Community Highlights: Meet Rasheed Diaab of Cape Fear Boxing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rasheed Diaab.

Hi Rasheed, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I never planned on being a boxing coach when I was growing up. My boxing background started at 8 years old when my dad introduced me to boxing because he was very passionate about it. I grew up competing in amateur boxing throughout middle and high school and finished with a 37-7 record.

Upon graduating from high school, I chose to go to college and put my boxing dreams on hold. After a few years in college, I left and joined the US military. I then went back to finish college, graduating from NC State University.

After graduating from college, I made one bad decision that sent me to prison. It was in prison, that I redefined myself and my purpose in life. Following in the steps of my dad and my childhood boxing coach, I began my journey as a boxing coach. In 2014, I started my organization – Cape Fear Boxing and focused on working with kids and teaching them lessons in life and boxing in order to prevent them from making some of the same mistakes that I made in my life.

Since 2014, Cape Fear Boxing has grown to over 150 members and a 10,000 sq. ft. facility. It is the largest boxing gym in the history of Wilmington, NC. We train competitive boxers looking to step into the ring for competition as well as non-competitive boxers to look to get a good workout while learning new skills.

Our Ladies Boxing Boot Camp offers a non-contact, Ladies-Only membership option where women of all ages can come together and learn boxing in a fun, friendly environment, toning up while burning calories. Our Ladies Boxing Boot Camp program consists of 30-minute boxing boot camp sessions, offered 7 days per week.

Cape Fear Boxing prides itself on the structure and high-quality training in order to produce RESULTS. Our motto at Cape Fear Boxing is ‘Train Like A Champion’.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was anything but smooth, in the beginning. Jumping into the fitness world to start up a gym in the midst of hundreds of gyms is a pretty daunting task. Obviously, the fitness industry is heavily saturated and I never thought that I would be able to compete with gyms in Wilmington that have been around much longer than me.

In the beginning, all I had was a background in boxing and my own personal knowledge. But I didn’t have a building, equipment, or even people to train. So I began training kids in my neighborhood for free with what little I had, in order to build a proof of my capability.

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?
Cape Fear Boxing started as a backyard gym with 4 kids from my neighborhood and has grown into a 10,000 sq ft facility with over 150 members. I specialize in boxing coaching and fitness.

I am most known for helping hundreds of women tone up and burn body fat. What sets me apart from other gyms, is that we can teach all of the traditional means of fitness, but we also specialize in using boxing in a way that can speed up fitness results. I am most proud of creating Ladies Boxing Boot Camp which is a women-only, non-contact boot camp that helps women participate in boxing training without any intimidation.

Cape Fear Boxing helps men, women, and kids reach their full potential in boxing, fitness, and life. We believe in the connection between health/fitness and overall well-being. We help build confidence, discipline, and integrity which can improve performance in many areas of one’s life. Our approach is results-based so everyone is treated as an individual and not just a number.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love seeing people grow and develop and become better. I love the fact that we have nice weather as well as opportunities for those that are ambitious and want to accomplish goals.

What I like least is negativity. I try to surround myself with only people that are positive and people that have goals in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/capefearboxing
• Email: [email protected]