St. Thomian super heavyweight Ke-ion Gabriel turned personal tragedy into boxing triumph, capturing two championship belts in Texas to improve his amateur record to 7-1 ahead of his Nov. 8 bout at Border Wars 17 in Atlanta.
The basketball courts at Paul E. Pearson Gardens have seen countless young athletes chasing athletic dreams, but for Ke-ion Gabriel, his true calling was waiting just steps away— behind the walls of the I Believe I Can Fly boxing gym.
“I used to play basketball out there all the time,” Gabriel reflects. “I had no idea my destiny was waiting right behind me.”
Today, that destiny is becoming clearer with each powerful punch. The amateur super heavyweight recently returned from Fort Worth, Texas, with two championship belts and a 7-1 record, proving that sometimes life’s greatest victories come from its most challenging moments.
Gabriel’s journey into boxing began in 2022 after losing a close friend to gun violence. “I knew I couldn’t become a product of my environment,” Gabriel said. “I needed a way out, so I went with boxing.”
For Gabriel, the sport became more than just physical training — it became a spiritual anchor. Grounded in his faith, he views boxing as both a path to personal redemption and a platform for inspiring others facing similar struggles. “It reminds me that God can take you out of any situation,” he explains. “It’s not up to anyone else.”
Three years into his boxing career, Gabriel is relentlessly pursuing success in the ring. “I’m always checking USA Boxing for sanctioned fights to build up my record,” Gabriel explains. “It doesn’t even matter where it is
Most recently, Gabriel landed in Fort Worth, where he connected with renowned boxing coach Shug Dorsey. Their first meeting was anything but conventional.
“I met him at the gym in St. Thomas when I first started boxing, and I just trash-talked him the whole time,” Gabriel laughed. “The rest is history.”
Under Dorsey’s guidance, Gabriel discovered a coaching philosophy that matched his own hunger for improvement. “He knows what he’s talking about, and he doesn’t sugarcoat anything,” Gabriel says of his mentor’s no-frills approach.
The preparation for Gabriel’s recent Texas competitions was nothing short of grueling. “Coach Shug had me running seven miles a day, eating quinoa and drinking kale smoothies,” Gabriel recalled.
The strict regimen paid dividends when Gabriel stepped into the ring for two crucial bouts. On Aug. 9, he competed in the Fortified Annual Throwdown, followed by the Irving Police Athletic League End of Summer Bash on Aug. 17.
In his first bout against Demetrius Ward, Gabriel’s power was on full display as the referee stopped the contest following a series of devastating blows that left Ward unable to defend himself. His second victory came against Wesley Watt in a three-round battle that Gabriel won by unanimous decision.
As Gabriel’s star continues to rise in the boxing world, he hasn’t forgotten the young people still navigating the same streets where his journey began. His message to Virgin Islands youth carries the weight of lived experience and hard-earned wisdom.
“Be a leader, not a follower,” Gabriel urges. “Don’t be afraid to stand out.”
It’s advice that Gabriel himself has embodied, transforming from a troubled teen with untapped potential into a boxer with championship hardware and an inspiring story of resilience.
Gabriel is scheduled to compete next at Border Wars 17 on Nov. 8 in Atlanta, Georgia, as he continues building his amateur record.
St. Croix Source
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