Wednesday, March 29 2017
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Rock ‘N Rumble VII in Boston 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 Dan MacGregor, fighting out of Everybody Fights in South Boston.
Where are you from?
Straight outta Little Compton, Rhode Island
Where’d you go to college?
Williams College
Did you play any sports growing up?
I’m a bit of a sports addict – you name it, I’ve probably tried it: basketball, baseball, golf, track, tennis, surfing, swimming. Eventually, I honed in on soccer, played in college and then very briefly with the New England Revolution Reserves.
What do you do for work?
I work for State Street Global Markets on the FX Sales & Trading desk. Think the old Wall Street movies where people yell “buy” and “sell” – I do that, but the modern day technology version. So much more tame.
Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting?
I always had an urge to play a bit more of an aggressive sport growing up. My old man played football in college, and I naturally wanted to follow in his footsteps. However, the town I grew up in was too small to have a football team, so the other type of futbol found its way into my heart. I’m also hoping somewhere down deep I’ve got the boxing genes – my Grandpa Mac was a boxer in the Navy (on the USS Massachusetts) and from the arm shots I remember as a kid, I think he was pretty darn good.
Why on earth did you sign up to fight??
I try and live my life by the motto: “Everything in moderation, including moderation,” which essentially means do everything to the extremes and hope it all balances out. I have been to several Haymakers events and have always been inspired by the people who commit five months of their lives to undergo a physical and mental transformation, while also combating cancer. I think the dedication it takes to learn a new sport and stand toe-to-toe with an opponent jives with my motto. And a little bit of fist-to-cuffs won’t keep me away from helping find a cure for this horrible disease.
You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you?
It’s pretty hard to walk through life and not know a friend, co-worker or family member who has been affected by cancer. Medical research has come a long way to defeating cancer and if any of the funds I can raise through Haymakers can move the needle a degree closer to zeroing out the cancer equation – then I am all in.
What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?)
Saturday and Sunday morning sausage, egg and cheese on an everything bagel. I love bagels – I once went on a bagel crawl through the five boroughs in NYC. It was heaven. And how can I not acknowledge giving up booze – it’s been tough, but then I think about how badly I don’t want to be knocked out in front of my family, friends and co-workers at a sold-out House of Blues. It’ll be worth it.
When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have?
I still play a lot of soccer and I’ve also recently gotten into sprint triathlons. Previous to my boxing diet my wife and I used to also enjoy being foodies – or rather, eaters – and hunting down new restaurants in Boston.
Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night?
That’s a tough one, but I’m sure my older brother wants to see me take a few licks. He’d be coming in from Chicago, and I’m not sure he’s forgiven me for all those times he lost our wrestling matches as kids. Love you Tim!
Be sure to check out his fundraising page here and wish him luck on Instagram! Best of luck, Adam!