READING, Pa. – A pro boxer is back home training.
WFMZ-TV
Now fighting for Golden Boy label, he grew up in the East Reading Boxing Club, a place he says changed his life.
“It’s the hurt business,” says David “Dynamite” Stevens, 24.
For Stevens, it was a life-changing business when his parents made him start at East Reading Boxing Club to learn some discipline.
“At first I didn’t like it obviously,” says Stevens. “I’d rather be running around after school with my friends and stuff like that instead of sitting at the gym with these strangers telling me what to do.”
WFMZ-TV
“He was a tough one,” says Andres Acuna, owner and operator of East Reading Boxing Club. “Really wasn’t into it, terrible discipline, just would rather be out running around, but when he got to see what kids that were really taking it seriously and the accolades that they could build up, it just turned him on and that was it.”
Acuna recalls recognizing his talent early on.
“He started competing and right away we knew that we had something special,” he said.
Stevens says the sport is a lifestyle.
“It goes from in the gym to outside the gym, you’ve got to make sure you’re eating right, you’ve got to get rest, you know boxing is a dangerous sport,” he said.
“I had my first TV appearance January 21, 2023 on Show Box,” says Stevens.
He is currently signed to a six-fight deal with Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, and has a 14-2 record on a major stage, with 10 wins by knockout.
“It’s few that really have what it takes to really take it seriously and become a professional,” says Acuna.
“Boxing gave me goals and stuff like that,” says Stevens. “It gave me a reason, like you got something to lose now. [You] can’t cheat on boxing though because it will expose you. I’ve been a victim of it and I won’t let it happen again.”
He still has two more fights to go with his Golden Boy deal and then he’ll see what happens.