BY SCOTT
HADDOW
Boxer Kyle Gauthier is like a big, powerful 18-wheeler,
carrying a full load of emotion, skill and new-found desire.
Gauthier is steaming full speed down the comeback road and doesn't plan on hitting the brakes until he reaches his ultimate goal: an Olympic event.
It wasn't always this way. In fact, just a few years ago, the
heavyweight boxer was thinking about hanging up the gloves and
sinking into obscurity.
On April 6, 2003, Gauthier's father, Michael, fell asleep at
the wheel of his car (he had a condition called sleep apnea)
and was killed when his car crashed into a ditch.
Gauthier's good friend and current coach Michael Stewart saw
the accident happen and was the first to inform Kyle of the
tragic news.
"Michael came to the door...and asked me if I believed in
God," said Gauthier. "It was devastating."
In the weeks that followed, Gauthier put on a brave face and
continued to train and box, but his heart wasn't in it. His
father had meant so much to his boxing career, he just couldn't
go on without him.
Gauthier struggled to come to grips with the death.
"I still trained...But I would just break down," said
Gauthier. "My dad was always in my corner, even when I wasn't
fighting. I got a tattoo on my left shoulder to honour him."
Gauthier took several months off. He came back and slowly
worked his way back into the sport.
In the last year, he has really put the pedal to the metal
and isn't looking back.
"When I came back, I was more hungry...more focused," said
the 23-year-old. "I dropped from super heavyweight to
heavyweight and it just feels so great to be in the ring doing
what I love to do."
Gauthier, who boxes out of the Fight Club in Valley East,
has faired well in his comeback, going 3-2 in his last five
bouts, which included a controversial loss to a boxer at a
Sault Ste. Marie event. Judges gave the split decision to the
other boxer, despite the fact Gauthier dominated the fight (he
knocked him out of the ring and knocked him down for a standing
eight count) and fans booed the outcome relentlessly.
His three wins have been nothing short of spectacular.
Fighting on the two-year anniversary of his father's death,
Gauthier schooled a foe in Windsor to win the bout in four
rounds by unanimous decision. His second win came over two time
Canadian champion Jason Hurst. Gauthier again, controlled the
bout winning another fourth round unanimous decision. In his
third win, Gauthier scored a third round TKO.
"My comeback is progressing well," said the six-foot-three
pugilist. "I'm in the process of breaking a lot of my old
habits. I can see I am getting better in pieces."
Gauthier has made huge strides to become a complete boxer
and his talents are impressive.
"Kyle has matured more in his boxing," said Stewart, a
former World Junior champion. "He's taken more initiative and
pushes himself. He's even developing more discipline in the
ring. When he's calm, he's awesome."
Stewart sees plenty in the big boxer.
"He has the potential to make it to the Olympics," said
Stewart. "He's a heavyweight with featherweight hands. He's so
fast, it's unreal. He's so skillful too. When he sticks to the
game plan..he destroys guys. He has to keep on boxing technical
to get where he wants. He now needs more fights."
Gauthier has become more prolific with his incredible power.
In his old days, he would charge opponents like an angry bull
and blast them with haymakers. He filled himself with negative
energy which usually resulted in the big man being disqualified
from bouts because of aggressive tactics.
"At first, I relied on power...Now I have changed my style," said the 210-pound fighter. "Instead of looking for the one-punch knockout, I throw combinations and move around to avoid my opponents. I'm not as nervous now either.
My mental focus is a lot better and that's been a big key
for me. My best strength is my mind...And I have opened the
door to a whole new arsenal of weapons. I generate a lot more
power now too because my punches are sharper and crisper."
Another vital strength to Gauthier's abilities is he can
take a punch.
"To this day...I have never been knocked down or out," said
the Espanola native. "I have a good chin."
Gauthier knows he can make the Olympics. "It's always been
my dream to represent my country...I am very patriotic," said
the scrapper. "It's not about the money, it's about the love
for the sport. It's going to take a lot of determination and
dedication and confidence in my own ability. I know I can do it
and I have a great team backing me up now."
In the fall, Gauthier will be attending Laurentian University
to study sport and physical education.
Gauthier will be in action at the end of August and fight in a major tournament in September.
