In Archie Hayes’s boxing lessons, the punches come with numbers.
The 10-year-old from Bristol, who is blind, has learned to box through a simple system from his coach. “One” means jab, “two” means cross, “three” means hook and “four” means upper cut.
Archie trains three times a week with coach Andy O’Kane, 62, at Paddy John’s Boxing Gym in Bristol. During sessions, Andy calls out number combinations to guide him in the ring.
Archie was born blind, but that did not stop him from taking up the sport and following his brother Josh, 15, who is also a boxer.
Andy has been a boxing coach at the gym for more than 20 years and said he is “really proud” to be able to teach a young blind boy how to box.
“Archie is hard working,” says Andy. “He pays attention, he soaks up every single thing you tell him and he picks it up really quick. He has been with us for 18 months and he can box – he understands boxing. He does everything that any young person involved in boxing does. Because he is blind he is having to put complete faith in what I tell him.
“He memorizes everything that I say to the point that if I make a mistake he will tell me. I’m really proud that a blind young boy can be included in the sport and in this club.”
Archie was born blind, but it took doctors seven months to get a full diagnosis. After several tests, he was diagnosed with Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis, or LCA, a rare, inherited eye disorder that affects the retina.
For training, Archie uses punch bags and pad work. He also takes part in sparring sessions with fully-sighted colleagues.
Andy said it started gradually before becoming a regular part of club life.
“I was starting to do little bits with him and then he really got interested and his dad asked if we could make this a regular thing and that’s what we did,” he said. It was about trying to get him to be part of the club as well.
“Now he comes into the classes and he trains and the other kids are completely oblivious to it, they don’t have any issue. The fact that he can’t see doesn’t change anything.”
Archie said boxing makes him feel stronger.
“I like it because it makes me really strong and powerful,” he said. “Boxing teaches you to become tough because I’m punching bags and stuff.”
His parents, Fred Hayes, 37, and Natalie Hayes, 40, said they have never “wrapped Archie up” and have always allowed him to do what he wants.
“He was born blind so we don’t know any different to everybody else so that’s his way of life,” said Natalie. “It doesn’t affect him that he can’t see, he is happy the way he is. I call him the champ.”
“Me and mum have never wrapped him up, we have just let him get on with it,” said Fred. “He is got to learn with it. There’s nothing that can be done to bring Archie’s vision back at the moment but we don’t know what the future technology might bring. He is happy the way he is.”
Archie often tunes in to hear boxing combats and said he wants to keep boxing for a long time.
“It’s really fun,” he said. “It’s a good sport and I like hearing it on the telly.”
He has also met Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker and Conor Benn.
Andy said he hopes Archie’s experience encourages other blind children to try boxing.
“If that sends out a message to other blind kids that wanna they can try their boxing club then that’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s nice to think that boxing can move on and the coaches have got open minds.
“I’m really proud that he chose our club.”
