Breedy focused on being at his best

Barbadian-born pugilist Cobia ‘Soldier’ Breedy has no intentions of backing down from his boyhood dream of becoming a world champion.

The 29-year-old Breedy recently attended a camp in Las Vegas put on by retired champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, one of the greatest fighters of his generation.

During a telephone interview with Barbados TODAY, Breedy who continues to work hard, said he was determined to leave his mark on local and international boxing having featured so far on Showtime and Fox PBC in the United States of America.

Sharing his experience with regards to participating in Mayweather’s camp, Breedy said: “It was nice just sparring with different people. They watched me fight before when I fought for the number one spot against King Tug so they were impressed and wanted to see what else I could do. So, I went there and showed them what I can do and everybody was impressed.”

Breedy so far has a record of 15 wins inclusive of five knockouts and one loss. He was only supposed to stay at Mayweather’s camp for three days. But they were so impressed with what they saw that he ended up staying for 12 days and departed today for Washington DC where he resides.

As a young boy growing up, Breedy said Mayweather and many of the other boxing greats including the late, legendary Muhammed Ali inspired him.

“He always inspired me even back in the day when I was in Barbados. I was not even thinking about coming to the US. I was always inspired to see him as a black man with so much power, wealth and just doing what he does. It is a dirty sport taking punches in our head, risking our lives and he made boxing a life changer for a lot of us.

“It is not just him but my inspiration comes from Muhammed Ali and even some of the boxers back home in Barbados. Just watching what they went through I just saw a door open and I said I’m going to take advantage and be better. I’m going to leave Barbados and better my life.

“Nothing in life is easy, you got to work hard for it. You got to go get it. Nobody is going to give you anything. Everybody is not going to be fortunate. You got to go out there and earn it and that’s something I’m learning and teaching at the same time,” he said.

According to the talented Breedy coached by Bahamian Floyd Seymour, there is a supportive team around him that has great plans. He said his main job was just to stay in shape and be ready for when opportunities like this come knocking.

Breedy and his team have their sights set on another fight sometime in July. Currently ranked number 20 in the world, the Barbadian top boxer also wants to get back in the mix to fight the number one and two contenders for a shot at the world title.

“I am at my peak right now. In the best shape of my life, I am in the best situation. I got a good team, a good family around me. Everything is positive so I just got to stay ready because I have a bright future right now.

“I just have to keep working on my craft more, tightening up some areas and listening to my coach in the corner. We just make smart moves in the gym. I have been staying ready and being smart,” Breedy explained.

The fighter said among his other goals for 2021 was eating right as well as keeping his weight down, while noting that there was a lot that comes with boxing.

A former student of the Princess Margaret Secondary School, Breedy continues to be a role model to others to show them that they too can make it.

“A lot is going on for my career, my life. It is just the beginning and I would like more support from my country. I will always be true, I will always be me. I am on to big things over here and out of all the generations of boxers out of Barbados, look at this generation I came from, I made it this far.

“I have a decent fan base over here. I fought on big networks like Showtime twice and Fox PBC twice. There is a song that Big Sean sings, One Man Can Change the World.  When I was a kid, I never used to believe that but now I am believing it as I’m getting older. I see the reaction of people from Barbados hailing me up and they too are inspired,” Breedy said.

He added: “People haven’t heard from me since my last fight because I have been grinding, making moves. I’m still hungry and focused.”

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb