By Nestled in his fashion studio along the picturesque Welsh coast, Imtayaz Qassim, the creative force behind Bespoke Boxing, designs some of the most distinctive and attention-grabbing outfits worn by the world’s most renowned boxers. Among his notable clients is WBC World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who is set to face off against the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk in a highly anticipated match in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Billed as the biggest fight in history, both fighters are at the pinnacle of their physical prowess, and the outfits they wear can significantly influence their mindset as they step into the ring. Qassim’s approach to design is deeply personal, as he aims to “tell people’s stories through the garments.”
Each Bespoke Boxing outfit begins with an in-depth client consultation. “We would talk a bit more in-depth and discuss why we would use certain colors. Do they mean something to you? Do you feel better in them? Do you prefer to fight from the hip, so do you need a lot of movement?” Qassim explained.
He tailors each design to the specific needs and preferences of the fighter, taking into account factors such as comfort and range of motion. For Tyson Fury’s upcoming fight against Usyk, Qassim has created a skort-style outfit to address the issue of shorts rising and falling during the bout.
The entrance a boxer makes into the arena, known as the “ring walk,” is a crucial moment that can impact the fighter’s headspace before the match. Former cruiserweight world champion and sports commentator Johnny Nelson emphasizes the importance of the ring walk, stating, “When you’re a fully accomplished fighter and you believe in yourself, the ring walk is everything. This is your peacock moment. This is that time. This is what you’ve trained so many weeks and months for. This attack.”
Ring walks serve as a platform for boxers to project their personalities to the audience, ranging from the intimidating simplicity of Mohammed Ali’s white robe to the deliberately flamboyant, such as Prince Naseem Hamad’s unforgettable entrance on a magic carpet in 2000. Nelson stresses the significance of the outfit in creating the desired impression: “I want them to judge me and think, ‘oh my god, what’s he got on? Who’s he think he is?’ That’s how you want to be. That’s how you want it to be, all about you. And if you really, truly believe you’re dressed like a gladiator, it puts you in that gladiatorial mentality.”
Qassim’s deep understanding of this gladiatorial mentality stems from his own experience as a boxer, having trained multiple times a week since the age of 8. His unique arena designs have captured the imagination of boxing fans and non-fans alike, with creations such as a fisherman outfit for boxing superstar Terence Crawford when he faced Errol Spence, nicknamed the “Big Fish,” last year. He has also designed a fully functional bulletproof vest for boxer and YouTuber Jake Paul and a manga-inspired outfit for British fighter and anime enthusiast Ben Whittaker.
“I’m proud to see my work out there on the biggest stages in the world,” Qassim said, adding that it makes him “inspired to do more and to do better.” Nelson echoes the significance of Qassim’s work in elevating boxers to global stardom, stating, “Boxing fans are actually, in reality, very small in the big picture. So if you can capture the imagination of people that aren’t normally boxing fans, that’s when you become a global superstar.”
As Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk prepare to face off in what promises to be an epic battle, all eyes will be on the ring, not only to witness their incredible skill and determination but also to admire the unique and captivating outfits created by Imtayaz Qassim and Bespoke Boxing.
Credit: CBSNews.com
