Junior-welterweight Tim Coleman has traveled far and wide for fights, but that hasn?t dimmed his fondness for his hometown ? Baltimore.
When he returns to this area, he can always count on a warm reception. “I loved living in Maryland more than anyplace else,” Coleman said. “It?s my favorite place in the world.”
Recommended Stories
Born in southwest Baltimore, Coleman was just 14 when he stepped into the ring for his first training session at the Umar Boxing Club on W. North Avenue in Sandtown.
Since then, the 21-year-old fighter has torn through the amateur ranks and is doing the same professionally, since moving up a year ago.
“This kid can fight,” boxing promoter Don Elbaum said. “I?ve seen him since high school, and he has a great future ahead of him.”
However, Coleman, 5-0, got an uneasy introduction to the pros in his very first fight.
“My jaw got jacked,” Coleman said. “I didn?t have much experience, and [my opponent] hit me with a left hook. It hurt, my jaw was messed up, and I couldn?t bite down.”
Coleman has been training at the Floyd Mayweather camp in Las Vegas. To become a professional takes a lot of time, and Coleman learned that the hard way with 5 a.m. wake-up calls and late-night jogging sessions.
“It?s hours on top of hours on top of hours,” he said.
Still, with only five pro fights under his belt, the ex-Baltimorean is talking big about his boxing future. His goal?
“Junior-welterweight champion of the world,” he said. “Definitely.”
THE COLEMAN FILE
Hometown: Las Vegas, but Baltimore-born.
Ring record: 5-0.
Weight class: Junior-welterweight.
Did you know? At 145 pounds, Coleman moved up to welterweight in defeating South Carolina?s Mushin Corbbrey by a unanimous decision last Thursday at Michael?s Eighth Avenue. It was his first six-round bout.
