Wayzata High School Boxer Has Professional Aspirations

Colt Holmes Aims To Take Boxing Career to Next Level

Colt Holmes eats a jab to the face but fires back immediately with a three-punch combination. Sparring partner and former pro fighter Hector Orozco nods his head in approval as trainer Ricky Lee offers advice from the ring apron.

“To perform at a high level of boxing, it’s not just who can throw the most punches or who’s the better athlete, you have to outplay people, there has to be meaning behind the violence,” says Holmes, an amateur boxer and freshman at Wayzata High School who calls boxing “a physical game of chess.”

Holmes started boxing about three and a half years ago and has an amateur record of 3-2. His coach, Ricky Lee, is a combat sports lifer who owns Rumble Boy Gym in Medina.

When Holmes showed up Lee was semi-retired and unsure if he wanted to train fighters anymore. But the young man’s enthusiasm and dedication rejuvenated Lee’s love for the sweet science.

“When he walked in my door, he gave me belief in something I didn’t I’d believe in again and I consider him one of my kids now and what’s he done is made me believe again,” said Lee.

Boxer Colt Holmes spars with former pro fighter Hector Orozco at Rumble Boy Gym in Medina

The Next Level

Holmes wants to take his boxing career as far as he can. Lee says Holmes could turn pro “within the next 12 months.” Lee certainly isn’t rushing Holmes to the pro ranks but feels staying in the amateurs too long can actually be detrimental for a fighter with professional aspirations.

“I’ve known amateurs with 100, 150, 200 fights, that’s a lot of fights and a lot of damage so why are you racking up that much [damage] if you’re going to turn pro, so I’m looking out for his safety as well,” said Lee.

Boxing can be a lonely game, an isolating endeavor that pushes fighters to their physical and mental limits. But Colt Holmes is embracing the challenges of the fight game and believes he has the motivation and drive to make the most of his talent.

“It’s on you, if you don’t eat right, train right you’re the one getting hit in the ring so I enjoy that pressure.”

Wayzata High School

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