“Bahrain Became My Purpose”: Emotional Tony Davis steps down as boxing coach after 7 incredible years

Tony Davis, during his fighting days, with his British Four Nations boxing medal

A Life-Changing Call

His Bahrain story began in 2017 in the aftermath of the Westminster terror attack in London. A veteran of 22 years in the military, Tony Davis was working in what he described as his “dream job” with Great Britain Boxing when chaos erupted outside Parliament. He heroically jumped over a fence to try and save a police officer, PC Keith Palmer, and rushed to help injured victims. The incident made international headlines and eventually reached His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who invited him to join Bahrain’s sporting project. “That moment changed my life,” Tony said. “HH Shaikh Khalid and HH Shaikh Salman made sure I got care and support. Bahrain stepped in like family. When someone saves your life, that loyalty stays forever.”

Building a Legacy

His early months in Bahrain were an eye-opener. He arrived from one of the world’s most resourced boxing environments to a programme still in its infancy. “There was talent here but it needed structure and belief,” he said. Over the years that followed, Bahrain earned historic results, none greater than qualifying a boxer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “For a small nation to walk into an Olympic boxing ring is extraordinary,” Tony said. “It’s something I’ll always carry with pride.”

His journey was nearly cut short in 2021 when he contracted a severe strain of COVID-19 during a tournament in Istanbul. “I thought that was the end. I genuinely thought I was going to die,” he said. “HH Shaikh Khalid and HH Shaikh Salman didn’t just support me as a coach, but also as a human being. That’s something you never forget.”

A young Tony Davis dreaming of a boxing career

Defining Moments

This autumn brought two defining milestones for Bahraini boxing and for Tony personally. In early October, just before the national team settled for the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, Tony quietly revealed to TDT that he would be stepping down after the season. Around the same time, he was fully immersed in his role as competition manager for the boxing tournament at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, which brought together athletes from 31 nations. The event required weeks of meticulous preparation and a level of operational precision he had never been responsible for before. “I wanted Bahrain to feel proud of what we delivered,” he said. “When the feedback came in, I knew we had achieved something special.” Despite only two young Bahrainis competing, Tony saw them as symbols of the Kingdom’s future. He grew emotional recalling Abdulrahman Al Mudhaki’s opening-bout victory. “I cried when he won. To see a young Bahraini stand there with that courage reminded me why I love this sport,” he said. He also praised Mohammed Attiyah’s resilience, calling him “a fighter with real potential.”

Last Thursday, Bahrain hosted the 4th edition of the Royal Rumble, a fast-growing event on the regional combat sports calendar. The tournament served as a statement of Bahraini ambition. Tony believes its success reflects how far the country has come. “The Royal Rumble wasn’t just a tournament. It showed the ambition of this nation. The crowds, the atmosphere, the organisation. It proved Bahrain can deliver major events at a level people once didn’t think possible.”

Tony will remain in Bahrain and continue working in the sporting sector, while Olympian John Conlon assumes the role of national coach. “John is the right man. He’ll push Bahrain to another level,” Tony said. As he transitions to the next chapter, Tony carries a sense of gratitude that goes beyond sport. “Bahrain gave me a home, a purpose and a second chance at life,” he said. “This country will always be part of me.”