Antoine Freeman ''One Mans
Boxing Journey''
By Albert Alvarez
September 16, 2009
(SEPT 16) Where the journey of life takes
us, no one really knows. What is known, is that in life's journey it's
not about the distance or the time it takes you to get to your
destination, it's all about the journey. While walking on this path we
will learn a lot of things along the way as we go, for some of us the
lesson learned may not hit us until after the fact. For others however,
the lesson is learned right there on the spot. Enter, Antoine Freeman.
Antoine Freeman is a 22 year old young
man, who hails from the great state of Georgia. Freeman is an amateur
boxer with over 20 fights under his belt and is currently servicing our
great country in the army.
We first met Freeman at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas during fight week for
the Manny Pacquiao – Ricky Hatton bout. Freeman and his army buddies had
just drove over two hours from Fort Irwin Army Base to put a small wager
on what they thought was the sure lock of the year.
The confident army crew sat at the front
of the MGM sports book reviewing all their wagering options when we
entered the sports book. We headed straight to the betting window,
paying no mind to the Freeman crew to place our wager on what we thought
was the lock of the decade. As we placed our wager, we were mocked by
Freeman "Save your money, no way is Pacquiao winning" the relentless
Freeman continued "This one is all Hatton baby". Obviously not listening
to Freeman we went ahead and place our wager on Pacquiao anyway.
However, we could not help ourselves and stop and debate the fight with
Freeman. Face to face we went, picture this it was like Floyd Mayweather
debating Bernard Hopkins on who had better abs. Freeman not letting his
end rattled off endless reason after reason on why Hatton was going to
win. His reasons ranged from Hatton being bigger and stronger to Hatton
having more fans. You name it and the brash Freeman told it. During our
encounter with Freeman we went on to learn not only was he an avid
boxing fan but that he was an amateur boxer.
After getting to know Freeman, it didn't
take long to see that he is the type of person that stands firm on what
he truly believes. Antoine tells how his mother was both Mother and
Father to him, which forced him to grow up fast. Antoine says, '' It was
nothing that I couldn't handle. I mean it was tough at times but I have
always had the inner strength to handle it, I was born to be a fighter,
not just in the ring but also in life. "It's like in the boxing ring
some say well this person can beat you because he has more experience
than you do, well to me experience is good to have but it’s not
everything". Like take me for example, I am the type of person that has
the ability to learn on the spot, I mean I don't pretend to know
everything but I am a fast learner that is able to learn from my
mistakes and I will correct them right away''.
Antoine continues, '' Trust me when I tell you that I love to fight man,
that's why guys like Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Roy Jones, Ali, and
them are my type of fighters because they come to fight". And fighting
he does under the watchful eye of trainer Manny Ramos at the Marine Base
in Barstow, California.
Freeman started boxing at the young age
of eight, he tells of the time when he first went to the gym. "When I
was younger, I was the smallest kid in there and I knew that others were
saying that I was too thin and too small and all that, but you know damn
well that I didn't care, because I knew that I have the fight of a giant
that lives in me". "My mom was your typical mom, she wasn't too happy
about me boxing, I mean after all what mother wants to see their boy
getting hit".
Freeman dreams to continue seeing the world, to becoming the best
fighter that he can possibly be, guys like Pacquiao, move Freeman
because Pacquiao wasn't always the type of fighter we see today. Freeman
says "Pacquiao is living proof that hard work and dedication pays off"."
I mean I for one thought that Hatton would beat Pacquiao, I really
thought that, can you believe that". "Pacquiao won that fight because he
worked harder for it than Hatton did, Pacquiao keeps on learning and
because of that he is now this force that we now see before us".
Freeman’s daily routine consist of getting up at the crack of dawn and
heading straight for his army job in the hot California fields, after
work Freeman hits the gym for several hours of boxing training. Many are
faced in just doing well in their primary job, but Freeman challenges
himself in doing well in both his jobs the California Fields and inside
the square circle. Freeman who takes training very seriously says "You
know, I will be the guy that when they say hey Antoine we want you to
fight this monster now, I want to be able to take it with no hesitation
because I will at that time know that my hard work and dedication will
defeat them"." I just want my shot to come, it will come and when it
does, I will be ready". "As I say though, I don't look to make dumb
mistakes I am out there to demolish you, to take it out of the Judges
hands. I don't like to run, if you like to run then you are in the wrong
sport". "I love guys like Bruce Lee, I have read and seen stuff on him
and he was that kind of person that was there to tear you down''.
Freeman’s trainer Manny Ramos had this to say "Antoine is such a fast
learner; he is dedicated and understands the importance of listening".
"He just wants to fight and his confidence is beyond imaginable’.
As for now the ambitious Freeman is
looking forward to continuing his army responsibilities representing our
great nation. He is also looking ahead to wrapping up his amateur boxing
career and turning professional. As for boxing predictions Freeman says
he is giving that up.
We all must walk in our very own path, where that path finally leads
Antoine Freeman no one really knows. The important thing is that he
knows where he stands today and seems to have a clear understanding on
what he wants and realizes the sacrifices and hard work that is ahead of
him. It's a learning process and so too are the lessons in life.
