Mel Walker: Grimz Gym, Boxing, Technology & More…
Exclusive Interview by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt
“What I learned in the first year of business is that what I had envisioned in opening and running a boxing gym was the furthest thing from reality.”—Mel Walker
In 2005, when message boards were still the thing and FaceBook hadn’t come on the scene, I had a cat reach out to me who enjoyed what was going on with Ringside Report in our second year of business. He offered to do a banner for the site and to say I was impressed by the first ever banner he did, is an understatement. This cat was none other than, Mel Walker. From early on, we clicked. He was passionate about boxing as I am and he really cared about RSR which I cannot stress enough. In 2006, Mel built the third evolution of RSR in than PHP. I will never forget the phonecall when he said, “Brad, you need to be able to do all your own updates and not be reliant on a webmaster.” It was in fact, the best business advice to date, I have been given.
Since 2006, Mel has built two more RSR websites and in addition, NewzBreaker.com and my acting site, BadBradBerkwitt.com.
Over the last ten years, he truly has been my advisor in all things graphic and site related for all of my websites. But more importantly, a LOYAL to the END friend who I respect immensely. In fact, let me cement this even more. In the decade I have known Mel, we have never met in person, or broke bread, a huge thing for Italians, but with that said, he is still one of my closet friends that I cherish. I guess after this interview, either his butt needs to come to Oklahoma or I need to fly out to Sacramento to break that bread! Fuggedaboutit……..
BB: You and I go back a decade now. In those years, from your eye since you built all of the Ringside Report websites, what are two things you have seen really move ahead in those years?
I have seen the site move ahead in a very positive direction, from a static website to a very dynamic site, and as of late the RSR media machine has been cranking out great videos on current events in boxing, personal replies to members emails and so on. Also the addition of some very colorful writers like Packy “Boom Boom” Goldstein.
BB: When we first met, you were a web developer, but you did what I truly respect and chased your dream, of opening a boxing gym (Grimz Gym) that has went on to have great success in Sacramento, California. What are three things you learned in your first year of business, that you did not repeat?
What I learned in the first year of business is that what I had envisioned in opening and running a boxing gym was the furthest thing from reality.
1. It is a lot of very hard work being a boxing trainer and coach.
2. It is very physically challenging and necessitates me also being in top shape as my boxers.
3. The world’s next great boxing champion did not magically appear at the gym door.
BB: You are from Guyana, which has had some great fighters over the years coming from there. Did you watch any of them growing up?
Yes, of course I have paid great attention and followed many of my country men, Wayne Braithwaite was the last boxer from Guyana who’s career I followed with great interest.
BB: Who are you three favorite fighters of all time and why?
My 3 favorite boxers of all time are, Mike Tyson for his utilization of Cus D’amato teaching, Floyd Mayweather, JR. because of his technical abilities, and Matthew Saad Muhammad because at that time he was the boxer I idolized the most, RIP.
BB: What is the greatest boxing match you have ever watched and why?
I saved this question for last because I had to give it some very deep thinking, I debated what a great fight is to me, is it the action of an all out slugfest from the first to the final bell? Or the suspense of a technical demonstration of the sweet science?
Unfortunately I cannot pick one fight because I tend to like the slugfest as most boxing fans do, while at the same time appreciating the technical style fights. So my top 2 are. 1. Micky Ward Vs. Arturo Gatti I and Floyd Mayweather, JR. Vs. “Insert any of his 48 opponents name here”!
BB: What is the biggest thing you have seen change in boxing since you first started following it?
Currently boxing back on regular TV with the PBC series featuring upcoming boxers and also established boxers, which is a very positive direction for boxing.
BB: What is your favorite movie?
I like the “Blade” series, “Sling Blade”, and if I was to go back many years I enjoyed the movie “Tough Guys Don’t Dance”.
BB: What is one thing you enjoy doing, outside of the gym and watching boxing that you can share?
Outside the gym and boxing I enjoy anything technology related. I have been building and flying Multirotor Quadcopters for about 3 plus years now.
BB: What’s the CD you now have in your car that you are listening to?
I always have a Reggae CD for my ride to the gym to start my day, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Yellow Man, Born Jamericans, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs and so on.
BB: Finally, what is the saying you live your life by?
Heh! I have had many sayings over the years that I have lived by, most pertaining to motivational type sayings. But as of late I have a new one I picked up from
somewhere I can’t recall, and that is “Fuggedaboutit”
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