Wednesday, September 1 2021
During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Rumble in the Rockies III in Denver on October 27th. 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 T.J. Webb fighting out of Topeira.
Where are you from?
Harvard, IL
Where did you go to college?
I went to Metropolitan State in Denver for 2 weeks.
Did you play any sports growing up?
When I was a kid, my parents had me in everything. Soccer, football, baseball. Then as I got older it became skateboarding and snowboarding.
What do you do for work?
I work construction, and more on the physical labor side. Get those paid workouts in.
Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting?
I’ve been a fan of boxing ever since I was little. I always thought fighters were badass because they’re job is to fight. Getting back into the gym this go around I did. I have depression and you kind of become numb sometimes, but the most alive feeling you can have is getting punched in the face.
Why on earth did you sign up to fight??
Well I’m not getting any younger. I want to experience a lot of things in life, and somethings in life have a bit of an age restriction.
You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you?
My grandpa Packey died from cancer when I was six months old. My great grandpa Lou had bladder cancer twice. My grandma MiMi had double mastectomy from breast cancer. I worry for my dad who is a smoker, and I worry for my mother. I fight for my girlfriends grandmother, and two of my best friends mothers. Cancer is just such a shitty disease. Life is already hard, and then to also have this illness that can just take you out. Fuck that! Let’s get rid of it!
What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?)
Oh man! A couple of ice cold beers after work. I miss that. I also miss the junk food. I'm a grown child. Before I started training, I lived off of frozen pizzas and Smartfood popcorn. I found a work around though, and that is a handful of Skittles before training. Tank Davis and Marshawn Lynch do it.
When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have?
Stand-up comedy! I had been performing for 3 years but then the pandemic hit. That put the kibosh on that. That’s how I ended up getting into boxing. Things are open again so I’m starting to get back up on stage. Shout out to Denver Comedy!
Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night?
My girlfriend will probably get a kick out of it. And of course the haters haha. My mom probably won’t be to thrilled. She says I have a nice nose haha
Check out his fundraising page and be sure to wish him luck! Best of luck, T.J.!