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-038- THE YEAR OF THE UNDERDOG MAN OF THE YEAR What was your favorite moment boxing? “My favorite moment while boxing came last year around this same time when I got the opportunity to fight in the Junior Olympics in front of Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr. After my fight I took a photo with the two hall of famers and Holyfield gave me some words of en couragement.” What did you take away from that event? “The event was a lot of pressure on me because it was the Junior Olympics and when you see two hall of fame fighters in the front row, you kind of want to put on a big show for them." How has your time at Morehouse been? “I’m a fourth-generation man of More house, so it was kind of my only choice. Since I've been here, I’ve been heavily involved in many organizations like the Presidential Ambassadors, SGA and I founded the first ever AUC boxing club. My time here has been pleasant and I’ve enjoyed all of my brothers here and all of the connections I’ve made." Tell me about the AUC Boxing Club. “I founded the club in my first semester here and it ended up getting chartered in the second semester of my freshman year. It was kind of rocky getting it start ed because a lot of the school officials didn’t feel that it would be a safe and proactive club, but after talking to them they eventually came around and saw that boxing was truly an art so the club started and opportunities spread.” What do you like most about boxing? “I really like how disciplined boxing makes you in and out of the ring. When you’re training for a fight you have to be disciplined and cut out certain foods, partying and drinking.” If you do feel like an underdog, what do you do to prove people wrong? “Last year I had a Golden Gloves fight against a fighter that was six inches taller than me and people were telling me he knocked out his last opponent and this was going to be a hard fight for me, but I just kept my head strong and stuck to the game plan. I stuck to the plan and got inside and won. In boxing, a lot of people are going to try to get in your head, so you just have to stay focused.” How did you get into boxing? “My cousin Danell Nichol son competed in the 1992 Olym pics and ended up going pro and hold ing the heavyweight title for a while. My father was also a real big boxer growing up, but he stopped boxing because he wanted to be a father to me and my younger sib lings. So, since the age of 6, my father and my cousin have had me in the gym training and helped my father kind of live his dream through me.” What are your long-term goals athleti cally or for your career? “Currently, I’m training to get into the 2020 Olympics. I had a trial fight this May, but I got injured so I won’t be able to fight in that. The trial fight was over in Australia so I’m disappointed I couldn’t go to that, but I’m going to continue training and then I’m going to try and get back into another qual ifying fight. I don’t see myself boxing long term. Although I like boxing as a hobby, I feel like my purpose in life is to be a civil rights attorney, representing people of color with low incomes. Ulti mately, I would like to sit as the mayor of Chicago.” Boxing Class and Stats “I fight in the Phantom weight class, which is 123 pounds.” Who do you look up to in the boxing world? “When I was younger I used to try to im itate Muhammad AN and his footwork, but I think the greatest fighter is Mike Tyson. My father would tell me not to get caught up with everyone else’s style and just focus on what you’re doing, but I kind of just take what I like from dif ferent boxers and craft it into my own style.”