His nickname is “The Prodigy,†and for Lincoln native Terrance Coleman it fits like a glove — a boxing glove, that is.
The 19-year-old Coleman, a three-time Midwest Golden Gloves champion, will face two-time Upper Midwest Golden Gloves champion Leo Medel from Minneapolis for the middleweight (165 pounds) championship Saturday at the Royal Grove in Lincoln in the main event of the Dillon's Auto Boxing Championships. Medel is expected to go pro after the amateur fight.
“Like coach (Marcus Polk) said, 'You can't pick your own nickname,'†Coleman said.
At the age of 15, Coleman was boxing in Air Park in Lincoln when Polk noticed his quick jab. The Lincoln Southwest graduate transitioned to train under Polk and was deemed "The Prodigy."
“The name just came as he saw me sparring with the older people, beating older people and having to fight older competition,†Coleman said.
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Things did not always come easy for Coleman, who has a 40-9 amateur record.
Coleman grew up without a father, and his mother suffered from a troubled past. He bounced around in foster care, and at the age of 9 was adopted by his grandmother.
“Honestly, at that point in my life, I got adopted and was like, 'I don't even know what this is,'†Coleman said. “I knew I was getting adopted, but it wasn't a big deal to me. I had gone from house to house before already and I really didn't consider myself adopted. I thought it was just going to be temporary.
“I just thought I'd be here for a year, and then, boom, be with someone else.â€
Fighting was always in Coleman's blood. At a young age if someone looked at him wrong, he would go and fight him, he said.
Things started to get better and life looked a little brighter. By the fifth grade, Coleman was no longer fighting in school. He would still get in trouble from time to time, but nothing serious.
“Once I got adopted and started living with my grandma, I started getting friends and everything became a little easier,†Coleman said.
Once he reached high school, Coleman spent three years at Lincoln North Star before spending half a semester at Southwest and graduating early.
“I wanted to graduate early just so I could start boxing,†Coleman said. “I've done every sport from football to swimming to tennis, and boxing always helped with my anger. I started boxing when I was about 14.
“It always helped with my anger so I wasn't fighting as much outside the boxing gym. If I fought outside the gym, I couldn't go back to the gym.â€
It has been a long time since Coleman's first scheduled fight to where he is now. He has become a knockout specialist, winning his last five fights by stoppage. He hopes to one day earn his pro card.
Coleman started out on the card at the Dillon's Auto Boxing Championships. This time he's in the main event.
“Honestly, it was a rush,†Coleman said of his boxing debut. “It was on the same card as I am now, Jake (Van Lent, boxing promoter of Slick Ticket Promotions) threw me my first fight ever. I was the very first fight (of the night), and it was just a rush. The kid was from Kansas and I had never fought anyone outside of my gym.
“To be on the same card now and be the main event means a lot.â€
Eighteen bouts are scheduled, including two co-feature fights that involve Lincoln residents who are both two-time Midwest Golden Gloves champions.
Roberto Torres (20-10) will face nationally second-ranked amateur welterweight Marcus Davidson from Kansas City, Kansas, for the welterweight title. Torres last fought Davidson in August in Omaha and won by decision. Rouj Talat will also fight for a title against Damon Bly of Kansas City, Missouri, for the light welterweight title.