A Journey from the Ring to Recovery
Michael Cordner’s journey into boxing was driven by a desire to be the best—whether that meant winning Olympic gold or securing a world title. However, the most challenging battle he faced wasn’t in the ring but against mental health struggles and opioid addiction.
Growing up in Torquay, a beachside town in Victoria, Mr Cordner discovered two passions during his teenage years: boxing and benzodiazepines. The latter was prescribed to him after a mental health referral at the age of 14. In the ring, he quickly rose through the ranks, earning an amateur state title before transitioning to professional boxing. Known as “The Slenderman” for his long limbs, he was on a path to success.
However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his life. With the thrill of boxing removed, his reliance on prescription medication led him down a dangerous path. “I was heavily taking benzodiazepines and didn’t realize it was a problem,” he recalls. “I was still fighting, finishing school, and doing all the things I needed to do. It was only when I stopped taking them that I realized I had a real problem.”
At 18, his prescription ended, and he turned to illegal sources for the medication. “When the pandemic hit, I lost my other vice,” he said. “I no longer had boxing, and I had nothing to keep me focused. That’s when I latched onto opioids to keep me going.” He described the feeling of being relaxed and free from anxiety, which made him prone to risky behavior.
During this time, he became known to the police and delved deeper into drug abuse. “Being full of Xanax at the time, I thought I could get away with anything,” he said.
In 2020, his home was raided by police following a bizarre incident where he impersonated an officer to avoid a fine for trespassing on a closed track. During the raid, drugs, an imitation handgun, and a collection of knives and swords were seized. “I was in bed and armed police officers kicked down the door, charged into my room, and searched the place,” he recalled. “I had drugs in the house, and it ended up being a big ordeal.”
He realized he had fallen from the image of a coach and role model to someone struggling with addiction. “I was taking so much Xanax that if I went cold turkey, I would have died. I was doing really risky things mixing them with drugs that can kill you. I had overdosed at one point, and ambulances had to come to my house.”
It was during his two stints in rehabilitation that Mr Cordner developed a philosophy to turn his life around and help others. “The only way I got through that was thinking of my whole life as a fight,” he said. “If I was struggling in a fight, I would slow down, start jabbing, and listen to my corner again.”
The jab is a fundamental punch in boxing, used to gauge distance and timing. This concept became the foundation of his new mission.
Turning Pain into Purpose
In 2022, after receiving help and relocating to Sydney, Mr Cordner founded Land the Jab, a not-for-profit organization offering programs to teach people aged 15 to 25 how to discuss mental health through boxing. Now 25, he says the program has helped over 100 young people find a better path. He is also studying a certificate in Alcohol and Other Drugs to support his work.
The program is free and includes sessions that teach boxing techniques and relate them to tools for improving mental health. It operates in both affluent areas like Bondi and more disadvantaged regions such as Airds High School near Campbelltown in western Sydney.
“If you feel in danger in your life, that’s when you need to go back to your jab—whether that’s eating better, sleeping more, or just talking to people,” Mr Cordner said. “Making those small steps toward fixing your problem and improving your mental health.”
There is an interesting contrast between Bondi, surrounded by some of the richest suburbs in the country, and western Sydney, which has some of the most dangerous suburbs. Despite this, many of the challenges faced by young people are similar.
Headspace and Prince of Wales Hospital have referred youths who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing psychosis to Land the Jab. Chrysten Kodomichalos, an exercise physiologist at the Eastern Suburbs Mental Health Service, highlights the value of boxing in helping individuals recover from psychotic episodes.
“The benefits of exercise for mental health are well researched and include stimulating key neurotransmitters essential for brain health,” she said. “Individuals at risk of psychosis may experience declines in cognitive function, including working memory, decision-making, attention, and situational awareness. Exercise, such as boxing, targets these skills and is valuable for individuals who have had an episode of psychosis.”
Mr Cordner shared the story of a participant in the Bondi program who turned their life around after a “life-changing” psychotic episode. “One of the kids in the Bondi program had a psychotic episode a year ago, and it completely changed his life,” he said. “Boxing helps people get out of their head and focus on their body, which improves symptoms significantly. The sense of community from the group sessions also helps people at risk of psychosis.”
“He has been coming to Land the Jab and initially struggled to understand things, but he has built himself back up. The other day, he told me he got a job, and it was a big deal for him and his family. It showed there was hope he could get a little bit better. I was very proud of him for that.”
