Windsor fighter aims to inspire during his quest for gold
“I'm really excited to get in there tonight and prove myself.”
That’s what Jayden Trudell said while in Brampton trying to become a national boxing champion.
He says every bout strengthens his resolve to be a positive influence.
“Any other people bullied or assaulted before who feel bad, down on themselves, you know scared and have bad anxiety,” Trudell said. “That's not it right. There's more to that. There's stuff you can do.”
In 2018, Trudell was a grade 9 student at Herman when he was assaulted by three teens, who were later found guilty and sentenced. The now 18-year-old says he uses that experience as motivation.
“If I'm ever feeling down, don't wanna go to the gym, feeling bad oh don't wanna run I just go back and think about that cause it's my pure motivator,” he said.
Border City Boxing Club coach Andre Gorges is proud of his athlete's success and recalls a story involving his prized fighter after he won the provincial championship.
“His grandma comes to me crying and I said ‘what's wrong?’ She said she just remembers maybe like four years ago like it was yesterday the doctors telling his mom that she has to get her stuff together because he might not make it,” said Gorges.
The Holy Names grad says, for him, boxing doesn't equal revenge.
“I'm not trying to do it to get big and strong and go and beat the guys up who beat me,” Trudell explained. “It's more so I can prove to myself and prove to others and show others that I'm not a victim. I'm not a weakling right.”
His coach says Andre has taken a positive approach to becoming an elite boxer.
“He's seen these kids and he probably could get revenge on them but he's not looking for that,” Gorges said. “He walked away because he's just looking to change his name from Jayden the kid that got bullied to Jayden the champion boxer and he's doing that.”
Trudell is in the semi-finals against a fighter from Quebec. If he wins he'll fight for the gold Sunday at 1 p.m.
“Of course, I'm super proud,” he said. “I've come a long way but the job ain't done yet.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.