Tuesday, February 28 2017
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Rock ‘N Rumble VII in Boston, MA on May 18th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether their mom is battling, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Tim Morin, fighting out of TKO Boxfit in Weymouth, MA.
Where are you from?
I’m from the Manchester, NH. And no, no one calls it Manch Vegas.
Where’d you go to college?
I went to a small private school in northern NH called Colby-Sawyer College.
Did you play any sports growing up?
I’ve always been athletic and played baseball and basketball growing up. In college, my friends talked me into playing rugby my Junior year and I fell in love with the sport. There was a raw physicality, athleticism and camaraderie that I hadn’t experienced in any other sport. You become really close with your teammates because you experience so much during matches: joy, sorrow, anger, pain and even the occasional laugh. The best part is that after the game is over, both teams get together to drink, sing songs and generally act like idiots. You don’t really get that anywhere else in the real world.
What do you do for work?
I am a VP at fama PR, a boutique tech PR firm in Boston. It’s a fun – if sometimes stressful – gig where I work on behalf of my clients to get their story told by the media. Oftentimes, I act as a translator between clients and reporters and have to manage both sides of that equation.
Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting?
I chose to box in Haymakers for Hope for two reasons: 1) I believe in the organization’s mission and 2) boxing in front of hundreds of people scares the shit out of me. I’ve never done anything remotely similar to this and am always looking to push myself in new, sometimes awful, ways and Haymakers gives me that opportunity with the added incentive of raising money for pediatric cancer research.
Why on earth did you sign up to fight??
There are so many life lessons to be learned in the ring around determination, discipline, hard work, dealing with pain and coming back for more that appealed to me. The last fight I got into was in the 6th grade so I felt like this would be once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really commit myself to a goal and put everything on the line in front of my family and friends. Like anyone, I’m worried I’m going to get pummeled in front of my wife, friends and family but that’s a small price to pay for raising money for such a worthwhile cause.
You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you?
Those are two separate questions for me. My mother, grandmother and both of my grandfathers have experienced cancer. In fact, one of my grandfathers doesn’t have much time left as he’s been diagnosed with bone, liver and lung cancer recently. He’s been fighting the disease for years and I’m sure my Grampy will continue to battle until the day he dies.
In terms of where I draw my inspiration from, that’s a bit of a different story. In the past few years, I’ve worked with a few organizations like Crossroads for Kids that help disadvantaged kids and teens rise above their environments and make a better future for themselves. I grew up an underdog and try to help people that grow up with the odds stacked against them. It is with this mindset that I’m raising money for pediatric cancer research.
Pediatric cancer is a thief, plain and simple. Children should be given the ability to experience life. To run around with their friends and laugh like lunatics. Break a bone or two. Seeing their child’s first tottering steps. All of these little moments that so many of us take for granted are pipe dreams for some of these kids. The mere thought both saddens and enrages me. I want to do something – anything – that can give these kids a fighting chance to experience a meaningful life. That’s why I’m fighting in Haymakers.
What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?)
I fucking love beer and miss it dearly. If you see beer, say hello for me.
When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have?
I’m a kettlebell trainer. My wife runs a fitness studio down in Norwell – Alloy Fitness – and she’s one of the only StrongFirst-certified trainers in the South Shore. I teach three kettlebell classes each week and really love the mix of strength and conditioning the workouts provide. The Russian army has been using kettlebells to help train its military for years. It’s the perfect complement to my boxing training so I’ve been doing both. I’ve been working hard on my technique and conditioning with my trainers and then swinging heavy bells on my “off” days so I can hit the bag harder for longer.
Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night?
My beautiful wife. She’s already said that she’s probably going to get kicked out on account of her taunting my opponent so – if you’re reading this – I’d like to apologize in advance for her actions.