MOST Magazine Fitness JUN'15 ISSUE NO.2 | Page 114

FMM: Do you feel you will ever get back in the
ring and make that anticipated comeback?
DNR: When I started boxing as a professional I
promised myself that if I ever got severely knocked
out or hurt I would reevaluate my situation. I’m not
a quitter, but I do put my health first. Too many
fighters stay in too long and then without any
warning it’s too late. I feel I got my warning and
now I’m thinking about my health. I don’t want
to end up like the stereotype or statistic of a
fighter that hung around too long. I’m open to
new chapters. If I do decide to come back, it
would be for something bigger than myself. Like
the kids or God. I would really need to do some
soul searching.
FMM: Do you recommend boxing as a way of
fitness for people trying to get in shape?
DNR: The thing about boxing is that you have to
incorporate everything. In training camp I ran every
morning and spent 2-3 hours in the boxing gym
training every day. By no means would I suggest
that to anybody who’s not a professional. But I
highly recommend the fitness aspect of hitting
the bag and doing the mitt work. It’s good for
getting out aggression and toning up, while also
strengthening your heart and lungs. Many boxing
trainers are fitness trainers and don’t know how to
teach the science, but are good at getting people’s
confidence up and getting them in shape. Good
boxing trainers are extremely hard to come by and
usually are busy training top fighters.
FMM: Would you ever consider training fighters
or people wanting to learn to box for fun?
DNR: I already do. I train a few of my friends
and they are already more advanced than some
fighters I know. They already understand the

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M A G A Z I N E || JUNE 2015 || EDITION 1

fluidity of boxing and the angles I teach. Angles are
everything in boxing. Boxing isn’t just punching.
It’s slipping, weaving, footwork, and defense. You
must be able to protect yourself while getting off
your shots. That’s key.
FMM: Do you recommend boxing for women’s
self-defense?
DNR: Yes, definitely. Punching is all technique.
Kind of like the same way you hit a golf ball.
If a woman learns the proper technique and
combinations, she can be just as deadly as any
male boxer.
FMM: What are the thoughts that go through
your mind from the dressing room into the ring,
right before you are about to fight?
DNR: I’m extremely terrified and confident at the
same time. It’s a mixture of emotions that flood your
body all at once. My adrenaline is peaked and it
feels surreal. I can’t feel my legs and it feels like
I’m walking on a cloud. Nothing seems real – like
a dream. As I walk through the tunnel, into the
flashing lights, I start to view the ring. I get a rush of
fear and intense stimulation all at once. Once I’m in
the ring, I hand my life over to God and remember
deep down inside of all the hard work I put into
training for the fight. I’ll never forget what it feels
like to face the man looking at me in the opposite
corner, and the realization of it all being so real at
that very moment. It’s an interesting position to be
in. It’s both liberating and terrifying. The time has
come and there’s no denying to. You cannot run
and you cannot hide. You now have to fight.