We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Homer Gibbins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Homer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?
I work with people who have Parkinson’s teaching them boxing and I have watched him gain confidence, more balance, and overall a healthier life style. One of my friends is Marsha Brewer and she has regained some balance and she’s doing so much better now it’s just amazing. My friend Tony Captino who is 85 is in the class and every day he’s making his life more enjoyable. We laugh, dance, and just become intwined in each other’s lives.
Homer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a former two time world boxing champion, I won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) jr welterweight world title back in 1992 and the International Boxling Union (IBU) welterweight world title in 2006. I ended my career in 2007 so I wanted to take it all the years that I boxed and use it to better the lives of others. I had a friend of mine Ron Twilley reach out to me who had Parkinson’s and we began training together. We approached the Spalding County Senior Center in Griffin Georgia about teaching a class there. The class has continued to grow and I am active in the lives of all that are apart of the group.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I boxed for over 30 years beginning as a 6 year old boy and I never thought that God would open the door to use what knowledge I gained in a boxing ring to help other fight back against a terrible disease.
My career began in the Amateurs: 1976 – 1990
226 wins 23 losses 1 no contest over 100 ko’s
15 Georgia State Golden Gloves Titles
3 Georgia State Silver Gloves Titles
2 Regional Silver Gloves Titles
(Only fighter to win the Regional Golden Gloves in 3 different weight classes 125 lbs, 139 lbs, 147lbs)
The Best Boxer Award in the State Golden Gloves
The Best Boxer Award in the Regional Golden Gloves
1 Bronze Medal in the Eastern Olympic Trials 1988
Professional: 1990 – 2007
44 wins 16 losses 31 Ko’s
Beat Olympian Todd Foster
went the distance with the legendary Hector “Macho” Camacho
If you take anything away from my life I would not be who I am today so I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m blessed to be able to take that knowledge and use it to help others. I never would have thought this is how God would use me.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I was born missing in the odontoid process in the second cervical vertebrae. After fighting for years from 1976 to 1995 the doctors ended my career. When my career ended so did my marriage so I needed something to do with all the anger and I decided that I was going to box again. Yes I lied to doctors to be able to go in the ring and battle through my anger.
I don’t suggest that to anyone but it’s what I did and I’m thankful that God allowed me to come back in 1998 and fight until 2007 and I actually win my second world title. I may never be a rich man but I have gained a life time of friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.
worldboxingfederation.net/ articles/article0720.htm - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/that1uwanac/ - Facebook: https://m.facebook.
com/homer.gibbins - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/homergibbins - Twitter: @homer_gibbins
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.
com/channel/UCrtZY3twemg_ peaH7FLy6RQ - Other: 2022 Georgia Parks and Recreations Magazine: https://
mydigitalpublication.com/ publication/?i=763968&p=13& view=issueViewer&pp=1 Everipedia: https:// everipedia.org/wiki/lang_en/ homer-gibbins https:// everipedia.org/wiki/lang_en/ homer-gibbins-boxing-gym The Homer Gibbins story: https://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZFLZPFvwbaM The WBF fight: https://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=-7Gvp3KQWU8 International Boxing Union Welter-Weight World Championship Professional Boxing 2006 The IBU Fight: https://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=tUcUEhdbKlo
Image Credits
Homer Gibbins Sr Amy Gibbins
1 Comment
Shelia
Very interesting story of the CHAMP… The pleasure is all mine to have went to middle and high school with him. Homer is a very unique and amazing kind of a person. If you know him you know him!! And if you don’t, I certainly recommend you do. He has been thru a lot, but he has helped a lot get thru a lot, too. Glad to be part of TEAMHOMERTHECHAMP🥊