If you had told me last year that I would be the Ring Masters (Golden Gloves) Champion, I probably would have laughed. Not because I didn’t believe in my abilities, but because it was hard to even imagine myself achieving something that big. Sometimes, it’s difficult to dream big when you’re surrounded by negativity. But everything changed when my coach told me, with absolute certainty, that I could win. That single vote of confidence gave me the belief I needed to pursue this dream.

To become the champion, I had to win five fights in a row. Starting from the back of the bracket while other fighters received byes, I had no easy path to the top. But I didn’t let that deter me. After each fight, I reminded myself, “Job not finished,” echoing the words of the great Kobe Bryant. With each victory, I inched closer to my ultimate goal: competing at Madison Square Garden.

The moment I stepped into the Garden was surreal. As a kid, I had sat in those very stands, watching the Knicks play, never imagining that one day I would be the one competing there. And now, here I was, fighting for the 2024 Ring Masters (Golden Gloves) Championship. The stakes were high, and the pressure was immense, but I knew I had to give it everything I had.

My opponent was tough. I had seen him fight before, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous. When the bell rang, he came out aggressive, trying to overwhelm me with his intensity. I responded by smothering his attacks, preventing him from getting his punches off, and using my jab to keep him at a distance. Whenever he tried to close the gap, I countered with a right hand. I knew he liked to throw a lot of combinations, so I made sure I was always moving, never staying in one spot too long.

By the third round, I could see the frustration on his face. He tried to force his way inside, but I responded with short, sharp punches to the body. When the final bell rang, I felt confident that I had done enough to win, but still, I turned to my coach and asked, “You think I got that?” His response was simple: “Of course.”

I won by unanimous decision.

That night at the Garden is an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The journey was tough, but it taught me the power of believing in yourself and the importance of having people in your corner who believe in you too.

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