Ellis Badr Barboza's return

"El Jefe" Ellis Badr Barboza returns to action this Friday, February 13, when he faces "Fighting Rooster" Zhang Peimian in the featured attraction at ONE Friday Fights 142. The strawweight kickboxing showdown at Bangkok's legendary Lumpinee Stadium pits two former ONE World Title challengers against one another in a crucial bout that could catapult the winner back into the World Title picture. But the 25-year-old Englishman's journey to the world’s largest martial arts organization wasn't paved with privilege. It was forged through adversity, survival, and an unbreakable bond with the woman who refused to let him quit.

Survival On Birmingham's Streets

Ellis Badr Barboza's childhood bears little resemblance to the success story he's building today. At just 6 years old, the Birmingham native and his mother found themselves cast out onto the streets after his father kicked them out of their home. What followed were years of instability, uncertainty, and constant movement as his mom worked multiple jobs just to keep them afloat.

The pair bounced between temporary housing situations, crashing on friends' sofas and sleeping on mattresses thrown across hostel floors. Barboza watched classmates enjoy the comforts of stable homes and new clothes while he struggled to understand why his circumstances differed so drastically. Without a father figure to turn to when bullies targeted him for his worn-out threads, the young Englishman learned early that he'd have to fight his own battles.

"We were homeless quite a bit and moved around a lot. [My mom] was just working different jobs to make it happen," Barboza recalled. "That was all through my childhood. I probably moved 10 times, maybe more, to different houses, spending nights in hostels or on sofas – even mattresses on the floor. I was very young, so I don't remember too much. But I do remember the cold.”

Finding Refuge In The Ring

Everything changed when a friend invited Barboza, then 12 years old, to try Muay Thai at Corefit UK in Birmingham. Under the guidance of renowned striking coach Henry Cleminson, the troubled youth discovered more than just combat techniques – he found purpose, structure, and the first stable environment he'd ever known. The gym became his sanctuary, a place where dedication mattered more than designer clothes or family wealth.

Barboza threw himself into training. Each day after school, he navigated Birmingham's public transportation system, riding two buses across town just to reach the gym. Once there, he absorbed every lesson, refined every technique, and pushed his body to its limits. Then, he'd make the same journey home, only to repeat the entire process the following day. The grueling routine never felt like a burden. If anything, it felt like salvation.

"I ended up going in there for one session, and I just loved it way more. It was only when I went to Muay Thai that I started to take [training] seriously," Barboza said. "My teen years, I was living in the gym. I would get two buses just so I could get to the gym no matter how far it was. I'd finish school and go straight through town to the gym. Then I'd get two buses back home and do the same thing every day because I loved it.”

From Struggle To Success

That dedication transformed into professional excellence as Barboza matured into one of Europe's most promising strikers. Muay Thai opened doors he never imagined possible, taking him from Birmingham's streets to training camps across the globe. He trained in Dubai, where he lived on a stranger's sofa for three months while coaching students and building MTM Sport, his fight apparel and gear brand. He sharpened his skills in Thailand, the spiritual home of Muay Thai. After earning some key victories, he eventually landed a contract with ONE Championship.

The same hunger that pushed him to take two buses daily as a teenager now drives him toward ONE World Title gold. Every sacrifice, every setback, and every cold night sleeping on borrowed mattresses shaped him into the warrior preparing to step into the ring this Friday. But beyond personal glory, Barboza fights with a deeper purpose – to repay the woman who never stopped believing in him, even when they had nothing.

"Living without much built an inner drive to want more. It was business at first, then fighting, which helped me in my teen years to truly express myself and get rid of anger," Barboza said. "It pushed me toward being entrepreneurial because I always wanted to be the person to change the power dynamic in my family. To give us better and give us more. It's still the objective now, to be able to have my mom retire and put my family in a better financial situation for the future.”

Watch out for the next clash

This Friday at Lumpinee Stadium, when "El Jefe" walks to the ring for his featured attraction clash with Zhang Peimian, he'll carry more than championship aspirations. He'll carry the dreams of a homeless child who refused to let circumstance define his destiny.

Don't miss out on ONE Friday Fights this Friday on beIN SPORTS