Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Cruz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started boxing when I was 11 years old and I fought competitively in the junior amateurs for Boxing and Muay Thai Kickboxing. At 17 years old I won the Florida State Featherweight Champion title belt.
Four months later my whole life went downhill. Behind the scenes of being a dedicated undefeated fighter, I was that kid selling drugs at parties, and everything I kept in the darkness came into the light. I got arrested at 18 directly after reaching my highest accomplishment, after receiving all this recognition, sponsors, and offers. I was kicked out of my mom’s house and I had to sacrifice boxing to work 2-3 legal occupations to pay my bills and probation fees.
It took me three years to get off probation. From the age 18 to 21, I only fought once at the age of 19, and knocked my competition out in the first round. It made an incredible impression on my gym, the crowd, and everyone else who had counted me out, but I was still battling my own struggles. I wasn’t training anymore, and I was living alone in a trailer, going through a very tough breakup, and could no longer hustle for money. I was smoking a lot of weed to cope with all of these feelings of failure, depression, and loneliness. I had so many friends but when I got arrested, everyone kicked me when I was down rather than being there for me. Letting go of these bad habits I had developed was a very tough battle, and most of the time, they got the best of me. I didn’t go back to the gym to train, and I made excuses saying I still had to clear my probation before going back to the gym.
At 20 years old, I met my wife, and we got married when I was 21. After the wedding, I was off probation, and I was itching to get back into boxing. Now that I felt like I had nothing holding me back, I walked up to my old gym, surprising my coach like “I’m back!” I was joking with him like how I normally would, and I asked him “Coach when we gonna spar?” And he says to me “Who the f*** do you think you are, challenging me? You’re a bum fighter, you are washed up, you are a stupid kid, and you think you know what you’re doing but don’t know a thing. You think we have the same relationship as before, but what we had before is now nothing.” All of this took place in front of my wife and the people in the gym. Today, I have forgiven him for his words and actions towards me and I believe he completely misunderstood where I was coming from. But had it not been for that day, that interaction, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
My wife and I felt a call to move to Orlando in the middle of the COVID pandemic since we both lost our jobs as servers on Clearwater Beach. There was a lot of waiting and patience that took place during this time but when things started to open back up, I found a job as an independent personal trainer over at Self Made Training Facility. After just 5 months of working there, I outgrew the facility and I was able to open my own gym here in Casselberry.
Here I am today, 23 years old, with no high school diploma, felony record, and a successful businessman. I’m here to say it doesn’t matter what the odds look like, there are no odds against God. I wasn’t raised up in religion, I was actually raised anti-religion, but I had my own encounter with God when I sat there in that cell at 18 years old, from there I started talking to God on my own, building a relationship with Him. Slowly but surely, He revealed Himself to me in countless, remarkable, amazing and unforgettable ways, and showed me that His plan is far greater than what my plan was. Here we are today transforming lives through the art of boxing, my God-given talent, and the gospel.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The journey before my encounter with God was like taking 2 steps forward, and then 10 steps back. Once I surrendered to what God wanted for me, instead of what I wanted, every obstacle in front of me has been lifted. My wife and I have had supernatural favor throughout the opening of our business because no matter how things looked, we’ve been strong in our faith. I can’t take any credit for this, this is how God works. He makes my path straight and clear because I’m doing what He told me to do. This is God’s gym, not ours.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Here at To The Top Boxing Club, we set high expectations we strive to reach, therefore we see amazing results with each and every individual who trains at our gym. We pull the absolute best out of everybody, I believe there is greatness inside of every single person. What sets us apart from other boxing gyms is our community; we are one big family, no person feels excluded in any way. My wife and I welcome all people of all ages and backgrounds with open arms and zero judgment. We are most proud of the results, the testimonies of our people, and the fact that our people are so grateful to have this gym in their lives (as we are even more grateful for them!) To The Top Boxing Club is the place for you to become the absolute best version of yourself, mentally, physically, and emotionally! To The Top!
Any big plans?
Future plans are to eventually raise up trainers and hire a GM to run this entire gym. From there, the goal is to open a second location. As of right now, there are just two trainers and that’s my wife and myself. We don’t mind though, we love what we do!
Pricing:
- $0 (*FREE*) First Class
- $139.99/month Three (3) classes per week (Bronze Membership)
- $199.99/month Five (5) classes per week (Silver Membership)
- $249.99/month Unlimited classes + open gym access + gold member perks!
Contact Info:
- Email: tttboxingclub@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.tothetopboxingclub.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tothetopboxingclub/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tothetopboxingclub
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClq4xZ-YK4qfPF8fkVPuo1g
