Inside Bahrain Boxing’s Push for International Relevance

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s boxing team is quietly stepping beyond its comfort zone, trading familiar routines for tougher rounds abroad.

Last weekend, the national squad returned to Saudi Arabia for a training camp in Riyadh, working alongside the Saudi Boxing Federation at the Mike Tyson Boxing Club. It followed an earlier stint in Al Khobar in March and signals a clear shift toward consistent international exposure.

For head coach John Conlon, appointed in late 2025, the goal is not immediate success but long-term growth.

“You can have talent, but unless it’s tested regularly at the right intensity, it doesn’t translate,” he told TDT ahead of the camp.

That approach is beginning to resonate within the squad. Emerging boxer Sami Al Adsani sees a team moving with purpose.

“It’s fantastic to be part of this team right now. There’s real direction and belief that we can reach Olympic and world qualification level,” he said.

The Riyadh camp brought together male and female fighters, including Rasheed Mehrinfar and Maryam Khamis, all adapting to a higher level of competition.

Officials thanked their Saudi counterparts for hosting the camp, underlining the importance of continued cooperation between the two federations in developing the sport across the region.