Meet our passionate team from Wellington Boxing Gym.
To book a session with any of our Personal Trainers, please email asher@wellingtonboxing.com
Asher Derbyshire
Director & Head Coach
Asher Derbyshire is a qualified personal trainer and has over 15 years experience in the boxing game. He has competed in both amateur and professional levels, but in 2016 all Asher’s hard work and dedication to the sport paid off where he became the NZPBA Cruiserweight title holder.
Asher is also a boxing coach and a boxing instructor. Over the last 8 years he has worked in boxing gyms in Auckland and Wellington, where he has gained a lot of experience working with New Zealand's top coaches and fighters.
Asher is here to help you achieve your goals in the gym, whether it's wanting to lose weight, tone up, get fit and healthy or to help you become the next champion!
Aisea Lealea (Ice)
PT - Boxing & Kickboxing
Ice is a dedicated boxer and has MANY years of experience in the ring. Ice has the ability to break down boxing techniques and translate it for a beginner to an experienced boxer. He takes his learnings from being a previous competitive amatuer boxer.
He is also the king of Russian uppercuts, and is happy to share these with anyone walking through our doors!
Jo Rush
PT - S&C and Boxing
Jo has been boxing for 11 years and coaching for the last 7 years, and has picked up a tonne of experience and knowledge along the way.
She is a very busy woman in the gym. A personal trainer for the last 6 years and has recently added another string to her bow, with a qualification in weight management. She also coaches Wellington Boxing Gyms Amateur Team alongside Coach Aisea as well.
Jo is incredibly passionate about boxing and loves sharing her knowledge and expertise with others. She loves teaching boxing to people who have never done the sport before (especially women as she feels the need for more women in this amazing sport) and can progress you right through from beginner to fight ready.
She has stepped into the ring twice already with a 3rd fight coming up, so knows what it takes to get fight fit and prepared to step into the ring.
Boxing, Fitness, Weight loss or Strength Training, Jo offers it all!
Come and check out one of her classes or hit her up for a personal training session.
Alea Wharekura
PT - S&C and Boxing
With 4 corporate fights under her belt and over 5 years of Personal Training experience, Alea is here to help you smash your goals- whether they’re stepping into the ring for the first time, gaining confidence in the gym, or hitting a new PB on your squat.
Alea is passionate about athletic development and strength training. Her clients range from stay at home mums wanting to stay fit to keep up with their growing children, to fighters looking to gain more strength and power in their movements, to people of all ages wanting to learn how to best protect their body against injury.
Always up for a good laugh, Alea will push you to your limits, while maintaining fun and enjoyment throughout each session.
Marc Siou
PT - S&C, Boxing & Kickboxing
Marc has over 20 years experience in boxing and personal training both here and overseas.
He has competed in amateur boxing and in 2007 won the Wellington Champs. Marc has worked with Mums and Dads, high performance athletes in netball, football and rugby.
He is passionate about helping others reaching their full potential both physically and mentally through the sport and art of boxing.
As a coach Marc highly values the respect, discipline and mental toughness that boxing brings out in individuals.
Come along to one of his classes in Lower Hutt or book in for a private session that suits your schedule!
Asim Talim
PT - S&C and Boxing
With over 1,000 hours of active coaching experience, Asim specialises in strength, power, hypertrophy and fat loss. He has a high-level eye for detail and a holistic approach to his coaching. Asim helps people achieve their goals as quickly and as sustainably as possible with variety and (more importantly) enjoyment.
Asim believes that what you do in the gym should add value to what you do outside the gym. Meaning, the morals and ethics you pick up while training will transfer and enhance your lifestyle. He’s passionate about people building confidence and making positive long-term changes.
Outside of coaching, Asim is a Data Developer and loves his MMA and Rugby. Bringing just above average chat, he is super witty and loves a good yarn! Asim welcomes everyone to have a chat or flick him a message for whatever reason! He’s got your back.
Michael Parlakchief (Turtle)
PT - S&C and Boxing
Turtle has been involved with boxing since 2012 and has worked with corporate, amateur, professionals and King in the ring fighters/competitors. Not to mention he also has a huge passion for boxing.
Turtle runs BoxFit and Skills classes, and is gearing up to do his personal training cert in 2021!
Ata Fakalelu
PT - Boxing & Kickboxing
Ata has been in the fight game for over 10 years and through consistency and hard work, he’s achieved his personal goals within the sport. Now his focus is helping others to do the same.
Ata is passionate about working with people from different backgrounds, with different skill sets and thrives on helping his clients reach their goals. He has a knack for recognising peoples unique styles and adapts his approach to suit the individual, ensuring he brings out the best in them while seeing their natural talent shine through.
Ivan Vaisagote
Trainer
Ivan is passionate about people and helping them progress wherever they are on their health and fitness journey!
Ivan is a blimm’n good guy and we know his values and vibe will help keep that WBG culture strong.
Ivan takes HIIT and Boxfit classes in Kilbirnie and the City, and if you’re lucky you might catch him out in the Hutt every once in a while.
Iloa Tia
Trainer
Iloa’s boxing journey started in 2019 with her first corporate fight in 2021. On her journey she’s developed a passion for the art of the sport and the power it has to help people get fitter and stronger both physically and mentally. Joining our team in April 2022, she is loving being a trainer.
For Iloa, it’s a beautiful way to add value to an individual and build a stronger community. She loves encouraging others to their best and beyond, encouraging them to dig a little bit deeper through one more punch and one more burpee, to pace themselves but push themselves.
With a lot of fun and goofiness and with a little bit of freshing out on the mic now and then (she might even sing a note or 2 and put on a random accent) she keeps it real and will push you to your personal limit but not without the support of the class and she will believe in you all the way.
David Isaia
PT- S&C and Boxing
David is passionate about boxing and everything sport. He thrives on making a postitive impact on the lives of others.
David takes BoxFit in Kilbirnie and the city. In addition David is also a resource coach in the various WBG corporate fight camps. He's the man supporting the fighters in preparation getting them fit ready (runs the running group on Saturday mornings), keeps them informed, helps corner on the night and warm up the teams.
Laura Cairns
Trainer
Laura started boxing as a teenager, wanting to build confidence and fitness. That was 10 years ago, so it is safe to say she developed a love for the sport that would last.
Laura began coaching youth and teens in 2020. Her classes are a safe and inspiring environment for young ones to learn the sport and develop a lifelong love for boxing, just as she did!
Whether your child wants to become the next big champ, or just blow off some steam at the end of the day, they will leave Laura's class with their heads held a little higher, a smile on their face, and some new friends.
In addition to looking after the WBG youth, Laura steps in and takes adult BoxFit classes from time to time.
James Kelly
Trainer
James joined the WBG family two years ago, after previously training in kickboxing however due to injuries he made the move to Boxing. He competed in Clash of the Codes in 2022 and loved everything about the experience - even those early morning trainings! As a dad to two young boys, James has naturally made the move into training our Kids and Teens classes out of our Lower Hutt gym. James really enjoys developing the kids skills and seeing them grow in confidence and ability.
Stacey Te Kuru
Trainer
Stacey is one of out Kickboxing coaches here at WBG. With over 5 years of fighting experience in the NZ kickboxing circuit, Stacey has a wealth of knowledge to share.
Stacey has a passion to give back and share what he’s learnt throughout his time fighting, and this is reflected in his dynamic kickboxing classes as he breaks down technique for both beginners, and advanced athletes.
Haile James-Kapa
Trainer
Haile was new to the boxing scene a few years back and understands how hard it can be to step outside of your comfort zone. Since then she has had a couple of corporate and amateur fights.
Haile creates an encouraging atmosphere in her BoxFit classes and is willing to help anyone who is needing that extra push in the right direction.
She is also a qualified PT!
Xavier Collie
Receptionist
Xav has been slaying the Kilbirnie front desk since early 2023! Like many of our team, he started off as a member, but then an opportunity came knocking to join the legendary WBG crew. Now he's the weeknight face of the place, armed with a smile and is always happy to help.
During his time as a member, he realised how fun it was slinging punches so traded his football boots for boxing gloves and has since racked up a few fights in the squared circle.
Xav loves spinning a good yarn and is always up for some friendly banter so make sure you hit him up next time you’re in!