Maliek Montgomery: A Boxing Legacy Fueled by Family

For Maliek Montgomery, boxing is more than just a sport – it’s a family affair. With his father Michael Sr. and brothers Mikhail and Michael Jr. all deeply embedded in the sweet science, the Montgomery clan has created a legacy that extends far beyond the confines of the ring.

“Now that I’m older, everything I do now revolves around my family in the sense of making a better life for them and us being able to do things and experience things that the average person doesn’t get to do in his day-to-day grind,” Montgomery shared. “They are my main motivation behind getting in the ring and being able to train and push through.”

This familial bond has propelled Montgomery to great heights in the sport, earning him two National Golden Gloves titles, a spot as an alternate on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, and an unblemished 17-0 (16 KOs) professional record. Tonight, he’ll put that perfect mark on the line against Eridson Garcia at the Red Owl Boxing Arena in Houston.

Family as a Driving Force

While Montgomery has always been a multi-sport athlete, he credits his father’s boxing background and the family’s move from New York City to Macon, Georgia as catalysts for his own journey in the ring. “Maybe when I hit 14, 15, when I won my first national Junior Olympic championship, I think that was when the flip switched. I was already in love with the sport, but it really kicked it into overdrive where I wanted to do this for the rest of my life and make a living doing it.”

The Montgomery brothers’ success and community involvement have not gone unnoticed, as local officials have begun the process of renaming their gym to the ‘Frank Ray – Montgomery Brothers Boxing Arena.’ For Montgomery, this honor extends beyond just his accomplishments in the ring, but also his commitment to setting an example for his four-year-old son, Maliek Jr.

“It’s important because of how I want to raise my son as far as standing on morals and knowing that if you go for one thing, you’ll go for anything,” he explained. “And I want him to able to see his dad be a man, and see how he should carry himself; not by disrespecting people, but being able to carry himself to a higher standard in his day-to-day dealings and life, in general.”

Passing the Torch

While Montgomery is open to the idea of his son following in his footsteps, he recognizes the sacrifices and dedication required to excel in the sport. “I would love for the legacy to continue with my son, but I know what my dad had to put us through coming up through the amateurs and I don’t know if I’ll be able to sit there and push my son to that extent.”

As for tonight’s bout, Montgomery is solely focused on the task at hand, driven by his passion for competition and the desire to provide for his family. “At the end of the day, it is me and him tonight. And for me, that simplicity of just being able to get in the ring and fight and give my all and show what I’m made of, I think that’s what motivates me to get in the gym, on top of my family and being able to support them.”

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