Bathed in the fluorescent light of a sparse basement in Syria's war-torn Aleppo city, young boys pummel red punching bags under the close supervision of a former national boxing champion.<br />The rhythmic sound of gloves at Shahba boxing club can at times drown out the blasts of air strikes and shelling coming from eastern parts of the city.<br />Syria's second city Aleppo has been divided by a dangerous front line since 2012, with government forces controlling western neighborhoods and rebel groups the east.<br />Kattan, 31, began boxing professionally in 1994 and became Syria's national champion only a year later, going on to win gold medals across the region.
