Born to fight: The kid who ditched football for boxing

The rise of Danil Tissaaratchy, grandson of Olympic boxer Leslie Handunge who fought in foul-play until he found where it was legalised

By Allaam Ousman

There’s a quiet intensity about Danil Tissaaratchy, a name fast emerging in Sri Lanka’s boxing circles. At just 23, the Back 2 Fit boxer has already carved a reputation for his fierce discipline and relentless drive — qualities that seem to run in his blood.
Born on December 30, 2001, Danil is the grandson of the late Leslie Handunge, one of Sri Lanka’s first Olympic boxers who proudly represented the country at the 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Games. Though Danil never met his grandfather, who passed away years before his birth, he feels that legacy deeply.
“He passed away four years before I was born,” says Danil. “But I always knew about him. I think that connection was always there. Boxing just came natural to me.”
A product of St. Peter’s College, Danil was once more at home on the football field than in the ring.
“I played football until I was under 17,” he recalled. “I was always aggressive on the field — most of my yellow cards were for fighting!” he said amusingly. “Even then, I just loved fighting. So I guess that side of me was always there.”
After leaving school early after sitting his O/Ls, he found himself adrift. That’s when boxing called.
“I was out of school and realised I was going nowhere in life,” he admits. “So I thought, you know what, start boxing. That’s how everything began.”
Initially drawn to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Muay Thai, it was the spirit of his maternal grandfather and the art of boxing that ultimately captured his heart.
But when Danil took up boxing in 2020, his parents weren’t exactly cheering him on.
“Both my parents were against it,” he admits. “My mother especially — she knew how dangerous the sport could be. But now, of course, they’ve changed. They’re proud of me.”
His mother Devini works at the Girls’ Friendly Society, while his father Damien is a musician. Danil also has a younger brother who plays football. “They’re my biggest supporters now,” he said smilingly. “And I thank God because I wouldn’t have come this far without Him.”

Making of a Champion
A natural southpaw, Danil’s boxing journey began at Back 2 Fit Boxing Club, where he trains under Coach Gihan Maduwantha, one of the driving forces behind the club’s rapid rise.
“He’s one of our first products,” says coach Gihan proudly. “When he started, we didn’t have any national or international-level boxers in the gym. But his dedication was different. He trusted what we said and worked hard for it. That’s the main reason for his success.”
Danil’s achievements prove that effort pays off. The breakthrough year was 2023. Danil won gold at the Novices, then swept the Intermediate Championships with gold and the Best Boxer award, signalling to the wider community that he was not merely progressing, he was setting the pace. He also took silver at the Nationals, collecting the Best Loser distinction, a quirk of the competition that nonetheless underscored his place among the top tier.
Momentum carried into 2024 as he won the gold at the Clifford Cup and gold again at the Nationals, evidence of consistency across formats and fields. 
In 2025 he capped the run with the National Sports Festival double, gold and Best Boxer, the cleanest possible statement on the biggest domestic platform. 
That string of results reads like a ladder with no missing rungs: Novices 2023 (Gold); Intermediate 2023 (Gold, Best Boxer); Nationals 2023 (Silver, Best Loser); Clifford 2024 (Gold); Nationals 2024 (Gold); National Sports Festival 2025 (Gold, Best Boxer).
Earlier this year, he made his international debut during a boxing tour to the Seychelles.
“It was a close fight,” he recalls. “I lost 3-2 to an Indian, but that was my debut. I represented Sri Lanka privately, not officially. But I know my time will come.”
Coach Gihan describes his protégé as a complete fighter. “He was aggressive from the beginning, but now he’s become one of the most technically sound boxers in the 48kg division,” said coach Gihan.
Danil’s own words reflect a fighter’s mentality. “I might be a technical boxer, but naturally I’m more of a brawler. I love to fight,” he says. “I hate losing more than anything. That anger motivates me. I always want to knock them out because I don’t trust the judges. Even if I clearly win, I know decisions can go either way.”
He has already recorded two wins by technical knockout, a rare feat in his weight. Maintaining his body at fighting weight is a science he’s mastered. “My natural weight is about 53–54kg, but I fight at 48,” he explains. “My diet is mostly protein. Close to meats, I reduce carbs — but I still eat them because you need energy.”
Coach Gihan adds: “We don’t do extreme dieting. Scientifically, if you don’t have carbs, you don’t have energy. We also manage stress — if you stay close to your natural body weight, you perform better.”
Off the ring, Danil trains children and is pursuing a Diploma in Sports Science at CSBM, balancing his studies, coaching and personal training. “It’s not easy,” he admits. “But I love what I do.”

Faith, Focus and Future
Danil’s strength goes beyond the physical and Faith, family and community drive him forward. “I’m grateful to God, my parents, and the Back 2 Fit family,” he says. “Our sponsors — Ravindri Malwatte and Janaka Wijesinghe — always support us when we go for tournaments.”
His long-term dream is crystal clear. “Since the beginning, my plan has been to turn professional,” he says. “But since you can’t turn pro in Sri Lanka right now, I want to achieve everything I can in amateur boxing first. Then, I’ll go for the next level.”
Coach Gihan sums up what makes Danil so special. “He’s dedicated, he listens and he fights with heart. We started this club small, and he’s one of the reasons we’ve grown. His journey shows what hard work and belief can do.”
From being the grandson of an Olympic pioneer to one of the brightest prospects in Sri Lankan boxing, Danil Tissaaratchy is proof that pedigree alone doesn’t make a champion. Passion and perseverance do.
“Regrets? Maybe fights I should’ve won,” Danil says. “But that’s all in the past. It’s always forward. Always.”