The foreigner in the gym… The past repeats in the presents and I must conquer again!
Two weeks ago, I walked into Wildcard boxing gym in Hollywood, probably the most prestigious boxing club in California due to the ever popular Freddie Roach, world renowned Hall of Fame boxing trainer, and five-time Boxing Trainer of the Year.
To my surprise Freddie was behind the counter signing me up. I don’t think he remembered meeting me 14 years ago, but in all fairness he meets tons of people, especially now with his ever growing superstar fame due to his training of the legendary Manny Pacquiao. Regardless, he was very nice to me, and gave me the 50% fighter’s discount price. He did the same for my friend Brett Davis, producer of One More Round, and soon to be one of my corner men in the professional fight that will wrap the documentary.
As we are going through this journey of One More Round, we have discussed which top-notch boxing trainer is to be attached. Since I am in Los Angeles, Freddie’s name always comes up. So, acting with my heart and not my head, I immediately got in touch with Ashley Pontius, the producer in charge of getting talent on board for One More Round, and told her that she had to rush here to pitch Freddie and get him on board. So she did. Ashley made her pitch and Freddie laughed, as if to say that it’s a pipe dream, a ridiculous undertaking that we shouldn’t even bother with. He actually told her flat out, “It’s impossible for a 44 year old man to come back and fight professionally.” Ashley, being the great producer that she is, was persistent, but Freddie wasn’t buying it. So needless to say, the news was a bit depressing to me. It would have been an honor to train with Freddie for my first and last professional fight, a journey I hope will inspire millions.
Walking into to Freddie’s gym, Wildcard, was very much a lot like the first time I walked into Time Square Boxing Gym or Gleason’s gym in New York. Where there is a loneliness and everyone is checking you out… Who are you? Can you box? What are you doing here?
It makes me remember when I first walked in Time Square Boxing Gym in Manhattan 21 years ago. The legendary trainer and owner Jimmy Glenn found out I had no money, but he heard I wanted to box, and he offered me a locker and no dues. What an amazing, classy man. He brought so much to the sport of boxing.
That’s where I met Eddie Tyler, my trainer and mentor. The man that changed my life. Times Square Boxing Gym soon closed down due to Mayor Giuliani taking lots of cash from Disney to turn my gritty midtown jungle into a theme park. So we moved to the world famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.
Times Square Boxing Gym and Gleason’s were a lonely path at first, and it was obvious that Eddie and I had to prove ourselves. We felt that way everyday right up until we reached the final of The Golden Gloves.
Wildcard has seemed pretty lonely as well so far and so once again I need to prove myself till I get to my professional fight. But this time I will complete the journey… with no regrets, and giving it all I got… heart and soul!