TAMPA, Fla. — The Bay area is rich in boxing history. Some of the best heavy and lightweight champions of the world were raised on Florida soil, like Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver, who are nine and five-time boxing champions, respectively.

What You Need To Know

  • Pinellas County local Alex Cook started boxing last year and has already won several fights

  • Cook struggled financially after transitioning from college to a full-time job, which led to him selling drugs

  • Since discovering boxing, Cook turned away from selling drugs and is trying to be an inspiration in helping others

“The second fight is most important,” said Roy Jones Jr. on ProBoxTv. “Once we win the first fight, the second fight is owed — you feel that adrenaline, you’re ready to go.”

Tarver and Roy Jones Jr. serve as inspiration and even mentors to newer boxers, hoping for their shot at a title win.

“That’s really what it’s all about,” said Tarver. “Giving back is important.”

Tarver said boxing is a year-round sport, unlike basketball or football — which means having to be locked into the craft throughout the year.

“I like the discipline of it,“ said ground level boxer Alex Cook. “It keeps me off the streets and doing something productive with my time.”

Cook started boxing last year, and has already won several fights.

“I’m from Pinellas County,” he said. “I really was a football player growing up. I’ve seen my cousin throw a touchdown, and I said, ‘I can do that.’ I played that all the way through college.”

But Cook said the transition from college to a full-time job wasn’t as easy, but selling drugs was.

“I had to make a decision to do something else with my life,” said Cook. “The street level of success is the lowest level of success. They don’t care how much money you made in the streets. When you’re tired of selling drugs, they don’t care how much you made. You have to start now. The same money you’re making out there, you can make over here — the right way.”

Cook told me he is in the gym five times a week, working at his craft.

“You know, the time it takes to master something, you have to put the time in. With this sport, if you don’t, it’s going to show,” he said.

Outside the gym, he is working the minds of youth.

“It’s all about the decisions you make at the end of the day,” Cook said. “The decisions now will impact your future, and if you’re not paying attention to the decisions you’re making, you’re going to be doing anything out there instead of what you really want to be doing.”

Cook won his fight this month, and he is currently training for his next competition.