What Boxing Means to Me – Part 3: When My Grandfather Stepped in

In boxing, you’re always learning and you never stop. Doesn’t matter who you are, whether you’re just stepping in the gym for the first time or you’ve been training for decades, there’s always more information and knowledge available.

When my grandfather stepped in to start coaching me, that’s when I truly began to understand the game of boxing. Not because my dad didn’t teach me well or lacked knowledge, but because sometimes the teacher needs a teacher too. And this became a powerful experience for both of us. My dad got to watch his father pass down boxing knowledge in real time, not just to me, but back to him as well. My grandfather brought a whole new level of teaching to the table, an old Philadelphia style, one that was prominent across the world. He taught me where to place my shots, how to roll with punches, how to be slick and strategic, how to position myself in the ring to be a floor general and most importantly, how to control my emotions. Before his coaching, I’d often fight angry and lose control. He taught me a powerful lesson: an angry man can’t think. As a fighter, I needed to get mean, not mad. He opened my eyes to the psychological side of boxing, the mental game, the thinking game — the why, when, and how. The kind of stuff you can only learn from an old school cat like him.

There were so many little things my dad had either forgotten or assumed I could just pick up naturally, but I couldn’t. And to his credit, he realized that. Watching his own father teach me opened his eyes, too. It gave him a new lens on how to train his own fighters and a new appreciation for coaching of the sport.

During this stretch of time, I wasn’t sparring much, just focusing on in-depth, detailed training and it was one of the most pivotal pieces in my development. My grandfather’s approach was old school: slow things down, explain the why, when, and how. We broke everything down step by step. Very repetitive and intentional with every session and that’s when my game grew in strides.

Before I knew it, I was only sparring grown men. I had started to really understand the craft and began to develop into a well-rounded, sharp, young fighter. I started understanding why certain things mattered. Consistently training, timing, rhythm, distance, conserving energy, changing angles, ring IQ etc. My grandfather had a way of breaking things down that made everything click.

Even at a young age, I realized something important: if you’re serious about growth, inside the gym or out, you need to stay coachable. You have to be open minded and a great listener. Even if you know a lot, there’s always more to learn.

This lesson stuck with me. Today, as a coach, I still carry that mindset. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I’m a student of the game first, and I’ll always be one.

My dad gave me a foundation, but being trained by my grandfather gave me understanding. And it reminded me that no matter where you are, there’s always room to learn more.

Start. Stay coachable. Keep learning. Keep growing.

Catch part 4 of “What Boxing Means to Me” next Friday.

This series is for anyone who’s ever wondered about the positive effects boxing and training can have on your life—the valuable, intangible things that stay with you far beyond the sport. Follow along here and on our IG: @TABoxing_

Click Here to book your complimentary Assessment with TA Boxing.