Comments Thread For: Venroy July and Boxing’s Greatest Story

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Thomas Gerbasi - This is the greatest story ever.

You can agree with me or not, but at least read it first before making your decision. From my point of view, what 31-year-old Venroy July does has little to do with his 16-1-2 pro record, his fight this Saturday against Quantis Graves, or his status in the cruiserweight division.

But it has everything to do with living a dream; not just his own, but those of every one of us who has wondered what it would be like to be a professional athlete. It’s a role he’s proud to have.

“People can live vicariously through me if they want,” he laughs.

***

Boxing is no laughing matter. For every fan that looks at the fights on the weekend and says “I can do that,” there are those who actually take that courageous walk up those four frightening steps to fight.

The Jamaica-born July was one of the latter. He didn’t pick up the sport as a child or teenager though. He began boxing at the age of 2008, not having his first amateur fight until he was 25.

Normally that wouldn’t be the most outlandish notion, but let’s fill in the blanks a bit with the fact that he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina in 2004, with a law degree from Duke University following in 2007. So by the time he put on the gloves, he wasn’t a hungry kid with no other options hoping to find salvation in the ring; he was a former wrestler and corporate lawyer looking to stay in shape. [Click Here To Read More]

[- Ram Raid -]

By Thomas Gerbasi - This is the greatest story ever. . . He didn’t pick up the sport as a child or teenager though. He began boxing at the age of 2008. . .
[Click Here To Read More]

At first I thought this was bombast undermined by the following plea that the article be read, but his age alone surely makes this a tale of biblical proportions?

Questions abound.

But why did the hero wait so long to partake in the fistic arts? There'll be those that say he was biding his time. Avoiding tougher opposition, playing possum, until the sport had demised enough to match his skill set.

Why not challenge Phormion of Halikarnassos? What boxer worth his salt would pass up the honour of fighting before Augustus? What about Figg, Mendoza or Cribb? Sullivan, Dempsey or Louis?

Are the trolls so bored of flaming each other that they've now turned on staff writers? Where is the proof reader? Does anybody really care? Is that solipsistic semen stained to our keyboards. . . Will we never learn!!

[titan m]

He didn't start boxing until he was 2008? And people are impressed Hopkins still fights at 50.

[anonymous2.0]

2008 years old? Is he the reincarnation of a 1000 shamans, the Emperor of Mankind in disguise?

[Ivansmamma]

Cool story bro... for real. To take up boxing at 25 years old and still do that well is impressive.

[boxrec]

Great story and NICE kid. He is a motivation to Business men and corporate guys all over the world. But nothing TAKES the place of waking up before school in the 4th grade and running miles and going to boxing gyms every night for years and years after school and boxing older kids and fighting all over the country as a child when it comes to learning to fight. Simply CANT learn boxing as an adult. Best of Luck to him. BJ FLORES

[- Ram Raid -]

Great story and NICE kid. He is a motivation to Business men and corporate guys all over the world. But nothing TAKES the place of waking up before school in the 4th grade and running miles and going to boxing gyms every night for years and years after school and boxing older kids and fighting all over the country as a child when it comes to learning to fight. Simply CANT learn boxing as an adult. Best of Luck to him. BJ FLORES

Some have. Larry Holmes springs to mind, but obviously had he started as a youngster he would have been even better (now there's a thought!).

On another topic (and assuming that you're the 28-1 BJ Flores), I noted the other day that Bellew's frame and height make him too tall for light heavy - where he looks vulnerably thin, and too slight of frame for cruiser - where his opponents will be naturally bigger framed.

Is that your thinking in calling him out? And, have you got your next opponent lined up?

Obviously, if you're not that B. J. Flores then ignore the previous two paragraphs.

[boxrec]

Ram Reid....My thought on calling him out is Bellew is a pretty good fighter and has lots of backing in the UK. Somehow he is rated in the top 10 by the WBO and its very tough to get the current top 10 guys to accept a fight unless its some kind of title eliminator as they don't want to take the risk. Bellew is new and needs to prove himself and so do I. His promoter said " We don't know if Tony needs a fight like BJ at this stage". I guess they will continue fighting old guys who have been kod in there previous fights.

[- Ram Raid -]

Ram Reid....My thought on calling him out is Bellew is a pretty good fighter and has lots of backing in the UK. Somehow he is rated in the top 10 by the WBO and its very tough to get the current top 10 guys to accept a fight unless its some kind of title eliminator as they don't want to take the risk. Bellew is new and needs to prove himself and so do I. His promoter said " We don't know if Tony needs a fight like BJ at this stage". I guess they will continue fighting old guys who have been kod in there previous fights.

The WBC have slotted him straight in at number 5! Most likely on account that he held their silver belt at light-heavy.

That's a very good call on your part. Irrespective of how good we think they are we do get behind our fighters over here and show them a lot of support, which of course makes them a prime opportunity for a fighter like yourself who wants to raise his profile even higher.

Outside of Marco Huck and Nathan Cleverly very few people over here are familiar with any other fighters in the cruiser-weight division. Even Afolabi as a British born fighter isn't known outside of the small minority of core fans. That could be exploited 'cause there aren't many names that fans can associate with him fighting in the future. The key would be linking your name to his by making enough noise through the right channels.