What boxing teaches you about life, business and mental health

In this powerful episode of Business Babble, the team sit down with Gordon Brennan, founder of Trench Boxing and Fitness, to explore the journey behind the gym, the man, and the mission.

Gordon shares how boxing first became an outlet for aggression and a lifeline for focus, discipline and calm, before growing into a business that now supports hundreds of members. From starting Trench Boxing to cover a £200 monthly shortfall, to building a community known for its welcoming culture, Gordon opens up about the real highs and lows of life as both a boxer and a business owner.

The conversation dives into the realities of amateur and professional boxing, the harsh economics behind the sport, and why so many people now turn to boxing for fitness, confidence and mental wellbeing rather than competition alone. Gordon also speaks candidly about the emotional crashes that can follow fight camps, how his own struggles shaped Trench’s mental health classes, and why creating a safe, supportive space has become such a huge part of the gym’s purpose.

He also reflects on facing stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma while trying to build his first gym, and how a fighter’s mindset helped carry him through one of the toughest periods of his life.

This is an honest, inspiring and deeply human conversation about resilience, community, purpose and what it really takes to turn passion into something meaningful.