My Jabbing Journeys

Hey there, I'm Kartik. Back in 2017, I laced up my boxing gloves for the first time. Why? Well, boxing seemed to run in the family. All my cousins were into it. Me? I was just the overweight cousin who thought he'd give it a shot for fun, not really to fight.

In the beginning, it was all about shedding those extra pounds. But as the weeks rolled on, I noticed something – I was getting the hang of those boxing drills. And, oh boy, the weight? It started melting away.

One day, on a whim, I decided to jump into a sparring session at the Toronto Boxing Academy. Picture this: me, surrounded by these chiseled, professional-looking boxers. Intimidating? You bet. But I hung in there. And guess what? My coach saw something in me. Maybe it was grit, maybe potential, or maybe a bit of both.

The next six months? Brutal. Think grueling drills, dawn runs, and sparring sessions that left me gasping for breath. But with every punch, every bead of sweat, I grew stronger. Yet, there was this nagging doubt. Was I really cut out to be a fighter?

Then came the game-changer. A boxing tournament was on the horizon. Everyone at the club was buzzing about it. And then my coach dropped the bombshell: "Kartik, you're fighting." My heart raced. Thirty days to prep for my first-ever fight. Those days? A blur of training, sparring, and more than a few bruises.

Tournament day. I was the picture of calm... until I saw my opponent. Taller, with a few fights under his belt. Me? Just a newbie. As I stepped into the ring, a whirlwind of emotions hit me. Anxiety, excitement, fear. The bell rang. We danced around the ring, trading punches. He had the height, but I had the heart. Spotting an opening, I went for it. He was cornered, and I unleashed. The ref stepped in. I had done it. I won!

That fight? It changed everything. From that day to now, I've stepped into the ring 15 times, walking away with 12 wins.

So, here's the thing. If a guy like me, filled with doubts and fears, can do it, so can you. Embrace the journey, face the challenges, and always, always keep fighting.