Minnesota Boxing News: Cerresso Fort and Dalton Outlaw

BOXING GIVES BEST FRIENDS SOMETHING SPECIAL
Cerresso Fort and Dalton Outlaw Making an impact

Cerresso Fort and Dalton Outlaw opened "Element Boxing", a Saint Paul gym, less then a year ago but you might think it has been around for years considering the number of students and boxers that frequent the gym. The two boxers are splitting time between the business and time in the ring as both say they have upcoming fights. Fort recently fought to a draw with Marcus Upshaw in Florida last September in a bout he feels he won. He also has a possible fight in March.

"I felt I clearly beat Upshaw but I still learned a lot by getting the draw. I learned that you can't just win in somebody's hometown, you have to destroy them. I wasn't discouraged at all though. It was an honor to represent MN on the road and I can't wait to get out there again." Fort says he has verbally agreed to face Julius Jackson on March 3 in a possible ShoBox bout. Julius, at 12-0, is the son of one of the hardest two fisted punchers of all time in Julian Jackson.

Dalton Outlaw makes his return to the ring on January 14th at Neisen's Sports Bar in Savage, MN

Journalist Ray Kilgore recently visited Element to profile Outlaw and Fort. Kilgore offers a glimpse at both mens roots in the ring, how they started Element Boxing, and what the future may hold...

Story Below by Ray Kilgore
1.09.12

Dalton Outlaw’s winter hat, with a Michael Jordan image on it, is pulled down tightly on his head, and although a windbreaker covers his upper body, the jacket doesn’t hide that he is in fantastic shape. The office where the interview is conducted is cold: Outlaw only arrived minutes before and didn’t have time to crank up the thermostat. His mood is serious, yet his body language and voice are relaxed. He comes across like a man far older than his age of 24 years old. He knows what he believes and believes what he knows.

Outside of family, close friends, football and God, boxing outranks almost every other interest to him. And there is no clearerexample of this than when a young Outlaw, who had no burning need to box, showed fortitude after a not-so-good start. “There was a boy who people at the gym called 'Tyson,'” said Outlaw, recalling one of his first sparring experiences after he joined the now-closed BT Bombers gym. “At first I came to the gym just to work out, but I finally decided to spar with Tyson and he put a lickin' on me. I was emotionally hurt because in my mind I lost.”

The room remains chilly, but the 2007 Ringside tournament champion's face warms as he recalls what happened the next time he and Tyson met. “I kept coming back even after that bad experience. That kid had been away for a while, and we sparred again. This time I put it on him, and after that, I never saw him again,” said Outlaw with a half grin.

In retrospect, Tyson was handicapped at the start of round one of their rematch. Not only was he facing a determined kid who had nothing to lose, but Tyson was up against an Outlaw who, this time, brought the self-control, self-determination and self-restraint that his strongest supporter, Pamela Washington, had modeled for him from the day he took his first steps.

Washington (her remarried name) had long since instilled in her four boys, of whom Outlaw is the youngest, that in order for them to become men, they had to accept setbacks and learn how to get up. As a single mother, she fought hard when times were bleak. “I am her number one fan,” he said. “She is a rock and showed us how to overcome. “ His mother cheered him on too, although at times it was from a distance when it came to his involvement in extracurricular activities.

As a typical eight-year-old, Outlaw loved to ride his bike and pop wheelies, and BT Boomers was in the neighborhood where he grew up in St. Paul's Como area, so he rode past the place almost every day. But boxing wasn’t on his radar until one day when his curiosity got the better of him. Outlaw opened the door, and soon he had traded in the age-appropriate entertainment of most kids his age for the black eyes, bloodied noses and aching limps that came in the world of boxing.

Now heavily involved, Outlaw boxed often—his first match was at the 65-pound division. But at age 13, another sport fell into his lap, and it would become much more to him than just a hobby. As with boxing, Outlaw had no affinity for football until he got deeply involved, and the gridiron rewarded him for his loyalty in ways he never dreamed. Outlaw became skilled in the sport, a talent which earned him a full ride to attend a community college in North Dakota: an accomplishment in and of itself, given that he struggled in school until his senior year, when he buckled down and made the B honor role.

Outlaw attended North Dakota college with the mind-set of both improving his skill as a player and keeping his momentum going academically. He succeeded in both, earning the 2007-2008 NSTC all conference Cornerback and finishing his Associate degree in less than a year and a half. Recruiters at another school, Concordia University, a four-year college located in St. Paul, kept an eye on him. And again, Outlaw (who was the first in his family to go to college) was presented with an opportunity to come home and expand his education. Concordia offered him a full scholarship to attend their school and play for their football team. Outlaw took full advantage, graduating with his B.A. in business in 2009.

Throughout his good fortune, Outlaw has never lost sight of the role boxing played in all of his success. His success, both in football and in college, was the result of lessons he learned in the ring. “That’s what I learned from boxing,” he said. “Boxing taught me the hard work and gave me the confidence to know that I could succeed in anything I did.”

Sometime this year he plans to join a semi-professional football team called the Minnesota Phoenix. He also plans to box on January 14th in Savage Mn. His goal: to interchangeably use what he learned from both sports and showcase that in a way that forces quarterbacks to think twice about throwing in his direction, and to make boxers doubt their hearts as rounds wear on. But as a boxer, don’t expect drastic changes from Outlaw.

“My amateur career never got to be where I wanted it,” he said, explaining why he never turned professional and doesn’t plan on it. “I was in and out of boxing doing football, so the amateur thing was cool with me. I hadn’t peaked. [Besides] it [is not] about should I go pro, [but]…about the right timing, the right personnel and the right team.” All are ingredients he needed when he took his love of boxing to a new level in April 2011.

Cerresso Fort: humble beginnings and a new start

Cerresso Fort is a compelling personality, both as a self-promoter and as a fighter. Outside of a handful of fighters, there’s no other media- and fan-friendly guy. He’s on time for interviews, he gives detailed answers, and he seems to be an overall decent individual. After his knockout victory over Tim Taggart Jr., in 2011, Fort stood on the catwalk and waved to the fans as he mouthed the words, “Thank you for coming.”

Maybe the 5-foot-9 boxer, who has fought at weights between 178 and 162 pounds, forgot that 6-foot-4 former Vikings defensive-end Ray Edwards was making his professional debut in the main event and was the showstopper of the night. Fort finally disappeared into his dressing room, but he reemerged later and made his way past the media table, shaking hands with nearly every reporter in reach. The impression he made was that Fort was showing a genuinely friendly nature, rather than the being media-hungry sports figure one often encounters.

As a fighter, the 25-year-old is an enigma. As an amateur, he might have made Minnesota boxing history as the only kid to win over 70 fights before his first defeat. He accumulated many amateur honors, he was featured in the Pioneer Press, and he looked to be Minnesota’s next big attraction. But since turning professional in 2008, Fort’s managed three fights between 2010 and 2011, and the hoopla for a boxer with a record of 11-0-1, with 9 knockouts, isn’t there. Part of Fort’s problem is that his management, based out of Florida, has been rumored to be difficult to work with, and it doesn’t help his reputation when he pulls out of local fights, such as he did for his scheduled Nov. 11 showdown with Charles Meier. “I was all set to go,” Fort, who divides his time between Minnesota and Florida training, said about the Meier fight. “I had just bought a new outfit and it was going to be a special day. 11-11-11 would have marked my 12th victory, on Veteran’s Day. But [promoters] wanted me to sell my tickets for the fight, and my opponent was going to get half of the purse. There was no way I could do that and concentrate on the fight. I put my fans on a higher level and I am not going to put my pride before them.”

So a month later, instead of advancing his name in a real fight, Fort was relegated to the role of staying in tip-top shape as a sparring partner for Matt Vanda and Phil Williams as they prepared for their separate fights on December 16, 2011—and both fights were stopped, in round five and round three. “Everything makes a big difference. If I can help take these guys’ career and take them to the next level, why not help out?” he said. “By being able to help a person, that means a lot more to me. God put me in a positive position to help others.”

Fort’s generosity, even in ambiguous situations, has been largely influenced by Ms. Pearl Grady. Ms. Grady is affectionatelycalled “Gamma” by many boxers. She was born in Mississippi but moved to Gary at in early age. While her living conditions were tough as a child growing up, things got worse, emotionally, when her mother passed when Ms. Grady was 12. “I didn’t really have anyone in my life and knew how it felt to be alone,” she said. “I didn’t want [Fort] to go through that.” What Ms. Grady didn’t want her grandson to experience was growing up in a system where many kids struggle to escape emotionally.

“I had just got home [from work] not that long before the police [in Chicago] called saying that they had my two-week-old grandson and did I want to pick him up,” she recalled. “I said I ain't got no young grandson and hung up the phone.” The fighter’s mother was 15 when she gave birth to him, but for her own reasons, she could not provide the parental guidance the baby needed. After authorities exhausted all family, they contacted Ms. Grady.

After her first contact with the authorities, they called back several minutes later, this time telling her that if she did not retrieve the infant from their care, he would be placed with social services. At the time, Ms. Grady held a full-time job at Larry Tomkins hospital (she retired from there after 30 years), and so it was understandable that she could not care for a two-week old baby without planning. “I didn’t know if he was my grandson or not,” she said. “But I wasn’t going to let him be in no system.” So Ms. Pearl rushed to the police station and picked up the child, and since then, the two have been inseparable.

“She’s my mother, father and everything to me,” the fighter said. “She’s a young lion and my world.” When the fighter startedto show a real interest in boxing, Ms. Grady rode the city bus with him nearly every day to bring Fort to the gym so he could master his skill. At the time, they didn’t have a phone or car. But she did everything in her power to provide him with a boxing education.

As time went on, a young Fort started connecting with other family and took up residency with them on and off. But finally the day came when he made the final decision to call one place his home. “I had come home from work and seen him with his bags on the bottom of the steps,” Ms. Grady remembered. “He said: ‘Gamma, I want to live with you for good.’ And that was the best moment of my life,” she said, squeezing her hands shut.

Fort’s bond with his grandmother in turn introduced her to boxing on a level she never imagined. “I call his grandmother my grandmother, and I love that lady like she’s my own family,” said Outlaw. And even if her grandson is going toe-to-toe with someone who might be considered a “potential enemy,” Ms. Grady, whose favorite fighter is Minnesota boxer Toney Lee, is still concerned about the other boxer’s well-being.

“What’s wrong with you, Matt [Vanda]?” she yelled from her chair as she watched Fort and Vanda spar. “Why you takn’ them damn punches like that?” Although Fort looked sharp, Ms. Grady has learned to make a clear distinction between her unconditional awe of him as her grandchild, and her respect for his role as a boxer. “Someone came up to me and said that he gave him [Fort] an A+ for his work against Vanda. ‘What you mean, an A+?’ I gave him maybe a damn C+.” The next day Ms. Grady admitted that Fort had done well, but she takes a cautious approach in this area. “I never tell him he’s great because I want him to continue to grow,” she said. “I don’t want anything from him but to be a man and be able to stand on his own two feet.” A wish Fort fulfilled when he teamed up with longtime friend Outlaw for a special endeavor.
Element Boxing & Fitness Boxing Gym

In November 2010, Outlaw and Fort held “Camp Cerresso,” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFGlI1n-XGI) day for kids in the neighborhood. The turnout and the event itself was such a success—over 39 kids with pizza and other goodies paid for out of the boxers’ pockets—the fighters knew what their next move was. “I knew about business and we both know about training, so we said we could do,” said Outlaw about the conversation he and Fort had about opening their own gym. With a plan in place, the boxers took a gung-ho mind-set to make it happen.

They sold their cars (Outlaw a Camaro and Fort a truck with “15” inch rims), combined their tax rebates, jumped online, found a location, went back and forth on a name until they came up with “Element Boxing,” and opened the gym doors in April of 2011: a move Outlaw credits Fort for having played a big role in. “Cerresso is an excellent guy, a one-in-a-billion, a god-brother,” said Outlaw. “We molded through boxing, and that friendship carried outside that.” The gym is located on Prior St. in St. Paul, and both Outlaw and Fort said that their focus isn’t on trying to be better than other gyms in Minnesota, but that they are hoping to bring a different feel. “We have the element of teamwork, the element of boxing, the element of fitness and the element of dedication,” said Outlaw. “It was a great opportunity for both us, and it was the work of God. Over communication [about what will make the gym successful in the long run] is our model,” said Outlaw.

Fort said the gym’s focus is on teaching kids fitness combined with boxing techniques.

They have over 20 clients, but the program isn’t a playground for kids to come and tumble and paint smiley faces; rather, they learn how to exercise at the right intensity, do cardio, aerobics and boxing. The gym hours are hectic: it’s open until 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays it’s open until 1:00 p.m.

Given all of this, it’s understandable that, as a competitor, Fort might not have the time for boxing like he used to. But then again, the boxer said his commitment is even stronger now. “The gym is not my exit door but something that is a way for me to give back to the community,” Fort said. “If you bring it [a fight offer] to me, I am willing to look at it. I want to be the best that ever laced up the gloves,” he said. Outlaw added, “You don’t see the early morning runs, the midnight workouts. He’s one of the hardest workers I know.”

The last part of my interview was with Ms. Grady (I made two different trips to the gym to interview Fort and Outlaw). She and I talked one evening until well past 8 p.m. Before we said our goodbyes, one of the last things she said to me was: “Make sure you write something good about my babies [Fort and Outlaw], you hear me?” While I didn’t make any promises (I discovered through several failed unpublished articles, last month, that just because I think a story is decent, it doesn’t mean the interviewee will feel the same), I was torn. On the one hand, here were two men who spoke highly of Minnesota boxing; who said boxing was the key to their successes as individuals and business owners; who recently gave a talk at Minneapolis Community College on, ironically, violence prevention; who gave up their tax returns and sold good cars for the down payment on the building; who had a vision and carried it out; who opened their doors to potential foes; who promoted the good side of boxing though teaching kids a healthy lifestyle; and who were two African-American men trying to breakdown stereotypes.

On the other hand, I understood that there will come a time when I am forced to write the less-than-favorable article or fight write-up (which usually ends all access to many fighters) on Fort and Outlaw, should they stay in the sport as combatants long enough. I eased my divided emotions by recalling a recent back-and-forth email exchange I had with a well-known local newspaper writer who told me that it wasn’t my job to be these boxers’ publicist or agents. I also recalled something the late boxing writer Ralph Wiley said about being a fan of all fighters but a friend to none because it was impossible for him to call a boxer his friend and than have to one day write negative articles about him.

But still, how could I not be a fan of these two? What Outlaw and Fort are doing goes beyond being good to being darn right fantastic.

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