Donnie Lalonde on the comeback trail
Donnie Lalonde walked into a seminar at a Colorado Springs hotel in 1998 and learned about a natural treatment called Active Release Technique that could cure his ailing shoulder and hand.
This Friday, just two days after his 43rd birthday, Lalonde, 40-4-1 with 33 KOs, takes on Willard Lewis (17-6-2), a blown up super middleweight at the Winnipeg Convention Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
He credits this technique and a holistic lifestyle for giving him another chance at a world title.
Before Lalonde was a fighter he separated his shoulder playing hockey. The surgery resulted in his left arm being compromised. He was unable to fully use his left arm. In the ring he was unable to throw hard lefts, and at home he couldn't raise his arm to wash his hair or put his arms around his children.
Later in his career he broke the second metacarpal in his right hand and after years of inadequate treatment he felt the integrity of his hand was compromised.
I had a vulnerable left shoulder and a susceptible right hand," Lalonde said. "Other injuries spun off of those so I tried alternative treatments."
Lalonde interrupted the seminar and the speaker, Mike Leahy, who knew of Lalonde and his condition. Leahy asked Lalonde if he'd be his guinea pig for a demonstration. After a few minutes, Leahy had released the restricted muscle.
After 19 years of not being used, the muscle was pretty weak," Lalonde said. "Leahy freed it up and I have full mobility."
Active Release Techniques treatment is a hands-on touch and case-management system that allows a practitioner to diagnose and treat soft-tissue injuries. Soft tissue refers primarily to muscle, tendon, and nerves. Specific injuries that apply are repetitive strains, adhesions, and joint dysfunction.
Despite his age the former World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion, now campaigning as a cruiserweight, says he has never felt better.
He credits his good health with the holistic lifestyle he lives. For the most part he eats a natural diet. Seafood that he catches himself and free-range poultry are the only animals he partakes in.
After losing to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1988, Lalonde moved his wife and children to Vancouver Island in British Columbia where he could escape the high-profile lifestyle he was living. He came back to fight in the early 1990s, losing a unanimous decision in May 1992 to Bobby Czyz for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. He resurfaced again in late 1996 and fought through mid-1998. With his kids grown, Lalonde talked to his wife about making another comeback.
Last October he embarked on his mission, winning a unanimous eight-round decision over Tony Menefee in Winnipeg.
The one thing that's different now is I'm healthier now than ever in the ring," Lalonde said. "I'm fighting better now than I ever have in my lifetime. It's a lot better fighting now with two hands."
Lalonde stayed away from the glaciated plains of Winnipeg until last Saturday, opting for the 70-ish degree weather of Southern California. He has split his time between Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and the La Habra Boxing Club in nearby Orange County, Calif.
He worked under the watchful eye of Roach at Wild Card and sparred with light heavyweight contender Julio Gonzalez at La Habra.
I worked with one of the best in Freddie and I got first class sparring with Julio," he said. "Besides, the weather is so much better for training."
Lalonde has a goal of being the oldest fighter to ever win a world title.
George Foreman was 44 years-10 months when he knocked out Michael Moorer for the heavyweight title. Lalonde still has two years, and like fine wine, he says he'll only get better with age.
I want to do the improbable and be the oldest guy to win a championship," he said. "I want to educate and inspire people to live a healthy life, and reach their dreams.
People need to get off their butts. In these troubled times, people live in fear and they need a vehicle to get beyond all of this and that is living well."
After his fight with Lewis, Lalonde said he has a fight with former International Boxing Federation and WBA light heavyweight champ Virgil Hill.
The day we know, everybody will know," he said. "Virgil and I have committed to this."
Lalonde hopes to win a world title and launch a public speaking career to show the benefits of a holistic lifestyle.
The United States has an enormous obesity rate and disease is at an all-time high," he said. "If you go back to nature and to the garden you'll find it works pretty good. If you get closer to nature, you'll be able dream dreams."
Getting closer to nature has not only allowed Lalonde to dream dreams, but it's given him a chance to do the improbable.
Donnie Lalonde walked into a seminar at a Colorado Springs hotel in 1998 and learned about a natural treatment called Active Release Technique that could cure his ailing shoulder and hand.
This Friday, just two days after his 43rd birthday, Lalonde, 40-4-1 with 33 KOs, takes on Willard Lewis (17-6-2), a blown up super middleweight at the Winnipeg Convention Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
He credits this technique and a holistic lifestyle for giving him another chance at a world title.
Before Lalonde was a fighter he separated his shoulder playing hockey. The surgery resulted in his left arm being compromised. He was unable to fully use his left arm. In the ring he was unable to throw hard lefts, and at home he couldn't raise his arm to wash his hair or put his arms around his children.
Later in his career he broke the second metacarpal in his right hand and after years of inadequate treatment he felt the integrity of his hand was compromised.
I had a vulnerable left shoulder and a susceptible right hand," Lalonde said. "Other injuries spun off of those so I tried alternative treatments."
Lalonde interrupted the seminar and the speaker, Mike Leahy, who knew of Lalonde and his condition. Leahy asked Lalonde if he'd be his guinea pig for a demonstration. After a few minutes, Leahy had released the restricted muscle.
After 19 years of not being used, the muscle was pretty weak," Lalonde said. "Leahy freed it up and I have full mobility."
Active Release Techniques treatment is a hands-on touch and case-management system that allows a practitioner to diagnose and treat soft-tissue injuries. Soft tissue refers primarily to muscle, tendon, and nerves. Specific injuries that apply are repetitive strains, adhesions, and joint dysfunction.
Despite his age the former World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion, now campaigning as a cruiserweight, says he has never felt better.
He credits his good health with the holistic lifestyle he lives. For the most part he eats a natural diet. Seafood that he catches himself and free-range poultry are the only animals he partakes in.
After losing to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1988, Lalonde moved his wife and children to Vancouver Island in British Columbia where he could escape the high-profile lifestyle he was living. He came back to fight in the early 1990s, losing a unanimous decision in May 1992 to Bobby Czyz for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. He resurfaced again in late 1996 and fought through mid-1998. With his kids grown, Lalonde talked to his wife about making another comeback.
Last October he embarked on his mission, winning a unanimous eight-round decision over Tony Menefee in Winnipeg.
The one thing that's different now is I'm healthier now than ever in the ring," Lalonde said. "I'm fighting better now than I ever have in my lifetime. It's a lot better fighting now with two hands."
Lalonde stayed away from the glaciated plains of Winnipeg until last Saturday, opting for the 70-ish degree weather of Southern California. He has split his time between Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and the La Habra Boxing Club in nearby Orange County, Calif.
He worked under the watchful eye of Roach at Wild Card and sparred with light heavyweight contender Julio Gonzalez at La Habra.
I worked with one of the best in Freddie and I got first class sparring with Julio," he said. "Besides, the weather is so much better for training."
Lalonde has a goal of being the oldest fighter to ever win a world title.
George Foreman was 44 years-10 months when he knocked out Michael Moorer for the heavyweight title. Lalonde still has two years, and like fine wine, he says he'll only get better with age.
I want to do the improbable and be the oldest guy to win a championship," he said. "I want to educate and inspire people to live a healthy life, and reach their dreams.
People need to get off their butts. In these troubled times, people live in fear and they need a vehicle to get beyond all of this and that is living well."
After his fight with Lewis, Lalonde said he has a fight with former International Boxing Federation and WBA light heavyweight champ Virgil Hill.
The day we know, everybody will know," he said. "Virgil and I have committed to this."
Lalonde hopes to win a world title and launch a public speaking career to show the benefits of a holistic lifestyle.
The United States has an enormous obesity rate and disease is at an all-time high," he said. "If you go back to nature and to the garden you'll find it works pretty good. If you get closer to nature, you'll be able dream dreams."
Getting closer to nature has not only allowed Lalonde to dream dreams, but it's given him a chance to do the improbable.
referee: Bill Turner | judge: Robert Tapper 98-92 | judge: Rick Saul 98-92 | judge: Brian Shane 99-92
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