Byron Chime: London's Young Pugilist with Golden Ambitions

At just 19 years old, Byron Chime is quickly making a name for himself in the boxing scene. Hailing from London but currently honing his craft in Leicester, the young athlete's journey into the ring is rooted in a lifelong passion for sport and a pivotal moment of standing up to a bully in secondary school.

Chime describes himself as a "well-rounded athlete" in his youth, with his first love being football—a game he played everywhere, from neighborhood cages to school lunchtimes. However, a proud father, impressed by his son’s bravery, suggested he try boxing, a sport Byron instantly fell in love with.

Today, he trains at Kings Gym in Leicester, where he credits the atmosphere and, specifically, his head coach, Wayne, for his development. Wayne is described as a "top-tier joker and prankster" outside the ropes, but a figure who brings a "totally different level of energy and passion" when it's time to work, proving to be a true lover of pugilism.

While he appreciates the effort to incorporate realism in films like Rocky and sees improvements in the Creed series, Chime confirms real boxing is not quite the Hollywood depiction. He does, however, acknowledge that the films successfully capture the "raw emotion" felt by every true die-hard boxer.

When it comes to inspiration, Chime looks up to many greats but singles out Lennox Lewis as his all-time favourite. He admires Lewis for being a "smart boxer" who expertly utilized his physical advantages. More importantly, Chime respects the former champion's ability to always return a defeat in "even greater style, like a true bad-ass champion."

Beyond the boxing ring, Chime’s biggest influence is his father. He describes his dad as a man who constantly works hard and who has redefined the role of a superhero by protecting his four children from negative influences, steering their paths toward becoming their best selves through "warnings and words of wisdom."

Addressing the current buzz around crossover boxing, Chime expressed respect for the dedication and improvement shown by figures like Jake Paul, particularly in his close split-decision loss to Tommy Fury. For Chime, Paul has "everything to be proud of and nothing to be ashamed of."

Looking ahead, the goals are clearly set: improve constantly as a boxer, win a National title in the near future, and ultimately, get to the Olympics and bring home Gold.

If he were to step out for a ring walk today, Byron Chime’s track of choice would be the verses-free version of ‘We Will Rock You’ by Freddie Mercury. It's a catchy choice guaranteed to get the crowd singing along, while simultaneously giving his opponent a simple, clear warning: he plans to rock them.