Canadian Hall of Fame boxer Troy Ross, a two-time Olympian and former cruiserweight contender, shares insights from his storied career, journey to the Hall of Fame, and advice for today’s boxers.
What made you interested in pursuing a career in boxing?
Alright, what made me interested in pursuing a career in boxing? My father, Charles Ross, is an ex-Olympian for Guyana. He represented Guyana in the 1968 Olympics. So, my parents moved to Canada in 1982 and brought their kids up just for a better life. And from there, that’s where everything started. One day, I and my other siblings came home from school. My father took us down into the basement, where he set up a boxing gym. We had the heavy bag on one side of the basement, and the ropes spread right across the basement for agility to go under, bob, and weave. And then we had the double-end bag set up as well. The one that if you punch it, if you don’t get it out of the way, it hits you right in your face.
So, we had everything. My cousin Egerton Marcus, who won a silver medal for Canada, also had come and trained with us. So, we all learned our foundation in the basement of our Toronto home.
Thatís amazing. Looking back, which fight stands out as the most memorable and defining moment of your career?
The most memorable moment I can probably say is going to the 1996 Olympics, actually qualifying and being able to go to the Olympics. Because that was my first Olympic Games, I did not know what to expect. Just think about how big it was to be on the world stage. Everyone watches the Olympics. It’s an honor being able to qualify and be able to go there.
Can you describe the training and preparation that went into getting fight-ready during your peak?
Preparing for the Olympics was an intense experience. For me, it represented the pinnacle of my boxing career, so my entire life revolved around getting ready. My days started early, often at 6 a.m., with roadwork before heading to school. After school, it was back to training at the gym in the evening. The regimen included training two or three times a day. Once we entered full training camp, we traveled to Alberta Hills, where we ran in the mountains to build endurance. After two weeks there, we flew to Hawaii to train at a military base, fine-tuning our preparation. From Hawaii, it was on to Sydney, Australia, for the Olympics.
How did you approach balancing physical preparation and mental toughness in the ring?
I think mental toughness is pretty much instilled in me. Getting prepared was just one of those things I knew I had to do, and there was no way in the world I wanted to get in the ring and not be in shape. So, I worked hard, and I built up all the skills and stamina possible to make sure I could go the distance. I never wanted to be unprepared for a fight. I did not want to be the most tired at any point during a fight. I made sure I did all my road work. I ran the hills and sparred in the gym. I did everything possible to make sure I was ready for the fight.
Were there any fighters you looked up to when you were starting out? And how did they influence your style and mindset?
Okay, when it came to influencers, I had my cousin Egerton. I definitely looked up to him and looked up to my father. The names of the fighters that I looked up to as I studied were Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, and Roy Jones to name a few. There was a long list of fighters I watched and studied their tapes to develop my style.
Now, how has your life changed since retiring from professional boxing? And are you still involved with the sport?
How has my life changed? You know, it’s a little bit difficult because I’m so used to being inside of the ring and boxing and having the cameras on me in that sense. It was a bittersweet moment when I decided to retire and take off the gloves. But now I give back to the sport by teaching fighters today how to box and how to protect themselves in the ring. I have trained some really talented fighters.
What do you hope people remember most about your boxing career and your contributions to the sport?
I would say that I left it all in the ring. I did what I did; I put my soul and passion into boxing. I left it all in the ring, so it was never a stage that I gave up. I wanted to be that guy that people would say that was never a quitter. I fought everybody I needed to fight in the sport. I never gave up, and I was always there 100% inside of there.
What advice would you give to young athletes hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Dream big. Dream big and work hard. Make sure you prepare yourself because it’s not going to be an easy road. Keep the dream alive. Because at the end of the day, they might be raising your hand at the end of the fight. When it comes to a world title fight or a gold medal, you want to be that guy. So, you do not want to do anything possible to jeopardize that. Dream big, always stay focused, and get ready for your fight.
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