PAUL 'RINGMASTER' COVI
​December 2023
Australian Masters Boxing Champion (Twice), Pan Pacific Masters Boxing Champion, QLD Masters Boxing Titles Champion, NSW PCYC Masters State Titleholder, NSW King of the Ring Masters Champion, MC icon, Boxing NSW Masters Boxing Coordinator, Cancer Survivor.
Paul Covi is the backbone of masters boxing in New South Wales. He supports the sport at every level, coordinating regular sparring sessions and encouraging men and women to get involved through the NSW Masters Boxing Facebook group. He is the contact, the go-to person for NSW masters boxers. He is a former amateur boxer and current masters boxer, having competed twice at the MBA Golden Gloves in November, while also MC'ing the tournament.
What got you involved in masters boxing?
"I had a couple fights in my late 20's/early 30's including the NSW State Novice Titles. I won a few and lost a few but I really enjoyed the sport as a younger competitor. In my 40's, I was diagnosed with cancer. I asked the doctor what my chances of survival were and was told I had a 90% chance of mortality in the next 5 years. After 2 operations, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, I promised myself if I beat it, I would do the things that I'd always wanted to do and was putting off. One of them was boxing. That got me in the right mindset. I wasn't going to let something beat me if I had the chance."
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"I honestly don't know where I'd be without boxing."
In his 50's and after 30 years of marriage, Paul also went through an unexpected divorce. "Boxing helped me get through that. Through the early stages of disbelief and anger to acceptance. I’m now happily remarried to a beautiful lady and loving life - and get on well with my ex. We share children and a grandchild – it's just the mature thing to do – but boxing got me there. I was in a bad place during the divorce. Boxing, particularly if you are competing, gives you something to aim for. A goal. Boxing is so primal. You can't blame anyone for a loss other than yourself. It's you versus another person. Same age, weight, and experience, up there in front of everybody. It cuts through all the side issues, the other things upsetting you are put aside because you are focussed on the training and then the fight.
Boxing puts you in a much better frame of mind. You've got to train regularly. You're not down the pub or sitting in front of a poker machine or feeling depressed. It makes you more resilient, to get on with life. You end up being good friends with the people that you fight. You can't go to the Olympics or Comm Games or make any dollars from masters boxing, but you're hanging around very good people doing something you are passionate about."
How did you get into MC'ing boxing events?
"One of my sons was an Australian junior boxing champion with a record of 21 wins in 27 fights. My daughter won at Golden Gloves events twice and has a record of 7 fights and 5 wins. I'm happy that she can protect herself. Boxing teaches you that hard work brings rewards, to keep fighting. My other son didn’t want to box – he’s very intelligent and was a great State Champion in swimming. I’d never make my children do something they didn’t want to do.
I went to a Golden Gloves event with my son and just wasn't impressed with the MC'ing. It was pretty boring. I thought I wouldn't mind having a go and did. I enjoyed making it exciting and having a laugh with people. If you make it entertaining, everyone walks away happy."
Today, Paul 'Ringmaster' Covi is a fixture at many events, in particular MBA, where his skills behind the mike add enormously to the atmosphere and experience for everyone there - the fighters, the officials, and the audience. Paul enjoys the honesty of conducting interviews in the ring and how open boxers are with sharing their journey. At the end of one bout, he remembers a boxer who, when asked why he took up masters boxing said, "because I was a fat bastard"!
"Boxing teaches you to get up when you get knocked down."
"I honestly wish everyone was involved in boxing. There would no road rage and domestic violence. Training 5 or 6 days a week at the gym takes you out of your comfort zone, fills you with endorphins and puts you in a really positive place. Losing weight and hanging around very positive people gives you drive. Boxing teaches you to get up when you get knocked down. It's one-on-one. Physical. It breaks down barriers between people from all walks of life."
"Perception and reality are two different things."
When asked about the general perception of masters boxing as old people trying to recapture their youth, Paul says "If somebody had said years ago that 70-year-olds would be boxing each other, people would have laughed. People seeing masters boxing for the first time - even if on a normal card - are so impressed, so pleasantly surprised. They're amazed that people in their 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's are so fit and boxing at an elite level. They can't believe everyone is so friendly and laid back, without all the machismo of younger fighters. Not cocky and aggressive and angry. Masters is none of that rubbish. It's about fitness, fun, and camaraderie. It's a challenge, and as you get older you need an outlet, you need a challenge."
"MBA opens doors for a lot of people."
On his experience with masters boxing, Paul says he never realised that people would be so friendly and accepting and welcoming from the start. "At MBA it is a pleasure to see how everybody works so well together. From Jo Bretag and Jack Boote to Paul Thompson and all our officials. There are no big egos. You’re the backbone of what we do, Jo – so organised and you just get the job done with no fuss. I wish I had your patience. So many good people across Australia are furthering Masters Boxing, like Kim Gray and Tania Noonan and Wayne Kong Gardiner. Everyone is intent on providing a good 'product', growing the sport, building on and improving the work we do - a professional group of people involved in organising the events, happy to be involved, making it fun for everyone. There are no complaints, which is rare in sport. Everyone is there to protect you. Safety is paramount and the crowd is appreciative. Everyone loves our events. We really enjoy seeing masters boxers have a great time and get the benefits. Everybody goes away feeling like they've accomplished something."
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"How often do our dreams get put aside?"
With thanks to Paul Covi for sharing his masters boxing journey with us and providing ongoing encouragement and highly valued participation at MBA tournaments.