It doesn’t take long talking with Devin Reti to recognize he operates out of kindness. But it’s a different story when the 24-year-old professional boxer slips his gloves on.
Starting in the sport when he was just 15, Reti says boxing is in his blood.
“I sparred right away and had a bloody nose and I just loved it,” the fighter says after his first workout. “I just loved the rawness of it.”
Reti says part of the attraction was that his grandpa, Harvey (The Taber Terror) Reti, was a Canadian champion and Olympian boxer at the Tokyo 1964 Games. The Taber resident was later inducted into the Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame.
Now, The Taber Terror’s grandson is on his own path to fighting glory.
Reti is accumulating a list of accolades, including being a six-time Alberta champion, six-time Alberta Golden Gloves champion and Alberta Diamond Belt champion. After 90 amateur fights, he decided to go professional in 2014. The talented fighter has had nine pro fights to date, winning every one of them.
Reti is often seen making conversation while training at Bowmont Boxing Club, laughing and sipping on his coffee before putting on his gloves. He admits the sport comes naturally to him, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to work hard. Photo by Deanna Tucker.
His latest fight on Jan. 27 was part of Dekada’s Fight Night at the Grey Eagle Event Centre against Mexico’s Isidro Toala. The super welterweight (147lbs – 154lbs) says he wasn’t ready for Toala’s power shots, and had to adjust his defense after being hit hard in the first round.
“I didn’t know he hit that hard,” he says after the night came to an end. However, with only a small purple spot forming under his right eye, he adds, “I’m glad I got a little bruising, at least it shows some evidence that I got in a bit of a fight.”
The five-round fight ended during the final round, when Reti won by technical knockout (TKO).
Although Reti says the sport comes naturally to him, a lot of sacrifice and self-motivation is required to be successful.
“I don’t have to force things, but I do have to work hard.”
It isn’t just about fitness, Reti says, “You’re training to fight someone, [which means] being sharp mentally and physically.”
About one month in advance of a fight, Reti begins to intensify his training regime. After a 12-hour work day as security at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, he puts in roughly two to four hours of training, goes home to sleep and repeats the routine the next day.
With his eyes set on a world championship title, he says the hard work will pay off.
“Even though it’s tough right now, it’s all going towards the end goal,” the undefeated fighter says.
Having supportive people in your corner is helpful, too. Coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, chiropractors and family make his list, many of which were in attendance at his January match.
With his sights set on much bigger goals, Reti says the biggest thing he’s learned so far is patience.
“You always want things now, or you think things will happen really quick, but, you’ve got to be patient.”
Reti’s next match is hosted by Dekada’s fight night April 7 at Grey Eagle’s Event Centre.
{igallery id=2566|cid=350|pid=4|type=category|children=0|addlinks=0|tags=|limit=0}
More about Reti
The Calgary Journal previously reported on Reti’s aspirations to be in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and how losing his mother to cancer became his inspiration to stay in the ring.
Editor’s Note: Devin is an instructor at a boxing studio Deanna attends.
Editor: Kate Paton | cpaton@cjournal.ca