by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Justin R. Gauthier, 31, is from Keweenaw Bay, Michigan from the Keweenaw Bay Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe Tribe. His clan is Mukwa Dodem (Bear Clan). His Ojibwe name is Waabishkizi Mukwa and means White Bear. Justin is the father of three boys Michaiah, Skyler and Anik and daughter Kori Raye.
“I compete for all indigenous people to show people we are still here and we are still strong,” said Justin. “You know the looks on some peoples faces when I come out to the ring with powwow music. You see the peoples’ faces as I’m walking out to the ring or cage is priceless and I scared some people. My youngest son Anik is now making his transition into the world of boxing. He is eight-years old following in the footsteps of both his mother’s and my side of the families. We both come from a line of fighters. My adopted father brother’s boxed and her father and brothers also boxed.”
“I started boxing at the age of 10-years old,” said Justin. “Shortly after I was lost in the juvenile system where I was sent to a juvenile program in Grand Rapids, Michigan named Wedgewood Christian Services. Boxing was one of their programs and that was my outlet. My escape from the reality I was living in. The place was very harsh and I grew fast as boxing and fighting was all I knew because I didn’t have a good childhood. I was raised in an alcoholic and abusive home and abuse in the juvenile systems.”
“I won three small club show titles as an amateur but I never had the chance to get to the Silver Gloves or Golden Gloves competitions due to me being in the juvenile programs,” said Justin. “In 2007, I started studying jiu jitsu and made a transition to amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and in 2009 I had 14 fights before transitioning back to boxing. I started with a MMA company named Upper Peninsula Cage Company (UPC). They were out of Marquette, Michigan. Fought on some other local shows close by with Big Johns MMA, Bezzerk MMA as well as King Of The Cage.”
“At the end of 2011, I slowly was starting to transition back to boxing but had one last fight at home at the Ojibwe Casino in Baraga, MI,” said Justin. “I won by submission choke in round two. On March 17, 2012, I had my last amateur MMA fight before going back to boxing.”
“Six months later on September, 15, 2012, I made my professional debut in boxing and unfortunately it wasn’t a good start to my career,” said Justin. “A lot of things happen in switching opponents last minute like this and unfortunately I was stopped by the referee prematurely so I lost due to a TKO.”
“I have over 13 fights as a professional boxer as well as four MMA fights as a professional,” said Justin. “I spent a year in Japan and Hawaii sparring and fighting.”
“My last fight was November, 2nd 2018, against Stoney Kilmer in Fort Yates, North Dakota,” said Justin. “It was at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe at the Prairie Nights Casino where I lost a controversial 6 round decision.”
“My next and possibly last fight was scheduled with Wyatt Promotions out of Cincinnati, Ohio,” said Justin. “In Covington, Kentucky on May 2, 2020 and unfortunately due to the COVID-19 it has been postponed until further notice.”
“Being humble and grateful for these opportunities that were presented to me in my life overcoming abuse, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction helped me become the fighter I am today,” said Justin. “I don’t give up and I always get up when I fall down in the ring. Boxing has taught me a lot about life with being humble and grateful being the two biggest core values in life that it has taught me.”
“I have a lot of losses and that alone has humbled me to a huge extent,” said Justin. “I grew up in a bad place and it showed me hard work, dedication and this helped me become a better person, fighter, athlete, and father. Nothing was ever given to me and I had to fight and work for everything I had.”
“My adopted father Alden Connor was my biggest and influential person ever in my life,” said Justin. “He showed me my cultural and traditional ways and pushed me and continues to push me to the best I can be.”
“My father was a boxer and fighter so he began to train me when I finally came back home,” said Justin. “He was always in my corner to support me no matter what happened or the decisions I made as long as they were good decisions. He pulled me from some of the hardest times in my life.”
“The Webster brothers, Eugene and David, and their cousin Alfred Newton were positive influences,” said Justin. “Bernard Webster took me in like his own son and he was a former boxer and MMA fighter. He was most influential in jiu jitsu and MMA and pushed me in my training to fight through pain just like it’s the life we live. There’s always going to be hardships and pain but it’s how we react to them that determines us being a man or a woman.”
“Ron Corn Jr. is another brother who brought me closer to myself spiritually and culturally. In the times working out, sparring and grappling for MMA he helped me see through a lot of things mentally I could not get a full grasp on. I appreciate everything my brothers here have given me in this short time I have been here,” added Justin.
“With the COVID-19, lately it has been hard to really try to get back into full shape with the gyms and recreation centers closed down,” said Justin. “I have just been doing push-ups and sit-ups, running in the mornings if possible but from being bored I just want to eat just like everyone else in quarantine. It’s scary stuff right now for our people and the whole world. But our teachings say not to be scared of these things and this is life. These things happen one way or another. We must continue our ways with using our asemaa ‘tobacco’ praying and smudging with our sage and cedar. Using our traditional medicines everyday is key to our existence as indigenous people.”
“My advice for young athletes is first the biggest and most important thing is education,” said Justin. “Boxing or fighting or any sports in general won’t be here forever for you to fall on. Always have a back up! Education is key because sports won’t always pay your bills in the end. These are the risks your taking in sports because there’s things that could happen that could end your career. Also with hard work you can achieve any goals you set yourself to accomplish but it takes that hard work and dedication. You cannot go into any sport half in shape so keep working and pushing yourself even when you’re tired and feel like giving up that’s when you push harder to achieve greatness.”
“Being Ogitchiidaag (Warriors in Ojibwemowin) means to protect and fight for your people and family,” said Justin. “I fight for my family. Always be ready to protect, to defend, to battle for your loved ones.”
“My youngest son Anik Mukwa Menominee/Gauthier is just eight years old and stepping into the ring,” said Justin. “He was training for his first fight up until the pandemic and I also was training for my last and final fight that was scheduled for May 2nd 2020 with Wyatt promotions. Due to COVID-19 they postponed my flight.”
“I am going to retire after this next fight and focus on my young son,” said Justin. “He is a natural in the ring and makes me proud. His grandfather on his mom’s side is Gerald Wayka Sr. and he was a fighter and long time boxing coach on the Menominee reservation. His mother’s brother Jake Wayka was an elite amateur boxer and James Wayka was a prospect in his early career. On my side my dad who is my uncle that raised me is Alden Connor Jr. and he had a good boxing career himself.”
“I started my boxing career with Hitz Boxing Promotions and I spent most of my career with them,” said Justin. “I give credit to Bobby Hitz for all my opportunities.”
Photo Credits: Stan Spruce, Tom Barnes and Joey Hill
