Zinnat Ferdous Makes History for Bangladesh One Punch at Time
Zinnat Ferdous Makes History for Bangladesh One Punch at Time
Ferdous set to make history on the Commonwealth StageJoseph Hammond|
By day, Zinnat Ferdous is a Google lead, meticulously managing a nine-figure advertising incentives program. By night, she wraps her hands, steps into a starkly different uniform, and trains for the kind of fight no spreadsheet can ever solve.
This summer, she will carry the flag of Bangladesh into one of sport’s most visible multi-national arenas: the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (running July 23 to August 2). For Ferdous, the rings at Glasgow’s SEC Centre represent far more than a routine stop on the international calendar, though.
It is a crucial proving ground—a place to test herself against deep-rooted boxing nations as she aims at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and prove that Bangladesh can produce fighters capable of competing far beyond the regional stage.
In many corners of the world, the Commonwealth Games rival the Olympics for sheer prestige. For Ferdous, it is the first major checkpoint in a compressed, unrelenting two-year Olympic campaign that will slice through the Asian Games, the World Boxing Championships, and other international tournaments.
Forging the path to Glasgow
To qualify for her spot on the national squad, Ferdous traveled to Bangladesh for the national qualifiers and secured her position with a wide-margin, masterclass victory over Kayema Khatun, the Army veteran who stood as the country’s most experienced female boxer.
During the same trip, Ferdous leveraged her corporate leadership skills, meeting with Bangladesh’s Sports Minister, Aminul Haque, to discuss structural overhauls for the nation’s boxing ecosystem.
"On my recent trip to Bangladesh, I had the privilege of sitting down with the Honorable Sports Minister, Aminul Haque, to discuss exactly what the team and I need to elevate and grow the sport of boxing nationally," Ferdous said. "Boxing lags behind cricket and football here, but there is a surge of interest in combat sports. Investing in the sport and our youth right now is the right move. We have an immense amount of work to do over the next two years, but the foundation is being laid today."
Her rise may have begun in New York gyms, but Glasgow is where her personal ambition transforms into a larger platform for Bangladeshi boxing. Ferdous has already made history: she was the first female boxer to represent Bangladesh internationally when she entered the ring at the 2023 Asian Games. Now, she adds the distinction of being the first woman to fight for the nation at the Commonwealth Games.
The corporate alter ego
Zinnat Ferdous has the makings of a comic-book alter ego: jet-setting corporate tech leader by daylight, rising boxer after dark, and an unapologetic New Yorker through and through.
Despite being halfway across the world on a Google work rotation in Australia, she hasn't missed a beat. She has kept up her boxing training with the help of her US-based professional boxing trainer, Colin Morgan, alongside top-tier Australian trainers—all while passionately celebrating the New York Knicks' historic NBA championship from afar.
Ferdous studied at Columbia University in a family that encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Which isn't surprising.
Ferdous picked up boxing in her late 20s merely as a hobby. Just four years later, that hobby has mutated into an obsession, earning her 11 championship medals. As her stature in the amateur ranks has grown, her reputation has preceded her—so much so that notable women in the sport have actively ducked sparring sessions with her.
Humble origins, global stages
For all her current momentum, Ferdous’s competitive debut was deeply personal. In November 2021, she stepped into the ring for the first time at Haymakers for Hope, a charity boxing event where participants pledge to raise a minimum of $10,000. Ferdous blew past the threshold, raising ~$30,000 for a gastrointestinal cancer institute in memory of her aunt, who had tragically passed away from a rare stomach cancer earlier that year.
Since her debut, her progression has been meteoric. She has stacked medals at prestigious tournaments across the globe: Dominican Republic’s Copa Independencia, Spain’s Boxam Elite International, Silesian Women’s Boxing Championships and others
She appeared alongside fashion icon Naomi Campbell at a prestigious International Boxing Association (IBA) event where Terrence Crawford and Tyson Fury were also in attendance. She previously fared well at an IBA organized South Africa Mandela African Boxing Cup in 2024 in which she earned gold.
"With the LA 2028 Olympics just two years away, the clock is absolutely ticking," Ferdous acknowledges. "Mapping out the road to the Games means focusing on a massive lineup of major milestones: the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, and upcoming World Boxing Championships.”
Published 23 hours ago
JOSEPH HAMMONDJoseph Hammond is a veteran sports journalist with extensive experience covering world championship fights across three continents. He has interviewed legendary champions such as Julio César Chávez, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin, Oscar De La Hoya, and Bernard Hopkins, among many others. He reported ringside for KO On SI in 2024 for the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk bout in Riyadh - the first undisputed heavyweight championship in 24 years.
Follow TheJosephHBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
