For Egyptian-Australian boxer Mai Soliman, world super flyweight address The match against Japanese champion Mizuki Hirota at the Pyramids of Giza was not determined by the final result.
Instead of focusing on defeat, Suleiman drew inspiration from this experience and used it as fuel to aim higher and continue moving forward on her journey.
“I’m often my own harshest critic, and that’s something everyone in my family knows,” Soliman tells Egyptian Straits.
“But I’ve learned to focus on the positives, draw lessons from each experience, and move forward. What’s most important is making sure I’m truly learning and growing from it.”
Beyond the historical landmark become The first Egyptian-Australian woman to compete for a world title at the Pyramids and the hard-earned status of international championship titles, Soliman realized that a boxer’s true strength is not just defined by the ropes of the ring, but by how she continues to move forward.
Thanks to the persistence and determination of a true competitor, she aims to become a world champion. Her goal is not just to keep going, or just to train for the next match, or even to wait for the next opportunity, but to excel.
“I firmly believe that becoming a world champion is within my reach, and it is not out of reach at all,” she says.
“The best is yet to come. I’m so grateful to God, because I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have gotten to this point in my career.”
The heart of a fighter
So much of Soliman’s boxing journey can be summed up in one simple sentence: she has the spirit to keep fighting and persevere, even as an athlete competing in a male-dominated industry.
I learned very early on that boxing is never about skill alone, but rather the mindset one must build to maintain discipline in such a difficult environment. After watching Million Dollar Baby (2004), a film that follows Margaret “Maggie” Fitzgerald’s journey as she became a professional boxer, Sulaiman found herself inspired not only to take up boxing, but to the spirit of fighting itself, a spirit defined by defying the odds and refusing to surrender to defeat.
“When I watched Million Dollar Baby, I was inspired by how determined she was to make it happen,” she says. “She came from a humble background, but she wanted to keep fighting, even though no one wanted to train her because she was a girl.”
“She became a world champion, made a lot of money, and tried to help her family. So, that really inspired me.”
Although boxing is often misdescribed as a purely physical sport, its impact lies in the mental fortitude it develops. Outside of the ring, sports became her teacher, instilling a level of discipline that transcended athletic competition.
The lessons learned through training have turned into tools for overcoming the complexities of life and fostering a mindset that benefits the individual’s well-being and overall personality development.
“The discipline that comes with boxing isn’t just physical, I think it’s more about the mental aspect,” Soliman says.
“It shapes you mentally in a completely different way, and changes the way you look at life from the outside.”
She attributes these lessons to her personal development, noting, “Everything I learned in boxing has shaped my personality outside the ring. It has made me responsible, disciplined and very determined.”
She adds: “I carry these qualities with me everywhere.” “It’s not just in my boxing life, but in everything I do, whether it’s with family, relationships, friends or work. These lessons are part of everything I do outside of the sport.”
While the life of an athlete is often portrayed as glamorous on social media, the reality is much harsher. For a young boxer navigating the digital age, the highlights you watch online can be misleading, which is why her message to aspiring athletes is not to get carried away by fame or the veneer of success.
“Boxing can seem incredibly glamorous when you see it on social media, but the real goldmine is the work you don’t see off camera,” she explains.
“That’s all you need to invest in: the basics, the hard work, the sparring, and putting in the hours. It’s really that simple.”
Women in boxing
Historically, women’s boxing Face it Many obstacles, often bound by deep-seated stigmas and narrow stereotypes. It was often viewed as the exclusive domain of men, and female boxers were often met with skepticism or outright resistance.
A common reductive stereotype persists that portrays female boxers as inherently aggressive or unfeminine, suggesting that to be a fighter, one must adopt a “difficult” or tomboyish persona in all aspects of life.
However, this outdated stereotype is being dismantled by a new generation of athletes who, like Sulaiman, are proving that being a boxer does not mean sacrificing your identity as a woman.
“I can come across as very aggressive, and that’s normal, right? We’re two people who wear gloves and hit each other in the face. But I try to separate myself from that outside of sports and be the lady I am,” she says.
It challenges the pressure on female fighters to conform to a specific look, idea, or even attitude. “I don’t want anyone to think that women’s boxing is about aggression or that you need to look tough or like a tomboy,” she adds.
“You can still dress well and be feminine. That’s who I am outside of boxing. I don’t need to carry that persona with me; it stays in the ring and in training. When I’m outside, I like to do my hair and dress well.”
Boxing did not make Suleiman less emotional. In fact, she actively fights the stereotype that female boxers must strip away their humanity to succeed. Instead of hiding her feelings, she embraces them fully.
“Am I still emotional? I’m very emotional,” says Suleiman. “I probably cry at every movie, especially animated movies! I’m very emotional, and that’s good. I don’t need to act so strong all the time.”
The rise of Solomon It coincides With a broader historical cultural shift reverberating throughout the Middle East. Over the past few years, the region has witnessed a huge boom in women’s participation in combat sports. In 2024, for example, Saudi Arabia Hosted For the first time, a fight for the women’s world title.
Rather than viewing herself as an outsider, she is embracing her role as a business planner, actively working to ensure that the sport becomes accessible, celebrated, and sustainable for the next generation.
“I had a lot of women come up to me after the fight, and they were so happy to watch this fight and join in,” Soliman says.
“I also love and love to help and do more to grow women’s boxing in Egypt. I think there is a lot of talent, and a lot of room for all these girls to grow and achieve great things on the world stage.”
