Today we’d like to introduce you to Mateo Attalla.
Hi Mateo, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I am originally from Sydney, Australia, and come from a boxing background. At the age of 13, my parents enrolled me in boxing lessons to help with my footwork for tennis. I took a liking to BOXING very quickly and after only one month of training, I went into national golden gloves as a novice and took 1st! After that, I went all in and that’s how my boxing career began. By the age of 16, I was Nominated Australian Sports Person of the year by the Australian Government and won multiple national and international championships very quickly.
When the COVID-19 Lockdowns began in 2020, I decided to take boxing training back up. I had a strong desire to make a comeback into the ring. A lot of people in Miami noticed my skill set: Strength, Speed, Shadowboxing, and Boxing. They were curious to learn how I moved the way I did and how I punch so hard because they had never seen anyone move or throw punches with such intensity. I began thinking creatively in ways I could train and teach people the fundamentals of boxing without any equipment or facility. I would teach people in parking lots, on the beach, at their residents, anywhere I could. I taught people because of my love for the sport of boxing, and I wanted to test myself to be more than just an exceptional athlete — I wanted to see if I could be a teacher rather than always being the student. I started taking on private clients. Being brand new to coaching I had no idea what to charge for my services, so I let the people decide my compensation based on their results and how they felt my knowledge and coaching was worth. They would tip me or give me what they thought was fair for my time and value and people started to see real results fast. Since the gyms were closed, I ended up doing this in my parking garage, then in the parking lot outside in front of my building. In the following phase, I began teaching classes for a local bodybuilding gym, where for the very first time I was finally able to use an adequate space that gave my training a professional feel.
Very quickly I noticed I need to give my boxing services a name. Thinking back to my childhood I resurrected my old nickname from school. Kids at school would call me BOXR or Attalla which is my last name. In Australia, we speak a little differently and like to take the “E” out of names. So instead of calling me “BOXER” they cut it to BOXR. Talking with my partner Cami who is the Co-Founder of the gym she agreed that BOXR was an amazing name, and I should use that for my brand which still is to this day.
After finding quick success with my rogue boxing classes I was inspired to create my very own facility. Unsure of the market conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to open my very first BOXR facility in my condo. I removed all traditional living furniture and furnishings, like a bed, couch, and tables, and replaced all my furniture with Boxing equipment. I built a ring in the living room, put some heavy bags upstairs, attached some double-end bags under the staircase, created speed drills on one balcony, and a recovery jacuzzi and cold plunge in the other balcony. I had prepped meal plans for my clients in the fridge and created the first BOXR.
In only a month, my clientele grew so quickly that I realized I needed much more space to grow, so I began looking for a bigger space. I scheduled a meeting with a gym owner and showed him what I created upstairs in my condo. He was absolutely blown away, so I proposed I sublet a small unused area in his facility to create a unique boxing gym. He agreed and after 10 months BOXR grew from 30 members to over 400. During that time of growth, I was able to recruit some of the BEST boxing trainers in the country and created the BOXR curriculum and full class schedule.
Nearing the end of 2021, I was fortunate to come across an abandoned warehouse in downtown Miami. Walking into the space I immediately knew this was the space to finally allow my vision to come to life and have my first space I could finally call my own. BOXR is now a complete 30,000 sq ft facility with a complete boxing area with two rings 20 bags, speed bags, double end bags, and jump roping section. Upstairs we have a full MMA area, two body building sections, yoga/pilates studio, indoor basketball court, sanded outdoor training section and the largest set of classes with the most variety that any gym offers in Miami, probably even the state if not the country.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a struggle of course just like any business owner going into business for the first time. While there were segments where everything seemed to be working smoothly for a moment there was always a new obstacle right after that. After each battle won was a new more challenging obstacle after that. But I have an amazing team and an amazing partner “Cami Co-Founder” to assist in every step of the way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
BOXR is not just a gym, it’s a lifestyle facility with a community of amazing, like-minded individuals, who want to reach their maximum potential. Inside of BOXR we offer sports therapy (RECVR), barbershop (The Dapper Scoundrel), beauty / aesthetic company (JV Aesthetics), and a nutrition focused smoothie company which offers amazing shakes, vegan protein doughnuts and other nutritional foods and beverages (Blends Nutrition) all inside our facility. Everything you need to look and feel your absolute best under one roof.
Our gym is made for all people, from beginners to professional athletes. We also have a very popular youth/kid classes ranging in ages from 5-15. We have people who are just starting their fitness journey to boxing elites such as Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto who train at our facility frequently.
BOXR is known for of course Boxing. But we do not only specialize in “BOXING” we also offer a variety of classes and disciplines. From kickboxing, muay Thai, MMA, jiu jitsu, yoga, pilates, CrossFit, weight training, full body exercises, and spin. We have world-class trainers with years of experience in their specific fields.
What makes BOXR special is THE PEOPLE. There is an energy you feel as soon as you walk through these doors. Even before we built BOXR as it is today, I made it clear what I wanted people to feel as they walked through our doors. I wanted people to feel as if they were coming to a fight like in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Arena. It was very important to make sure every detailed was planned from the aesthetic, art, speaker system, exotic cars, and lighting. Even though all these things can be purchased there is one thing that no amount of money could ever buy and that is CULTURE. The culture is the foundation of BOXR, and the culture is felt as soon as you step inside. Just try one of our classes with our world class coaches and you will have a deeper understanding of what makes this a unique experience unlike anything you ever seen, felt, and heard.
In BOXR you are forced to interact. It is impossible to stand still. You will build unique relationships with some of the best people in the world. BOXR attracts entrepreneurs, business moguls, athletes, artists, professionals, and normal civilians who all have similar characters, mindsets, and goals. BOXR has been titled “The Entreprenuarl Hub” of Miami. There is a friendly competiveness in the atmosphere of BOXR that is so magnetic it attracts all these different walks of life. Many of our members take back-to-back classes never wanting to miss anything. You could be in a class with a business mogul, a recording artist, athlete, you never know. While in BOXR, we are all equals, and you can feel that.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to us at BOXR are our people. The members, the staff, the trainers. The people are the most important aspect to our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boxrgym.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boxrgym/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOXRMIAMI/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYqDL23xHcqNCf8MMOJhdGQ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@boxrgymv
Image Credits
Daniel Marcus Abreu
