SERANGOON GARDENS

Velco first picked up boxing at the age of 16 in 2012, and started competing in the sport in 2015. Since then, he has gone on to participate in over 20 fights, both locally and internationally.

A national athlete with the Singapore Boxing Federation, he has won three gold medals at the 2019, 2021 and 2022 National Championships, under the elite division. He also clinched the silver medal at the 2019 Hong Kong City Cup International Boxing Tournament.

Equipped with a diploma in Sports Coaching, he started coaching at Spartans Boxing Club in 2017. He believes that participants should benefit positively from the club's community; apart from boxing skills, he is also a firm believer of participants having the right attitude and values so as to create a positive learning environment for themselves and the people around them.

From initially wanting to learn self-defense to becoming a professional boxing coach, Nicky has followed a path fueled by passion. His boxing journey began at U2Can in 2010. Since then, he has trained at Vanda Boxing and The Ring Boxing Community before finding his home at Spartans. With a win in his first fight at the Vanda Invitationals, Nicky is no stranger to the boxing ring.

Nicky strongly advocates for the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of boxing. The discipline instilled in him by the sport continues to help him through even the toughest days. He firmly believes in working on the fundamentals and mastering basic techniques. As a coach, he emphasizes proper form and pays attention to the details.

A word of warning: be prepared for one or two (hundred) burpees if you ever show up late to his class!

A hyperactive kid from a young age, Vernon was always drawn to martial arts — fascinated by the idea of learning a skill that not only built confidence but also empowered him to protect himself and those around him.

In 2012, Vernon began his martial arts journey alongside his brothers, joining a gym and committing to training ever since. While his brothers leaned more toward boxing, Vernon found his passion in Muay Thai. Still, the siblings often trained together, pushing each other to grow.

Vernon has actively competed in Muay Thai over the years and even stepped into the boxing ring, winning his first boxing match in 2018.

His talent and dedication led to a major milestone in 2019, when he was selected to represent Team Singapore Muay Thai. That same year, he won a silver medal at the Australia Arafura Games and competed at the IFMA World Championship in Bangkok — proudly wearing Singapore’s colours on the international stage.

Coach Vernon lives by the values of effort, consistency, and self-awareness. He believes that training isn’t just about pushing hard — it’s about knowing your body, avoiding injury, and coming back stronger each time. 💪

Fun fact: One of Vernon’s brothers is none other than our very own Coach Velco! 🥊👊