Mischa Merz
Mischa Merz, is a former Australian national boxing champion and US Golden Gloves masters champion and Ringisde world masters champion. She has been at the forefront of the growing international women’s boxing scene for 20 years and knows the sport inside out.
She has written two critically acclaimed memoirs about her experiences and as a journalist has written extensively about boxing for newspapers and magazines. She has been to the United States regularly to train, fight and learn from some of the best in the business and has also spent time at the Australian institute of Sport.
She is an accredited boxing coach and has a Certificate III and IV in Fitness.
All female coaching team
This is the only boxing gym in the state owned and run exclusively by female coaches for a mixed membership of men and women. We have the authority of experience inside the ring and out. Combined we have clocked up close to 100 years in fighting as well as coaching athletes and ordinary people, from kids to adults in their 50s and 60s.
There are three Australian champions among us as well as coaches with international elite boxing experience.
Mischa’s Boxing Central always welcomes men and boys to join us and we are happy to be able to share our gym, and our knowledge of boxing with everyone.
Jeni
Jeni Ragheb has been taking her tough but fun sessions for the past ten years. Jeni’s classes are challenging but always full of laughs and she’ll often be seen to jump in and join the class showing people that she can definitely walk the walk.
She also takes our strength and conditioning classes.
Jeni has a varied background that includes two boxing fights as well as having trained in classical ballet, jazz, street and Latin dance for over 25 years.
She has worked as a personal trainer and fitness instructor for nearly 20 years specialising in weight training, functional fitness training and boxing.
She’s local to the Western Suburbs and available for PT sessions.
Cidalia 'Cid' Pires
Cidalia, or Cid, has been a loyal member of the Boxing Central family since it opened in 2013 and was a member even before that. She loves teaching beginners and always makes them feel comfortable.
Cid has competed in four interclub fights and been a valued sparring and training partner for all the younger female boxers who have come to the gym and is a highly skilled boxer herself.
She’s currently doing an exercise science degree and is available for PT sessions for both adults and children. She is patient, fun and engaging.
Raphaela Baki Kaore
Raph is a multi-sport elite athlete from Papua New Guinea. As well as representing her country internationally as a boxer she has coached her PNG’s female squad at the Commonwealth Games. She is also a former track and field athlete and national Rugby player. She has been instrumental in bringing more women into the boxing space in PNG and has campaigned against family violence, using sport to empower women and girls.
Emily Jans
Emily has more than 15 years’ experience in amateur boxing and has trained and competed at elite level. She has also competed professionally in K-1 kickboxing and muay thai. She switched to boxing in 2011 and represented Victoria, winning the Australian national championship.
Along with Kristy Harris she is a founder of the not for profit organisation Off The Wall Boxing
Kristy Harris
Kristy has had a highly distinguished national and international career in amateur boxing and is a multi-time national and state champion. In more than 90 fights she won bronze at the 2018 world championships and has twice represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games, in 2022 she was team captain.
She is now a boxing coach and an L-2 Strength & Conditioning coach.
Rhian Streeter-Jones
Rhian Streeter-Jones, or Rhi, came to join MBC after having trained at several gyms, including the highly regarded Collingwood Boxing Club, over the past 5 years. She has a handful of amateur fights under her belt and is part of MBC’s Fighters’ Class.
She’s recently become an MBC instructor taking fitness classes and beginner boxing technique sessions, naturally fitting right in with the gym’s friendly vibe.
Rhi’s classes are a great mix of cardio and strength and conditioning, always beginning with boxing technique and fundamentals to get the class set up for success.
Rhi is energetic, engaging, and especially great with beginners. If you want to get a great workout, have a lot of fun and learn how to throw a punch with perfect technique, her classes are a great place to start.