ANTHONY TAYLOR was stripping for cash and sleeping rough before turning to MMA… now he is a star of influencer boxing.
Taylor was 25 when he began training for MMA in 2013, going on to have over ten amateur bouts in two years.
Anthony Taylor was once a stripper before professional fighting
He is now a star of influencer boxing
Anthony Taylor celebrates his last win
But after moving to Los Angeles, the American fell on hard times and took a job stripping to earn money.
Taylor, 34, told SunSport: “I was a stripper, I had nothing.
“I wasn’t doing nothing with my life, I was homeless, nowhere to go and I was stripping. I was just enjoying life as a bum who had no goals, nothing.”
Taylor relocated from Alameda in California to LA to train with coach Antonio McKeee and his champion son AJ.
It was AJ – working security at a gentleman’s club – who got Taylor the male stripping job through a bartender who also worked there.
He revealed: “It was all men who danced and nothing but women who came in.
“It was kind of like Magic Mike. And that’s how I got into it, I did it for a couple months, made really good money and kept at it.”
Taylor earned up to $300 a night (£230) to take his kit off and also drove Uber but still he was without a home.
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He went from sleeping on benches, sofa surfing and even staying in one of his coach’s gyms to get by.
Taylor remembered: “Those times were low, the lowest times of my life.
“Having to endure that for such a long period of time really moulded the person I am now.
“I was able to go through that experience and live it and understand it. Now in my life, I can say, I don’t ever wanna be there again.
“That low, no friends, no family, nothing. I don’t want to experience that again, so I’ll build my own family, build my own friends. I build my foundation and talent.”
Eventually, Taylor’s MMA career picked up and by 2018 he was fighting regularly enough and living with his trainer Antonio.
Taylor notched five wins in a row in the cage, which caught the attention of the UFC.
He was told should he win twice more, a deal with MMA’s premier promotion would be on the table.
Jake Paul with Anthony Taylor
Anthony Taylor is an ex-sparring partner of Jake Paul’s
But then, a phone call would change the course Taylor’s life and career forever.
He said: “Jake Paul’s coach BJ Flores calls me, ‘Hey, you wanna be Jake’s sparring partner, great opportunity, you’ll make some good money, invest it. Get you in the scene.’
“That’s how I got into the scene with Jake Paul.”
Taylor left behind his UFC ambitions to join Paul’s camp, as the YouTuber-turned boxer made his mark in the sport.
He was a sparring partner before Paul beat ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, 38, and Tyron Woodley, 41.
From there, Taylor also got the chance to fight on Paul’s undercard twice, losing to Tommy Fury, 24, and Chris Avila, 30.
But his time in the camp pushed his profile to new heights and saw him feature on several influencer boxing shows.
Taylor said: “Coming into the scene, Jake helped put me on.
Tommy Fury beat Anthony Taylor in August 2021
Anthony Taylor also lost to Chris Avila
“But from there on I was able to use my own platform and make myself grow self efficiently. I give Jake credit for getting me into the game and I appreciate it.
“But also, I have to give myself credit because, yeah he can put you on but you have to keep doing what you’re doing so you can stay on.”
Life could have been so much different had Taylor focussed on the UFC instead of crossover boxing – but does he feel he made the correct call?
Taylor responded: “I wouldn’t say I made the right choice, I just stumbled into it at the right time.
“And I manifested this. I said I’d be one of the biggest influencers in the world and now I am, baby.”
Taylor returns on Saturday night in Nashville on a Misfits Boxing card, promoted by superstar KSI.
And he faces rival Paul Bamba, 33, known for his cancelled bout with Fury last year and recent loss to Avila.
The stakes are high for Taylor, who is coming off a win over TikTok sensation Salt Papi, but he insists 5-3 Bamba is no match for him.
He said: “I stop him. He doesn’t have anything that poses a threat to me in the ring.
“It’s not like he’s going to show me something I haven’t seen before.”
Salt Papi was beaten by Anthony Taylor
Paul Bamba fights Anthony Taylor next
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I box without fighting?
You can’t train boxing without fighting. To improve your boxing skills, you must work hard. But if you do, you’ll find that you can improve your boxing technique, speed, endurance, strength, and stamina.
Watching good boxers fight is the first step to improving your boxing technique. You should observe how they move, throw punches and defend themselves. Then try to imitate their techniques.
The next step is to spar with another boxer. Here you can see if you have improved your boxing technique. It’s important to observe how fast you can punch, the strength of your punches and how well you block any incoming punches while sparring.
Finally, practice your skills by performing drills. You will improve with practice so be patient and persevering.
How long does a boxer train per day?
Boxing trainers usually work out at least 4 hours a day. They also spend time studying boxing techniques, learning new moves, and practicing their punches. Boxers may spar up to ten times per week.
How to throw the jab
This guide will show you how to throw a jab.
- Move forward with both your feet.
- Raise your arm above your shoulder.
- Place your fist on the target.
- Swing your arm back upwards after hitting your target.
- Repeat steps 1 through 4.
Statistics
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
- You want to be running at roughly 75-80% of your top speed..5 mile slow, easy recovery jog at the end.[6]X Research source 2Mix in long runs, shadow boxing, and short sprints on non-interval days. (wikihow.com)
External Links
boxandflow.com
en.wikipedia.org
How To
How to learn how to box for fitness
How to learn how to box for Exercise
Boxing is a sport that improves self confidence and physical fitness. Boxing has become a very popular sport. It requires speed, agility and strength.
Boxing is a great way of getting fit and feeling good about yourself. You’ll find that you enjoy the activity so much that you’ll want to keep doing it.
There are many kinds of boxing programs. Some are held at health clubs or gyms, while others can be done at home. Online courses allow you to learn from anywhere in the globe.
Be sure to consider your goals when choosing a program. Also, ensure it fits your lifestyle. The best programs focus on exercises that increase muscle mass, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. They also promote overall well being.
Also, consider whether you prefer an advanced or beginner course. Beginner’s programs typically teach fundamental techniques and drills like shadowboxing, sparring and mitt work. Advanced programs usually cover more complicated movements and offer more options.
These programs are generally less expensive than $100 and last for eight weeks. These programs do not provide guidance about nutrition, weight, injury prevention or any other aspect of boxing training.
Advanced programs usually last for six months and are around $300. They can include nutrition advice, stretching routines, warm up exercises, and instructions on proper technique. Some programs offer resistance training (such lifting weights) as well as aerobic conditioning (such running).
