RapVerse.com Community - Ex-NBA Player Becomes Boxer

On Saturday night, at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, 37-year-old Kendall Gill will be making his professional boxing debut.

Yes, 37 years old. Yes, making his pro boxing debut. And yes, Kendall Gill.
Many sports fans are familiar with the name Kendal Gill. After all he has played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association after getting drafted in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets.

After playing in only 14 games this past season, Gill was abruptly released by the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I didn't deserve to go out this way in basketball," said Gill.

Gill is a a life-long boxing fan who has used his unexpected free time away from the NBA to regain his focus, get hungry again, and also set some interesting personal goals.

"I've always wanted to (box professionally), even before basketball," said the outgoing and personable Gill. "The Bucks waiving me could be a blessing in disguise."

"I want to have a couple of fights, return to the NBA, and then come back to boxing," said Gill, an Illinois native. "I'm not leaving basketball this way. I'm coming back big and finishing my career like a champ."

While a champ on the basketball court, Gill does realize the unlikelihood of his ever placing a pugilistic title belt up on his mantle along with all his basketball trophies.

Kendall Gill in his natural environment over the last 14 years, on an NBA court. (Glenn James / Getty Images)

The former member of the Hornets, Supersonics, Nets, Heat, Timberwolves, Bulls and Bucks seems content with entering the squared circle and realizing a boyhood dream.

"I've loved boxing since I was about eight years old," he said. "I grew up watching and admiring guys like (Marvin) Hagler, (Ray) Leonard, (Thomas) Hearns and (Evander) Holyfield. My all-time favorite is Tito Trinidad, and I have the ultimate respect for Bernard Hopkins staying on top for so long."

The 6-foot-5 Gill, who planned on fighting as a heavyweight due to his natural playing weight being near 215 pounds, logically dropped to the cruiserweight limit (between 175-200 pounds) for his debut.

"I'm sparring with guys in the 240's and holding my own, but I'll be much more effective as a cruiserweight," Gill said.

By Gill's own admission, he is a work in progress and he acknowledges that his status as an NBA player more than likely played a major part in this opportunity. He is also confident that when people see how hard he has worked these past 15 months to get this shot, and the sincerity of his efforts, that boxing fans will support him.

Fighting as the "co-feature" for the June 25, 8-Count Productions fight card, Gill will face Trevor Biley, a carefully selected, hand-picked opponent. The 5-8 Biley (0-1) from Cleveland, was stopped in the first round of his lone pro fight, which was more than 14 months ago.

The main event will showcase popular local middleweight contender Freddie Cuevas (24-7 with 16 KOs), who trains with Gill at the JABB gym in Chicago.

The most impressive aspect of Gill's delving into the brutal, yet beautiful, business of boxing is his realistic mental approach.

Not factored by money or the whimsical notion of fighting for a championship (why fight, if not to become a champion or for the money?), Gill is fighting for pride. Pride in showing that, although financially secure and able to move on to the next stage of his life, it will be done on his terms.

Gil is taking his shot, taking a rough road instead of the easy path, to show he is a fighter. Not just for his upcoming four-round pro debut, but more importantly for his future.

Maybe his distasteful exit from the game he loved was "a blessing in disguise," a wake-up call to a sleeping giant. We will find out Saturday night.

Source:Fox Sports