A Champion Boxer on the Inward Fight: Discipline, Purpose, and Going All In

In this episode of After Peter Pan, Pat sits down with champion boxer Steve Claggett for a powerful conversation about the fight beyond the ring — the inward one. Steve shares how discipline became his way out of a life of partying, drinking, and trouble with the law, and how boxing gave him purpose, structure, and a reason to grow.

They talk about what it really means to go all in, the sacrifices that come with that choice, and why discipline doesn’t feel like suffering when it's tied to something you love. Steve opens up about fear, failure, solitude, and the internal fire that still drives him after 50 fights. This is a story of humility, resilience, and the lifelong journey of understanding yourself.

What You’ll Learn:

• How discipline can be a lifeline, not a punishment
• The power of channeling pain and chaos into purpose
• What it takes to go all in — and stay all in
• How solitude can shape strength
• Why understanding your darker traits can help you grow
• How to stay grounded, even at the top

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Chapters

• 0:00 Hook & Intro
• 3:33 The Turning Point and Going All In
• 6:06 Discipline as a Lifeline
• 8:24 Doubt, Passion, and the Fighter’s Mindset
• 12:19 Letting Go of Ego, Asking for Help
• 15:44 Bouncing Back from Failure
• 17:44 Solitude, Sacrifice, and Staying Grounded
• 22:39 Mental Preparation: Books and Mindset
• 27:11 Fear, Inner Fire, and What Keeps Him Going
• 35:30 Love, Loneliness, and Life Beyond Boxing
• 58:34 Growing Up and the Inward Journey
• 1:02:12 Outro

Transcript

Steve (00:02)
It was a forced discipline upon me because I know I'm getting ready for a fight So I can't be drinking partying getting in trouble or in the sport of boxing if you Screw up your training and you show up on fight night and you didn't do the training you suffer for it and you suffer for it

via brutal beating and you get your head cracked and your hands broken

Instead of getting in trouble to put all that energy into training Into getting ready for the fight when you have the outcome you have the goal It really helps you because it gives you a channel. It gives you a focal point It's a good way to use your energy So that's that's pretty much what I found I found a way to channel my energy into something that was a positive

for my life.

Pat Tenneriello (00:43)
Welcome to After Peter Pan. I'm your host Pat Tenerello. And in today's episode, I'm super excited to sit down with Steve Claggett, champion boxer and world title contender. Steve opens up about his journey from troubled youth to the ring. What it means to go all in on something. The discipline, the focus, but also the sacrifice, the pain, the suffering that we associate with that may not be quite the burden that we think it is.

when it's paired with something that brings us a sense of fun and play and joy. He also opens up about embracing some of those worst traits and channeling them to our benefit, traits that sometimes we may bury or may try to avoid that we feel our weaknesses. I hope you enjoy the episode.

Pat Tenneriello (01:31)
know, your growing up story from what I've read, started at a very young age

You know, I read that at 19, you ran into some trouble with the law. You know, you had a moment where you could have gone either way, the streets or the ring you chose the ring. what was that like to kind of grow up so young and make that decision and not turn back?

Steve (01:44)
And.

I was just a product of my environment. I my friends and my social circles, don't know. Things just happen. I guess at a young age, you're impulsive.

I always pushed, I always pushed the boundaries. It's like I always had to hit the walls before I found out, you know, where the boundaries are. So I don't know, it's just in my nature. I'm a fighter by trade, right? So it was kind of meant to be, I guess. I just always crashed through the outsides to figure out where the borders were, I guess I could say. And then that's kind of what brought me to fighting and all that stuff as well.

Pat Tenneriello (02:30)
What was your upbringing like?

Steve (02:32)
My upbringing was awesome. My family was great. mean, we were, we had to make it work when I was young, but my family was there. We were supportive. My dad's a, he's, he always worked. My mom was a stay at home mom. I have my family. have two sisters and one brother. I mean, things were great. I was just,

something of ⁓ a fighter inside my heart and I couldn't tell you why and then it just kind of led to things but my family was awesome and actually many times in my life I kind of I disappointed them because I was I was up to no good.

Pat Tenneriello (03:14)
You had a really supportive upbringing it sounds like and despite that, there was this fighting nature in you that took you down a path for a while, but then you realized that and you got out of it. How did you decide, hey, this isn't the right path for me. I got this fighting energy in me. I need to do something different. How did that happen?

Steve (03:33)
Well, that was way down the line. There was a lot of stuff happening before, but when I actually made the decision was at, I guess I was 18 years old. I was in a bad way with my family and I had left my house and I was living with my friends and we were...

drinking, partying, fighting, just everything. And I remember getting in trouble a couple of times with the law. got arrested, some stuff happened. And I remember sitting with my friend and talking about how I gotta make a change here because I got picked up twice this week. This is going a bad way. And then I had already been an amateur boxer, so I...

I don't know, was there, it was already an offer to go professional and I just decided in the midst of the chaos, I was like, I need to do something so I don't get in serious trouble. I was headed bad, I was headed down the bad way and then I just, had my outlet, I had my boxing, which I had already been doing since I was a kid.

but I just put everything into it. And so that was like the answer for me. And I was able to vent my aggression, vent my pain, vent my problems, just put it all into, I guess something positive because boxing is like a channel, an outlet. It turned into a job and a career. And I mean, it was something that I just did as an, it was an outlet.

and then at one point it became my answer.

Which was very interesting and I couldn't tell you exactly how or why but I just know what I was doing I was getting in trouble and then I Instead of getting in trouble to put all that energy into training Into getting ready for the fight when you have the outcome you have the goal It really helps you because it gives you a channel. It gives you a focal point It's very good. It's a good way to use your energy So that's that's pretty much what I found I found a way to channel my energy into something that was a positive

for my life.

Pat Tenneriello (05:40)
And through that process, I've never really hit a rock bottom. But when I did have a turning point to reinvent myself, I had to let some pieces of me die. That's what it felt like. It really felt like I was letting some things go in your.

turn over and the changes that you made, you relate to that feeling of letting something die? What did you feel you had to let go of to do that, to make that change?

Steve (06:06)
the for me at that point When you when I had to let go it wasn't so much letting go it was just discipline It was a forced discipline upon me because I know I'm getting ready for a fight So I can't be drinking partying getting in trouble or in the sport of boxing if you Screw up your training and you show up on fight night and you didn't do the training you suffer for it and you suffer for it

via brutal beating and you get your head cracked and your hands broken and your nose but like the physical pain is I guess what steered it's like you better you better be in shape for the fight you don't want to show up halfway or kind of in shape so the severity of the failure in boxing

forced me to be on track because I knew I know the I know both sides of the coin I know what it's like to win I know what it's like to lose and when you're going into something with such a such a a huge painful loss you show up correct because you better the severity of the what would have been if I was to fail

It kept me straight on a straight path because I know I'm like, I'm not messing around because I don't want to feel that. I don't want to go through that. I've been there before. I know how it feels to lose everything. And at that point I thought I knew, but later in life I've really figured out more, but I guess the severity of the failure forced me to be on a straight line and a good path.

Pat Tenneriello (07:38)
That's really interesting. Did you learn that the hard way? Did you take a beating a lack of preparation or lack of discipline or did you know that those would be the consequences?

Steve (07:49)
I knew, I knew. Because I never... I always kind of... Because boxing was my vent, my outlet, I loved to train. It was always something that I did. So I was always in good shape, especially for fight time. But there's many pieces to the puzzle, It's not just being in good shape physically.

There's a whole bunch to it, but I never really, it wasn't like I showed up out of shape. I was always in good shape. I've always been a fighter through and I trained hard, I work hard, I enjoy it. But there's just levels to the game and pieces, there's so much.

Pat Tenneriello (08:24)
You know, a lot of people, enjoy a sport, they make it a hobby, maybe they play it recreationally or even competitively. It takes on a piece of their life, but not their entire life. and, you know, the typical person may have three or four different things that are passions or things that they enjoy doing that they pursue and they'll never make it to the top of that game in any of those three or four things. I'm one of those people.

your story's different. You went all in on something and you went all in at a young age.

I think for me, I've struggled in my life to know what I want and go for it. Where, and you haven't. And so I think I would love to hear from you about how did you know that boxing was it for you, that this is what you wanted to do and, then to make that decision at such a young age.

Steve (09:16)
Well, you know what? It's funny because they they always say you don't choose to be a fighter. Fighting chooses you. So I was already an amateur boxer, but honestly, I didn't know. I wasn't sure. I just kind of fought because it was an answer for a lot of problems and a lot of things, and it gave me my outlet. It gave me a vent, but I didn't. I didn't know if that was going to be.

I had no idea it was going to be my job because even when I first turned professional, I was working. I was working full time for years and years and years. it was never until the last little while in my life. It was never my only job. I always had other jobs and I guess I did it because it was a passion and because I love it and because it gives me an answer and an outlet and event. But I

Never knew that it was going to be my only career. Yet I did it with so much, like such a passion because I care about, I love it. It's what I do. And so I guess it's ⁓ a self-image kind of thing. I'm a fighter. I know that I am. Like I said, you don't choose to be a fighter. Fighting chooses you. And I didn't think that I would, I didn't plan it. It just kind of happened to me. So.

I guess my decision was made for me just through my life and what happened. I woke up one day and I've been doing it for, you know, as many years as I've been doing it. So that was kind of cool actually, but I never really chose it. It chose me.

Pat Tenneriello (10:47)
Have you had moments of doubt?

Steve (10:48)
a million every every time you always get it and I think that's also part of being a fighter because of the nature of the business you have to go up against somebody there's the the win or lose success or failure there's no middle ground like you can have a tie but that's very rare and even then that's a failure because you didn't win so

It's ⁓ expectations It's an inward journey you work on yourself. You it's such a entangled thing like there's so many pieces to it but I guess that if you can just stay positive focus on what you're doing day to day That's the answer if you get better you'll be better and I think that that was a place where I found peace in myself Because I love to train. I love to be in the gym. I love to improve

And so I just stayed focused on that. And then the other stuff started to come together because my focal point was in words. And I knew that the progress I'm making progress, I'm getting better, I'm improving. Whenever it comes around, we always said that about fighting as well. Whenever the fight happens, if you get better, you'll be better. So just keep on improving.

And that was something that I learned through hard times in boxing, not having stability. And it gave me this consistent kind of work rate and this big picture kind of perspective. So I don't know, I guess I'm a product of my environment again.

Pat Tenneriello (12:19)
And when you started off, were pretty solo from what I've read. and then at some point you decided to ask for help and to get trained by Mike Maffa. so asking for help means having to put your ego aside. And as a fighter, I'm assuming ego is an important piece. So what was that like? How were you able to do that? Put your ego aside.

Steve (12:35)
Yeah.

Well, that was much later in the career. When I started working with Mike, I believe that's 10 or 11 fights ago, but I got 50 fights. So my whole young life, I had a trainer at the very beginning. I had a great trainer, my original trainer at the beginning of my career. Then I had moved to Vegas and I had a different trainer for a little bit. just, I don't know. It's been such a, it's been a long ride, but.

When I went to Montreal and I started working with Mike Moffa, it was because during that time, I was in between gyms, which led me to be without a trainer in Calgary here. And I fought against Matthew Germain and Mike Moffa was his trainer. And Matthew beat me in a decision, he beat me via decision. And after the fight,

I really wanted to know what was the strategy? How did he beat me? I believe that I could have got it done.

but they had a strategy, they had a plan. I was in great shape, but they were doing things in the fight that was catered to my style to shut me down, to neutralize my strengths. These things, it was very strategic, it was good. And so I kinda had to swallow my pride there and I went over there and I was like, Mike, can you show me? Just teach me, I wanna work with him. And he had invited me to come out there and train.

You know, he even said to me, if we don't work well together, I'll find you another trainer. But it was kind of like, you don't want to waste your talent. Just being with no trainer, just doing whatever. And then I went there. I trained with Mike.

Then we started to click. We started to have chemistry in the gym. We really started to work well together. And then we had a training camp because we got an opportunity to fight. It was during the pandemic and COVID. And we went down to Mexico and had a fight kind of like...

small crowd. was not a lot of people there. It was kind of ⁓ just to be seen on, viewed online. But it was a good fight and Mike and I, had chemistry the whole way through and we got it done. I won via KO. It was a good one because Mike called out the combination. I threw it and knocked the guy out. I win the fight. We couldn't have written the script better than that. But then we knew

Okay, we were good opponents, but we're even better teammates. So Mike's my coach, and I'm happy that we made that discovery.

Pat Tenneriello (15:26)
That's great.

You mentioned that disappointment when you lost that fight, even despite knowing that you had trained well and that you could have been the winner. You've had a couple disappointments in your career, a lot of successes, but in those moments of disappointment, I'm curious, how do you deal with failure? How do you bounce back?

Steve (15:44)
Well, I... When I went through it, I learned that failure is not permanent. It's like just because you lost the fight in like, you know, in a little bit, you'll come back and then everything... It's like a new day is a whole new perspective. And then I had some experiences in my life that taught me that. I was very injured after a fight, that was...

a tough lesson because then I thought my permanently I thought everything had changed but I guess being conscious of the fact that tomorrow's a new day and today isn't forever that's something that's got me through the hard times and giving me strength and I'm able to endure because

Tomorrow it's gonna be okay. It's gonna be worth it. Just push through and there's been times in training camps when I thought no way it's gonna be worth it. This is not it doesn't matter what it is it on the other side. It's not gonna be worth it. But then when I got through the fight and I won and it, I got it done and the success happened. I remember looking back at me like it was I can't even believe I was thinking that it wasn't gonna be worth it. It was absolutely worth it. So that

The successes of my past have also inspired me and they helped me because then I'm able to think back on those things and I'm like, it is worth it. When you get through it, it is going to be worth it. Despite the hardships you're going through, your current state, tomorrow's a new day and your perspective could be absolutely obliterated today. But

Tomorrow something great could happen and everything can change. And your perspective, as long as you can keep that in mind, the fact that it's it's not permanent. Today's feelings aren't tomorrow's. So this has given me strength in a lot of places that just the foresight, the ability to think about, okay, where we are right now is not forever.

Pat Tenneriello (17:44)
Yeah, on the flip side, you've had a lot of successes too. You've been compared to Rocky a few times from what I've read. You've won some big fights. You know, that kind of stuff can go to your head. You've won a lot of championships. How do you stay humble? How do you stay grounded? Because I don't know a lot about boxing, man, but I've seen some movies and oftentimes when you get to the top, that's where you might get corrupted. That's where you might lose sight of who you are.

Steve (17:44)
and on the website.

Pat Tenneriello (18:09)
So how do you stay grounded?

Steve (18:10)
right?

Well, I don't know if it was a blessing or a curse, but the fact that I went through an entire lifetime before ever making, you know, making it in boxing, I guess, is essentially getting the big fights and being up there and having

you know, stability from my career. I went through over a decade, over 10 years. I had no support. had a team, a small team, but I didn't have any, you know, didn't have any, like, it's a different world now. So I guess because I've seen the other side of things, now I'm like, you know what? Everything is great. It's perspective. It's all perspective.

And I'm just able to because I've seen that I've seen when you have nothing when you don't have any no support at all in boxing. They call it the loneliest sport in the world. And it is often because you're the only one who goes in the ring. And sometimes you're the only one who cares about whether or not you win. Usually you hope you have a team because when that happens, you know, it gives you moral support. You go further. But

I've been there where I had my friend in the corner. He was my trainer, but I trained myself and I went all against. I went, I was going up against a team and opposition, a guy with a coach and all this stuff, but I didn't have anyone. So they say it's the loneliest sport on earth. It is, but to the other side of that inside the ring, there's only two of us.

So that's kind of a beautiful paradox, the fact that it could be so lonely, but because I know myself so well, I'm able to go one on one against somebody else with confidence.

Pat Tenneriello (19:55)
I read that before a fight you like to read, you read the art of war. Yeah, so what do you like to read before a fight and what would be like one lesson that really stuck with you that might be ⁓ of value to listeners?

Steve (19:59)
Yep. Gas one or the other? Yep.

usually it's applicable books. So I read the art of war because I'm going to my version of war. I read sports psychology books because they arm me for, you know, things that I'm going through. And it's all just directed towards the right kind of focus point. I just want to be in a great state of mind. I want to be positive. I want to be proactive. I want to be looking.

for success and hungry for it and determined to see it all the way through. There's a couple of really good books that I like by Tim Grover, Relentless, and he's got the new one called Winning. And I like this kind of book because it's all about the mindset that you need to be a successful athlete, to compete.

on the way to success you got to be in that right state of mind so i always like those kinds of books that put me into a a place of determination a place of i guess i i i'm

able to i'm ready to see it all the way through and i'm ready for the the fires that are coming my way because i know that they're coming but i've armored myself i'm not showing up unprepared i showed up fully prepared and i'm ready for the heat i'm ready for the storm and i'm ready for the noise and

books like this kind of put you in that mindset. And I guess it could be literally anything. You could read a fantasy book that you kind of identify with one of the characters and it puts you in this kind of state. Or you could read, like I do, a book on mindset, something that you can use, like applicable books where it's like, okay, I'm going to think about...

Positive events that I went through positive outcome last time I want to fight I felt like this I remember that feeling I attached that to what I'm going to now so there's all these different things but in the whirlwind of it all up here in my own mind I use what works and discard what doesn't and Because my brain's always racing. I think of a million things. I like to take pieces from everything

And while I'm going through my training camps, I'll use all these things and I'll keep these books because then around fight time, I look back and I remember, I remember feeling great when I read that book. I even just seeing it or thinking about it, it brings me back to that state of mind. And I'm able to kind of draw strength from that because

Pat Tenneriello (22:29)
you

Steve (22:39)
the you know I've done the work I've read that I believe in myself I built this so you arm yourself with the potential for success and you arm yourself with the pieces that assure that reassure you so I believe this is how I kind of I arm the mind I guess

Pat Tenneriello (23:00)
I'm also a big fan of those types of books. The Art of War is on my list of two read. I haven't read it yet, but I've read Napoleon Hill. saw that's one that I think you mentioned. There's a book called Mindset by Carol Dweck. Maybe you read it about having a learner's mindset, a growth mindset. I'm a big fan of these types of books too. I alternate between a mindset book and then just a fun story fiction type book just to go back and forth. ⁓

Steve (23:16)
Yeah.

Yes.

Pat Tenneriello (23:29)
What is it about the Art of War specifically that really speaks to you? Because I'm really curious about that one.

Steve (23:35)
It's a lot of mindset. it puts you... it kind of, I guess, gives you perspectives of a mindset that's going to conquer, that's going to win a battle. So book... there's a lot of things in that book, but it's about how to win a war, essentially, but win a war via combat.

these kinds of things, it's all kind of directly towards the right mindset to win a fight. That's the exact same sort of idea. But I guess it talks about how you prepare for things, how you should strategically approach things. And there's just a lot of applicable

mental pieces that you can use to put yourself in a positive mindset when you're going towards, you know, competition or it could be for anything really, but in the spot that I'm in, I use it for my competitive mind. So I kind of arm myself with knowledge.

Pat Tenneriello (24:42)
You kind of talked about how boxing there's layers. It's like there's, there's a lot to it. It's, know, we think about it as a physical sport, but clearly there's a lot of, there's a huge mental piece in it. also think of mind and body as two separate things. what's your view on that? Because, you know, I, I practice meditation.

I had a Zen priest on the show and he talked about how mind and body are one. And I'm curious, just because you seem to read a lot about mind and obviously you practice a very physical sport and so I'm curious if you have a view on that.

Steve (25:13)
Mind controls the body it's an internal Your mind controls every piece of it. Like it's tricky it's hard to explain because if you can Determine like if you can steer your mind To a great perspective to a positive play like where you're feeling

Proact you feel like you're controlling things you feel prepared you feel reassured in yourself you feel confident like if you can control this stuff with your mind that steers the whole ship so your mind controls your body and if you put yourself in that good state I've seen guys or girls who should not win the fight but they just believe in themselves to the point where they go out there with confidence and they win the fight because they just

Pat Tenneriello (25:49)
Thank

Steve (25:59)
thought they were gonna do it. They just can out will. So I mean, it's gotta be a perfect matchup as well, but like you can out will someone, especially in this kind of competition or this kind of challenge at one versus one. And.

The mind is like sometimes you'll see a, actually, I guess a lot of times you'll see two fighters who are the exact same skill level and they'll fight and the person who wants it more is just more determined, wins the fight because that determination shows itself in the fight, you know, just cause they dig down more or they thought of something that would work strategically. So mind controls the body.

And it'll see you through everything. mean, if you can, if your connection with your mind is good, it helps with all aspects of life, but definitely for athletes too.

Pat Tenneriello (26:50)
that fire that will push someone over the edge when the two competitors are roughly equal. You've been at this for a while. Like how do you keep that fire going? Do you set goals for yourself? is there, do you have a goal in your mind that once you get there, it's like, okay, I'm done. like, how do you keep that hunger?

Steve (27:11)
That one's my internal struggle. That's ⁓ my fighter. I don't know if that'll ever go away. Honestly, it's still louder. It's louder than ever right now. So I don't know, but it's really hard. It's hard to explain because you have this internal conflict that...

expresses itself through training and competing but the entire thing's inwards so this fighter that i have inside my heart i didn't choose to have i just have it and i it's still as loud it's louder now than ever before so

Pat Tenneriello (27:50)
Why is

that? you, do you have any idea why it's louder now than ever before?

Steve (27:54)
Guess because I've seen the potential for what it could do and I still haven't yet achieved the things that I want to cheat so and because I haven't truly expressed everything yet because I have more than I've shown and Until I get that full expression. I don't know and even when I get that full expression maybe that is the Snowball and then it starts to go to go even more from there, but

My fight is internal, my fight, my reason, I guess, is internal and I love it. I don't see myself ever stopping, but I know you have to at some point. But I don't know yet. At this point in time, I feel great, I feel healthy, I feel more motivated than ever. I'm enjoying it more than ever. I love my job.

get to, I used to have to pay to box, now I get paid to box. This is like the best time of my life, so I guess that perspective is nice too. And the fact that I went through so much to get to this point where I could just be a fighter is also kind of inspiring and encouraging because it's time now, I feel like I'm picking up speed really.

Pat Tenneriello (28:59)
That's great way to look at it, right? To be able to get paid to do what you love. know, as human beings, play is important, fun is important. You need to love what you do is to have fun at it. I mean, not every moment of every day, because sometimes just staying disciplined and getting up at whatever time you get up to train and not being in the mood to do it, like that will happen. And despite that, you need to rise above it.

what you decide to do, you need to have that sense of play and that sense of fun. And after all these years, you sound like you still have that. So that's great. Do think there could ever come a day where it won't be fun anymore? Or you'd want to do something else?

Steve (29:38)
you

Well, you know my transition will be the day that I feel like I it's time to teach When I will like show the you know I'll teach other people how to do this. I'll show other fighters how to Control this or get ready for this I think that'll be my transition because I found something that I really love and I'm lucky for that I found my boxing I found my fighting specific to the hands

which I don't know, but that was just, that called me. And then when I decide to move on, I'm sure I'll teach because I used to teach for years and years and I loved it and I actually enjoy it. I enjoy the changes that you can create in another person to better their life, which is really cool. So at that point, that's how I'll pass it on. But

For now, I'm going strong. feel great. And I'm happy for that. I'm very grateful for that too.

Pat Tenneriello (30:42)
that it, so coming back to that loud, thing that's never, it's as loud as it's ever been inside of you. If you were to name that as an emotion, what would the emotion be?

Steve (30:52)
It's like...

It's like golden fire. It's like an internal light of something that explodes. I couldn't tell you. I wouldn't have a name for it, but that's the image that I get. I'm kind of a visual guy. Just some sort of fire inside. I think that's what it is. It's an internal fire.

Pat Tenneriello (31:15)
Is it anger?

Steve (31:17)
No, because that was one I, that was always, that one was always weird for me because usually when people fight, they're mad at each other. But I didn't necessarily have to be mad at anyone to fight. I just fought. And yeah, there were times when I was mad. There was times when people were mad at me, but.

I don't know. I don't know exactly why. It's just the it's almost like the the skill. It's like a challenge. It's a competition. It's competitiveness. It's to see who can prepare better to see who can build more than the other to defeat them when it comes time to show it. It's a really weird one because it's all it's an internal fight against nobody.

until you have an opponent, until you have a set date, but the fights inside, it's an internal job. So I think that one is, that's where my fighter comes from because I got something in the heart that just loves it and wants to express and it's still feeling the need to express right now. Like I feel like I haven't done anything yet. So that's kind of cool.

Pat Tenneriello (32:31)
Do you ever feel fear and how do you deal with that if you do?

Steve (32:35)
I feel fear, absolutely I feel fear. I have been the most terrified I could ever explain. But weirdly enough, it's not about the fight. I don't feel the fear to like fight and get hit and hurt. I feel the fear of failure. I feel the fear of...

Letting down expectations of myself and others Not achieving the goal The fear is different because it's an internal fear despite the fact that it's a job it's like a fight and everybody's watching and

There's all this stuff, that's where it's you're against yourself. That's a lot of fighters say that you're against yourself. So the fear is inwards as well. And that one's, I guess, because my inspiration comes from within, my fear is also directed within. And so that's my perspective. I need to do something. I'm terrified, terrified to fail.

But that's also the fight. That's the paradox that is a fighter, I guess. And the fear is not about so much, ⁓ that hurts. The fear is about not getting it done, not achieving your goals, not achieving your dreams. So it's a weird one because there's not an exact answer, but that's the fighter, right? That's my fighter inside. I feel a lot of fear for sure. And nowadays I just, I know how to use it.

Pat Tenneriello (34:05)
Yeah, if you, if you were to speak or give advice to like the early fighter Steve, what would be, what would you say to that Steve that you know now that Steve didn't know back then?

Steve (34:19)
i'd tell don't give don't give up it's like the the hardest the time the hard times when you get to the other side it will be worth it things aren't always going to be perfect like things are not going to work out perfect but it's going to be worth it and

Because there was times in my life I thought there's no way this could be worth it. I went through the deepest, darkest moments of myself alone. like, just a lot of stuff happened. I've had a long standing career. But I would tell myself, if you push through...

and you get through to the other side it will be worth it. I know you think that it's not going to be worth it right now but it will be worth it. So that foresight that I guess I try to give myself hope about the future.

Pat Tenneriello (35:08)
Hmm.

sounds like you have had to sacrifice a lot but that you look back and it's been well worth it for you and if you had to do it over again, you certainly would sacrifice. In your personal life, I don't know how old you are but are you married? Do you have kids? Is this something you've had to postpone or delay to focus on your career?

Steve (35:30)
Yeah, I'm 36 and I have put my whole life on hold for this dream of mine. I mean, don't get me wrong, I've had many relationships and I've had great, you know, I still like I have amazing friends and people close to me, but I never found a significant other yet to this point.

I've had successful relationships and unsuccessful relationships, but probably because of the fact that I'm traveling all the time, I still am. And I'm so all over the place. I haven't been able to lock in, like get that stability with somebody who's also on the same kind of path. I just haven't found my match yet. But I feel like I'm so, I don't know, now, now is better than ever.

So it's weird, it's such a paradox because I have these amazing things but then there's this shortcomings or these really bad things. But the balance, guess I'm just trying to stay focused on the positive stuff and I mean, never know what's meant to be will be.

Pat Tenneriello (36:34)
On the relationship side, was ⁓ part of the Peter Pan theme for me was I was just in the short-term dating mentality. I wasn't looking for something serious or long-term for a very long time in my life. I also delayed of commitment, relationship commitments and settling down. 36 is by no means old. mean, you still got plenty of runway.

Steve (36:55)
Great.

Pat Tenneriello (36:59)
ahead of you, but on the dating side, you someone who was primarily focused on finding a long-term mate or have you also had to make a shift from a short-term mentality to a long-term mentality?

Steve (37:12)
Well, I've been both. I've been both for a long time, which is tricky. And just due to the nature of my job, the fact that I have to leave for, it's like, yeah, I'll see in seven weeks. It's just, it's kind of tough because I'm all over the place. And stability is something that people like. And I guess...

in an unstable kind of job situation like mine, it just, I don't know, I haven't lined it up yet. But I mean, things are better than ever right now. So I mean, I'm focused on the future, I focus on the good and how good things are. But now I feel like I've built this foundation, this stability, and I got these things together. But I still have to travel for camps, but I do it on my terms.

I don't know. I guess I'm just kind of going with the flow over here.

Pat Tenneriello (38:03)
Is it true what Mickey says in Rocky that women make you to weaken the knees?

Steve (38:08)
⁓ no, the opposite actually, because a good woman in your life, not only emotionally, but for many other reasons will like give you strength and support and be your team and be your, you know, somebody to lean on and not only, not just lean on, but like somebody to bounce ideas. It's like a teammate.

It's like someone who really cares about you and wants you to do well, they want you to succeed too. And I guess that's probably another thing for me is I've never found that yet. And I've been on this individual kind of isolated sport for so long, which is tricky because now all of sudden I woke up one day and I'm like...

I'm totally okay just doing my own thing and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing because I became so self-dependent or self-reliant. I just I didn't need anyone for anything and then I'm like okay but life requires relationships and other people so you can't just go all the way alone. It's not good for you and

That one was tricky for me because I go to Montreal. do my training camps and you know, I don't know anyone out there when I first used to go there and I would have days and days like if I was in the gym on Friday, let's just say I was in the gym on Friday and then we go Saturday, Sunday.

Wasn't trained if I wasn't training on Saturday Sunday, I wouldn't see anyone. I wouldn't talk to anyone I wouldn't so I was just on my own for two days straight and I'm like I didn't talk to a human being today Which was weird for me at first and I hated it But then later I became very Self-reliant so I started to just kind of entertain myself. I just go I don't know it doesn't bother me and then I got to the point where I had this self-dependence where I'm like

Pat Tenneriello (39:54)
Hmm.

Steve (40:06)
I don't know man, it could be good or bad but I feel better than ever because I have this just stability in myself. That was good piece, that was a good answer for me. Stability in myself.

Pat Tenneriello (40:16)
Yeah.

I think that's a really important point you made about how a partner can really actually enhance and help and be, that, that person in your corner when it went, and, and we need that, we need that person. you know, I used to think this, I used to think I have all these things I want to accomplish in my life and

Steve (40:30)
Yep.

Pat Tenneriello (40:39)
I need to accomplish them before I can settle down because when I settle down, I won't have free time. I won't have the time to do these things, right? Like for me, that would be, you know, maybe start a company. always had this entrepreneurial drive to start a company or to make a lot of money or that sort of thing. And so I was like, I was putting off a serious relationship. but I struggled with discipline. I had a lack of discipline. think a lot of people struggle with that and.

Steve (40:52)
All

Pat Tenneriello (41:05)
When I met my wife, all of a sudden I wasn't just living for myself. Now all of a sudden I had another human that my actions affected. So now it's easier to care for someone else and to care for yourself. so knowing that my actions and my behaviors and my decisions affected my wife and now my son, it gives me a strength. It gives me a superpower to walk.

Steve (41:16)
Right.

Pat Tenneriello (41:30)
the line, to walk the straight and narrow, to make the right choices, to be more disciplined. And so I think that point you made is so important.

Steve (41:36)
Right.

It's a purpose. It's a reason to live. It's a reason, a reason, a reason for your life. And that those often come from relationships. And when you have someone that's counting on you or someone who's like looking up to you or someone who trusts in you or somebody who needs you, this is a, this is like the reason for humans, humanity. This is the reason that we're here.

To lean on each other. We're social creatures. So we need that And that's uh, it's a beautiful purpose and I feel like that Gives great meaning to everyday life. It's like I would I would Go get the groceries But if i'm going to get the groceries for my kids, i'd feel a little bit better about it. Do know what I mean? It's like a a reason of purpose And that one's that one's an internal thing because I guess it could go either with some guys some people

don't have that perspective despite the fact that they do have that situation. Some people like myself, I'm in a spot where I don't have that situation, but I love to help people. I love to do good things. I like to just put it out there. Just maybe that was how I found my balance because I love to communicate and grow with people and share and empathize and be a good human.

in another person's life, even if that exchange was, you know, momentary. I've had times when I sat on an airplane with someone that I had a conversation that was meaningful, that potentially changed both of our lives, myself and the person I was talking to, for the better.

I realize the power that's in small interaction or little moments, it's like that's where you find the meaningful stuff as well. So that's where my perspective is. I try to find meaning in everyday life all the time. I think that brings me peace too

Pat Tenneriello (43:36)
And it reminds me of what you said earlier about when we talked about fear, you know, of letting people down, like for you, maybe it's not a family or a kid, but like you have a team behind you, you have a coach, you've got people who are invested in you that believe in you. And so this idea of it's not just about you, it's about the team.

Steve (43:47)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, and that sense of camaraderie, it brings you strength. It reinforces your belief in yourself. It kind of reassures you that people care about you because they are looking for the same goal that you saw that unison is also important. And there's so many pieces to it. But it's like if you can find a reason.

You can achieve a lot of things. You just find that purpose, find that meaning. And if you can band yourself together with some other people who are looking for the same goal, or you can create a goal together, now you're really making something work. And that's always been my answer in boxing. We go together to create the... It doesn't matter at times when I had no team, but I had a friend.

We worked together and we actually, that was one of the, I had a couple of times when those were some of my best performances and best experiences because I was with my crew, but they were my boxing team. They're just my friends, but because we're going at it together, it was meaningful. It was fulfilling. We did it. We were successful.

And I mean, it gave me meaning and reason to do what I'm doing anyway. So I guess that was something that I always, working together is always important. It's always good for us.

Pat Tenneriello (45:17)
the other theme I'm picked up on in some of your answers is solitude, some loneliness. The sport in itself has some solitude you mentioned coming to Montreal, not knowing anyone at first, traveling a lot, having to sacrifice. And you've mentioned sometimes being okay with that. That's actually.

a strength of yours that's helped you, but at same time, you've also mentioned some moments where it was difficult. I can relate to solitude. I've had moments of loneliness in my life too. me, it manifested itself physically like in my chest. And it would drive behaviors that I wasn't always proud of in those moments of loneliness. It took me a while to kind of identify it and to realize it was loneliness

So I've up on some theme of solitude and loneliness in your case, but you've portrayed it in a strength, but also in a struggle. So I'm curious like how loneliness has manifested itself in your life.

Steve (46:12)
Well, they say boxing is the loneliest sport on earth. So it's it's it's like you're the only one who goes in the ring. Even if you have your team behind you, you're the only one who goes in there. And then me coming from a place I'm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, we never really had a big boxing scene nowadays. There's more, which is awesome. I love it here for that purpose.

one of that's one of the reasons I love it here but when I was younger there was not really a lot of boxers and I was I was going far in a sport where my city just didn't really support it like it was there nobody even now nobody knows about anything about boxing like I

you don't hear about the best boxer from Calgary. Like nobody, people hear like hockey. And so it's not disheartening because my journey's inwards, but.

I mean, it's just one of those things. You go to a place where boxing's huge and then everybody, it's a different world. But it's just where I'm from, people, it's not big here. So that's just kind of how it is.

Pat Tenneriello (47:26)
Do you, how do you deal with fame or lack thereof? you, you know, you talk about the scene in Calgary. It's like, maybe you walk out and people don't necessarily recognize you or they're focused on other sports, but maybe there are places where you go and people recognize you in some of that fame. Like maybe moments of that fame. Like how do you, how do you, what's your relationship to fame?

Steve (47:44)
We're it's.

I never thought of it like I don't get that fame is like a weird thing. don't know if I if I don't know the person and they come up to me. I love that. It's awesome for me. That's fun. And actually for me in Montreal, it happens more than it does in Calgary. Someone will come up wins the next fight. They'll ask me about Steve. I'll start talking about stuff and it's fun. I like it because it's kind of

acknowledgement of my efforts. So I appreciate it. I love it. It makes me feel good. But I've never really thought about it like feeling like, don't know if people like boxing, they know me for boxing. And that that kind of then I like to talk to them because it's about the sport. And that is my interest. But in Calgary, it's weird because even like this is not a knock on my own city. But I had to fight a big fight last year. I fought for the world title and

I come back to Calgary and I go to my own gym and people are like, Hey, where you been Steve? I haven't seen you in a while. like, yeah, I know. I was like, well, I went away for two months and I fought, only the second man ever from our city to ever fight for the world title.

Pat Tenneriello (48:49)
You

Steve (49:04)
and I was gone for two months and then my people at my own gym are like, where'd you go, man? I didn't see you. So it's just kind of like, but I don't blame them. They don't watch boxing, that's fine. It's just weird because we're in the gym together. So it was kind of, but when I go to Montreal.

Because there's a following there's there's a big culture behind boxing Maybe also the history the fact that they've had big fights there. They have promoters and they have You know a scene that's already there I mean it just it's more embedded in the culture in the city in the in the history of things So it just gets more attention and that's natural that's I think that's how it is But I always like it when someone will come up to me in Montreal. Sorry talking about boxing. It makes me feel good

Pat Tenneriello (49:51)
Yeah, that's funny. In the documentary, when I watched that, I remember towards the end that is the big fight and I remember your coach not being able to get on the plane with you and you having to do that one on your own. That couldn't have been easy. How did you go through that?

Steve (50:08)
I had to. I wish Mike could have been there. I really do. But I had to. That's just one of those things. That's one of the hard truths and facts of life. When stuff happens, there was nothing I could do about it. But going through the experience, now I'm like, okay, no, I could do it. So it's not about...

I guess on the other side, yeah, I could have used that. I we could have, we, I believe we would have gotten it done. If Mike was with me, we beat that guy, but it couldn't happen. So I just, you know, it's just timing. That's just life. And when it couldn't happen, it ain't over till it's over. So I believe now it can happen. We're going to, we're going to get it done. So it's just.

Pat Tenneriello (50:57)
Do you think you're going to get another shot?

is that, what's next for you? Is it, hoping to get another shot with Lopez?

Steve (51:00)
Yeah, yeah. Yeah,

absolutely. Well, I don't know if it'll be with Lopez. I got a really earned that one and I don't think I think he's going up and wait anyways. But I have a big I have a big fight right now that's scheduled. I'm fighting and it's August 19th or the 21st. I can't remember right off the top of my head. But it's a big, big fight against Jermaine Ortiz. It's in Orlando. It's a great opportunity. And I have

been in camp since the last fight and I'm better than ever and I am hungry to show and it ain't over till it's over. So ready to work hard, work better and smarter than ever before. And I believe that my chance will come because I'm not going to stop until it does. So we're just going to keep on rocking and rolling and see what we can do. But I believe I can get it done.

Pat Tenneriello (51:55)
Is the Orlando fight a title fight?

Steve (51:57)
At this point no at this point in time no, but details though. It could be for a minor title it could be for Something it won't be for the world title, but it'll be for could be for something We'll see by the time it's fight time. I mean that's up to the promoters and stuff really because the fighters My job to show up and fight my best

Pat Tenneriello (52:15)
I love your attitude and I love, I love, you know, when I watched that documentary and I finished, I reached out to my step brother and I I just, I love this guy because he's, he's accomplished so much. He's gotten to the top of a sport that he's dedicated his life to, but he's so down to earth. He's so humble. He just, you know, he's, he's salt of the earth kind of guy. That was my feeling about you. And I just, I wanted to talk with you and cause that's pretty rare, right? Like boxers, got

You know, you think of a box, you think of a huge ego in your face, like loud, and you're not that. Like that, that's not my impression. And I thought that's so rare. Would you say that you're, you're a rare breed for the sport? Like you, and what is it that keeps you that way? Would you say, what is it your secret sauce?

Steve (52:59)
Thank you.

I think I could be. Actually, I know I am because I've seen a lot of and met a lot of fighters. But I don't know. This is just how I am. I was raised with a great family. I was raised with good morals. had my fighter. I was bad.

But my life was good and things were, that's where it's weird for me because you don't, again, you don't choose to be a fighter, you get chose by fighting. So I had this, it's something in my heart, something in my soul that is a fighter. But also because of that,

Balance and because of that paradox I've been able to find my balance because the only time I turn it on now is when I'm fighting when it's fight time I go into my fight mode on fight day. I'm in But the rest of my life. I'm just my normal self. This is who I am I've been living like this my whole life. It's just how I am and I don't mind

having those two sides because it works for me and I don't know why it's like that but I guess whatever works for you you got to make it work so this is this is how I found my answer

Pat Tenneriello (54:11)
I'm guessing the fact that you are that way, may underestimate you to their peril.

Steve (54:18)
Well, often in my life I've been seen as a nice guy. Yeah, because when it's a fight, it's different. But I mean, again, I spent a lot of, a couple years of my life, I was in Las Vegas and I was training at the Mayweather Boxing Gym and I was around a lot of tough, tough fighters. And there was a lot of guys who showed up with an ego.

trying to prove something, trying to get signed or trying to get noticed so somebody would take them in. So a lot of guys would come and target me in a way, not necessarily, but like when they saw, they think they see weakness, I guess, because I'm nice, I'm a kind guy. But when we started fighting and we started boxing, it's a little bit different.

And that's why my vent comes in my outlet. And for me, that's when I'm at home, when I'm able to be my fighting self. And then I put my nice side on the side. And I still haven't even done that all the way. I still have more. But those two sides, like in my everyday life, this is how I am. When it's fight time, this is how I am.

And to find that balance, when do you use this, when do you use this? That's kind of the goal, the forever struggle. But I think I found a good balance to this point. But I also know that I haven't shown all of this yet, the bad side. So that's where we're working on it.

Pat Tenneriello (55:44)
You mean that you don't necessarily feel like you've unleashed that, that, and what, why do you think that is? What's holding you back?

Steve (55:51)
Maybe my moral compass the fact that I'm actually a nice guy I Don't know because I do have I have no problem putting I have no problem putting somebody out I have no problem at all But I also know how Damaging I could be so it's

It's a forever balance of struggle, trying to find balance, a struggle to try and find the balance. But you get closer to both ends simultaneously, which is really interesting. And I guess...

It's an internal journey. So all these things that I'm working on, I find these new answers, I find these new things. And then that's the tricky part with boxing. You go through all this training and stuff, but then you have to express it on fight night when the bell rings. So another part of me for that is that I've been able to do some of my greatest stuff, but not when the bell rings, not in the moment when I need it yet.

And the more I work on them though, the better they get, the more able I'll be able to do it. So That's why the fight's never over for me because I haven't shown it all yet.

Pat Tenneriello (57:06)
Someone who's listening to this and saying, man, I wish it was so obvious what I was meant to do the way that it was obvious for Steve, right? To commit to something, to know that this is what you're to do. What would you, what advice would you have for that person to help them? We're trying to figure it out, like figure out what it is they're meant to do. What's their purpose? Why are they here? Any advice to help them sort that out?

Steve (57:30)
don't forget your worst traits. Don't forget your, your bad side, I guess, because sometimes that is your creative outlet for things that you're made to do. You're destined to do. Cause a lot of times we look logically for our purpose and a lot of

Our instinctive nature is really what can guide us to what we're meant to do. So for myself, logically, I'd love to help people. Logically, I like to get in shape. I like to train. I like to do great things in the gym. But instinctively, I have this fighter.

That's what that one happened to me. That's where it's like I didn't choose that. So just assess all areas of your self including the bad ones because sometimes a bad dad can be

know that can be an answer for you as well so you really to know oneself that's how you'll find your your outlet i guess find your answer i for better or worse but you can use it either way

Pat Tenneriello (58:35)
I like to bring the interview to a close with this question that I ask every guest on the show which is everyone has their own growing up story. Growing up means something different to everyone. What does growing up mean to you Steve?

Steve (58:51)
Growing up means the gradual understanding of myself and my effect on the world and my potential effect on the world and my responsibilities. So guess growing up means

Yeah, age means a little bit, but I feel like it's an inward journey. Growing up is understanding yourself. And I guess that's why some people are mature beyond their years, they say. But that's what I feel like growing. When you understand yourself, you know where you stand in the world. You know your perspective. I feel like that's growing up. And then you know when you know who you are. I guess you're grown.

Pat Tenneriello (59:32)
said this inward journey a few times in the interview. Could you elaborate? What does that mean to go on this inward journey? What does that look like for you?

Steve (59:42)
A venture of self-discovery. So you find the things that make you, that make you the way you are. You find the things that have brought you here. You find the things that inspire you and bring you, you know, the ideas and potentials of the future.

it's a forever process until it's not, I guess.

Pat Tenneriello (1:00:10)
And in practice, what does that process look like? Is this inward journey through your training and through the sport or is it more through the reading? What is it in practice, this inward journey?

Steve (1:00:21)
both, both, because the physical is one side of it, but then the mental is another. And I guess both, they're, you know, they work together, but just being able to work inwards, I guess to look inwards, because sometimes you work inwards and you build yourself and you work on stuff and you improve. Sometimes you just got to look and kind of

get a glimpse inwards and see what your makeup is because that'll help you as well. That's why it's an infinite process. But because of that, it's inspiring since it's infinite process and I can work inwards, I can forever get better. I can forever improve. And I think that's...

something that encourages me. I guess be aware of the internal work inwards as well and then we can create our best selves and have a good idea of who we are throughout the whole process.

Pat Tenneriello (1:01:28)
Steve, is there anything that I didn't ask you that you wanted to make space for in this conversation that you wanted to share?

Steve (1:01:35)
through lots and my racing mind took me all over. I mean, I, that was cool. I like to talk about this kind of stuff. And so I hope that I said something that might cause a good insight for another.

Pat Tenneriello (1:01:48)
you very much for coming on the show. think it was a very, very interesting, thoughtful conversation and I appreciate your vulnerability and willingness to us some real answers. I certainly feel inspired and I'll be watching the next phases of your career and I wish you nothing but success, Steve.

Steve (1:02:08)
you for having me. It was awesome and I will be in touch so count on that buddy.

Pat Tenneriello (1:02:13)
Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of After Peter Pan. If it resonated with you, I'd love if you could leave us a like, drop us a rating. It really helps to drive new audiences to the show. Thanks again and until next time.