A new publication from the U.S. Virgin Islands Boxing Federation is shifting the focus from the ring to what comes after it, launching a series that highlights former athletes whose success extends far beyond competition.
Champions Outside the Ring debuted last week with a simple premise: being a champion is not defined solely by titles or victories, but by the discipline, resilience, and character developed along the way. The series profiles former amateur boxers who have carried those lessons into their careers and communities, offering a broader look at the long-term impact of the sport.
The inaugural edition features Tariq Abdul-Akbar, whose path from the gym to the global stage reflects that idea in full.
Though born in Baltimore, Abdul-Akbar’s roots are firmly tied to the Virgin Islands, where he spent his summers and later attended Charlotte Amalie High School. His introduction to boxing came almost by accident — a visit to a St. Thomas gym in 2009 while training for football — but it quickly became something more. What he found, he said, was a sense of belonging and a community that pushed him to grow.
That foundation would carry him far beyond the ring.
After going on to play Division I football at the University of Richmond, Abdul-Akbar eventually shifted his focus to academics and entrepreneurship, earning a master’s degree and pursuing opportunities abroad. A planned venture in mining brought him to Africa in 2020, but when pandemic-related shutdowns stalled his plans and left him stranded, he was forced to pivot.
What followed was a period of uncertainty that ultimately led to reinvention. By 2021, Abdul-Akbar had founded Firdous Biotech, applying the same discipline and mental focus he developed through boxing to a new field.
“Boxing taught me mental toughness and emotional control,” he said. “In the ring, you can’t react out of emotion — you have to think strategically. That same mindset applies in business.”
Looking back, Abdul-Akbar sees a clear through line between the lessons learned in the gym and the path he has taken since. The definition of being a champion, he said, has evolved — from winning fights to building something meaningful and leading with purpose.
The publication’s title reflects that shift. For the federation, the goal is not only to recognize athletic achievement, but to highlight the lasting impact of the sport — the ways it shapes individuals long after the final bell.
Future editions will continue to spotlight former boxers whose lives reflect that same trajectory, including upcoming features on other Virgin Islands athletes.
