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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBeing a boxer has opened up other doors for Nelson; she is now partnering with a major player in the health and wellness industry to promote her own signature FDA-approved back support belt. In addition, she has been on a journey of motivational speaking and is also looking to one day open a gym. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meet Tori Nelson, a world champion boxer, boxing hall of fame inductee, motivational speaker, and mother as she talks boxing, family, faith, and new adventures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell us about yourself and how you got into boxing?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m a blessed, single mother of two children, and with prayer, hard work, and dedication I became a 13x World Champion. My name is Tori SHO\u2019NUFF Nelson. I\u2019m also the only girl and baby of three boys. So, I was boxing way before I was really boxing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I got into the sport of boxing by my ex. I wanted to lose weight and he said, \u201cBoxing is a whole-body workout and it\u2019s the best and fastest way to lose weight.\u201d So, I went to the gym and the owner at the time, Craig Fladager, asked me what I wanted out of this. I said, \u201cJust to lose weight.\u201d He asked me if I would compete, and I said, \u201cIf you pay me, I\u2019ll be a world champion.\u201d And by God\u2019s grace, I\u2019m blessed to be a 13x World Champion in multiple weight classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re ranked # 1 in the U.S. and #2 in the world. How does it feel to be a 13-time world champion boxer?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, when I first became #1 in the U.S., I was happy but when I became #2 in the world, you could NOT tell me not one doggone<\/em> thing. I was on cloud 20 feeling like a Boss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you prepare yourself mentally to compete? And then to win?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I always train to Win. Losing is not an option. If you go in with the thought of just training for the fight you\u2019ve lost already. Because you doubt yourself. I 1st pray for strength and focus to get ready for training camp then I go into my zone. No outside activities except work. I try very hard to stay stress-free but it doesn\u2019t always happen, lol. That\u2019s life! But I also tell myself that person is working harder than me, so I always push myself over the limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the earlier years, did you face any struggles or criticisms being a woman in the male-dominated boxing world? What challenges do you face today?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, yes! Boxing is a male sport, so of course, some of the men didn\u2019t think or like women boxing. I used to have to fight professional boxing matches for \u201cfree\u201d because they didn\u2019t want to pay me or have women on their card. That\u2019s how bad I wanted to box. I even had one of my old teammates ask me, \u201cWhy are you here? You don\u2019t belong here you\u2019re a female.\u201d But of course, later in my career, he ate his words and apologized to me. He also told me I was his only favorite boxer. Respect<\/em> once again\u2026 I was walking like a boss, lol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I guess now I don\u2019t have many struggles because I have proven myself in that square, and NOT by showing my body or thinking I\u2019m a model, but by throwing these hands. They see I have skills. I have to give a shoutout to my girl, Champ Claressa Shields for really opening the door and holding her ground for us women. She and I were the first females ever to be the main event on Showtime. Glory to God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has boxing taught you about yourself?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lol, first, discipline. Then, I would say to never think I cannot do anything. Boxing pushes you to the limit and makes you do things you never thought your body could do. Boxing also taught me\u2026 Do NOT let people tell me what I can and can\u2019t do. They said I wouldn\u2019t be a champion but by God\u2019s grace, I\u2019ve won 13 times, lol. And of course, I have to say boxing taught me how to not fight dirty because I use to fight with NO rules, where everything goes, lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You worked 3 jobs while boxing. What was it like with people knowing you were a boxer and a champion? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It had its ups and downs. But most of the time, ups! Who was going to tell me NO or argue with me? Lol. But the downs were all the questions, and people always wanting pictures and telling everyone else. I\u2019m a low-key private person so that was something I had to get used to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boxing has opened many doors for you. Tell us about how the idea came about to partner with a major health and wellness company to create your own support belt?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, boxing has opened a lot of doors for me. And I\u2019m so very grateful. But I cannot take the credit for that collaboration. I got a phone call one day and this lady said, \u201cMrs. Tori Nelson, I have a gentleman on the line that would like to talk to you by the name of Glen Gordon.\u201d I said, \u201cOk.\u201d And he explained who he was and about what his company does, and of course, I was so surprised that he even thought about me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr. Glen Gordon talked to me and asked me would I like to come on board. I was so proud of what he was doing by helping people like me, but I couldn\u2019t answer then. I asked him, \u201cCan I pray on this first?\u201d He said, \u201cYes, please do.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Soon as I got off the phone I prayed and asked God to guide me and to let me know do I join this move, and to give me an answer so I\u2019ll know it\u2019s from you and if it\u2019s what you want me to do. I was on my way to the gym right before the call. So, when I put my headphones on and turned my music on the gospel song, God\u2019s Opening Doors for You, came right on. That was my answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when I told him, \u201cYes sir, I would love to collaborate with you and your company.\u201d He said, \u201cOkay.\u201d And so, after a few months of collaborating with him, he said, \u201cI have a surprise for you.\u201d This man sends me my very own Tori SHO\u2019NUFF Nelson 13-time World Champion personalized belt. I was so excited. And now, you all can order your own Tori SHO\u2019NUFF Nelson lumbar belt. Yes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result of boxing, you have become a motivational speaker. What is that like and what messages do you want to share with the world?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, I would like to give my publicist, Desirae Benson, a shoutout for being the best publicist out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what is it like? I Love it. I love helping people and giving them that little push they sometimes need. That\u2019s all they sometimes need is for someone to tell them, \u201cYes you can do it and yes you are worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do I share? Well, mostly I tell them just because it hasn\u2019t been done doesn\u2019t mean that it can\u2019t be, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you be the first to do it?\u201d I also share some of my testimonies so they can see I\u2019m human too. They usually can relate to some of the things I have been through too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How important are your family and faith, and how do you stay grounded?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, my faith and my family are #1 in my life. My Jesus is first, and then my kids. It\u2019s been just us for so long I don\u2019t look at them as just my kids; they are my best friends. We are the three musketeers but sometimes we act like the three Stooges, lol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I stay grounded by always staying in my bible and talking to them about the word because, if not, I know the world will eat them alive. So, I lead by example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why do you want to open a gym?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I want to help people mentally and physically, and if you\u2019re working out, you\u2019re helping both. Also, it\u2019s people out here that have crazy talent but they will never know because they can\u2019t afford to go anywhere to show it. So, opening a boxing gym and keeping the fees down or free for the underprivileged kids, will help them with their mental health and they will get to show their skills off. And who knows, someone might see them and that could be the change they need in their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What message would you give to people about not giving up when going after their goals or dreams?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t ever let anyone tell you what you cannot do just because it hasn\u2019t ever been done because anything is possible with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s next for you?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, on October 1, 2022, I\u2019m getting inducted into the Hall of Fame in Vegas. Yeah, baby! But before that, I\u2019m going to just pray to be able to keep going to people\u2019s venues and motivating them to be the best they can be. And then we\u2019ll see what God moves me to next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where can people find you on social media?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh yes, come talk to me on Facebook @Tori SHO\u2019NUFF Nelson<\/a> or Tori Nelson, and Instagram @torishonuff<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n For inquiries, contact her publicist, Desirae Benson<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credits: Santiago Gonzalez<\/p>\n\n\n\n