweaty. It leads to authentic conversations, meeting real people, and fostering a different type of relationship.”

McFarland added: “No one attends with the specific goal of doing business. Yet, business has been conducted. People have connected. The community keeps thriving… it enables people to bond through shared effort and challenge.”

The diverse audience being served continues to expand as the duo has started incorporating functional fitness classes alongside their boxing sessions.

Weygandt did share a humorous story from Barcelona in January, however, where an attendee arrived for functional fitness—mouthguard in, hand wraps on, and ready to fight—only to realize they were in the wrong class and had to quickly adapt.

The desire for a healthier lifestyle is palpable across the industry and undeniable—evidenced by the swift proliferation of fitness classes at industry events.

Through word-of-mouth among friends and colleagues, an increasing number of industry professionals are arriving to work out before events and leaving feeling much more refreshed.

To label the Behind the Gloves sessions merely as fitness classes does them a disservice; they are much more profound—they represent a broader movement toward a healthier and happier industry.

This movement would not exist without the relentless dedication of McFarland and Weygandt, who consistently carve out time from their schedules to expand the fitness classes and invite experts to demonstrate a healthier alternative to the industry, applicable to both events and life in general.

Weygandt has certainly noticed the shift, emphasizing that ‘in the past year or two, you could clearly see a change in the industry… we heard many people say they didn’t want to go out drinking every night’.

“The surprise was the turnout being higher than anticipated, and the speed at which everything expanded.”

Such growth would not have been achievable without the numerous sponsors who stepped forward to back the movement and facilitate its expansion, a fact both McFarland and Weygandt were eager to acknowledge.

The industry’s passion for development, charitable support, and well-being is driven not just by the demand for 6 AM fitness sessions, but also by the palpable excitement for an event that has become a favorite for many: the SBC Charity Boxing Championships.

Scheduled for this Friday, 27 March, the event embodies an industry undergoing a cultural shift and focused on backing good causes. For further details about the event, click here.