Top Boxers Who Excelled in Boxing and Education

Very few professionals have completed their education as a full-time boxer. Yet, there are quite a few popular boxers, many of whom you may know, with college degrees. This is an admirable feat because formal education comes second to most athletes.

Even so, we cannot fault sportsmen who couldn’t finish their education and instead focus on their careers. After all, playing sports is challenging, and combining that with the demands of school can be a lot. Many had to find a ghostwriter finden to get some of their schoolwork done. Let’s look at some admirable men who prioritised their education over their boxing career.

Famous Boxers Who Prioritised Education: Inspiring Stories of Dual Success

Stories of Fighters Balancing Boxing and Education

1. Audley Harrison

Audley Harrison entered the limelight in the 2000 Olympics when he became the first British fighter to win Olympic Gold. Getting the gold in the super heavyweight category was no ordinary thing. It is something his fans realised and appreciated him for it. His speed, stamina, and respect for all were intriguing characteristics he possessed. These, among others, contributed to what made many love him.

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However, that is not what is most interesting about Audley Harrison’s career. Contrary to what many people might think, Harrison has a college degree from Brunel University. He didn’t just attend the university; he excelled as a student. All the while, his professors loved his essays and academic papers.

2. Davarryl Williamson

Davarryl Williamson’s professional boxing career started in 1999, but many people probably don’t know about his education. The professional heavyweight boxer graduated from Wayne State College in 1994 with a Bachelor’s in Recreation. He didn’t stop there; a year later, Williamson enrolled for an MA in Administrative Services. With much determination and focus, he graduated from Michigan University in 1998.

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Williamson’s professional boxing career started only a year after he had gotten his Master of Arts degree. The same resilience and determination Williamson had in his academics, he brings into his boxing career, excelling and teaching others to excel.

3. Laila Ali

Laila Ali is the daughter of the renowned fighter and one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali. However, Laila doesn’t ride on the wings of her father’s success; she sets her own pace in the boxing industry. She is revered worldwide as one of the most skilled women boxers with a two-division championship to show for it.

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However, before Laila became a professional boxer at 21, she was first a student at Santa Monica College. When asked during interviews, she would often say that college developed certain vital skills in her, including critical thinking. Although Laila’s boxing career ended early, her story inspired many professionals and athletes to take higher education more seriously.

4. Juan Diaz

If you’re a boxing enthusiast, you’ve most likely heard of how this former unified lightweight champion commanded fear in the boxing ring. Juan Diaz’s opponents feared him, and he was always open to experimenting in the ring and improving himself. It was this drive to improve himself that led him to enrol at the University of Houston when he turned 37.

Despite Diaz’s success as a professional boxer, he focused on his education, bagging a degree in political science. Diaz’s ability to juggle the demands of a successful boxing career with a tough educational process is worth exploring. With a bachelor’s in Political Science, Juan Diaz has broken the negative stereotypes around boxers and education.

5. Calvin Brock

Calvin Brock’s professional boxing career spanned 16 years, from 2001 to 2017, as one of the US Olympic Boxing Team Members. He studied Business Administration and Management at the Central Piedmont Community College between 1993 and 1995, after which he went for his MBA. A year after leaving the Community College, Brock enrolled for an MBA at the University of Carolina.