I couldn't ask for a more meaningful reason to get in the ring than to knock out cancer, which will propel me to the next level in my boxing journey.

I'm fighting in support of countless family and friends dear to my heart, including my mother and grandmother, both of whom are cancer survivors who continue to see the disease affect their daily lives.

With every breath and every punch, I'm also fighting in honor of the angel in my corner: my grandfather, friend, and mentor Jim McLeod who recently passed after a debilitating battle against multiple myeloma.