BY RICHARD BAKER
For the Auburn Reporter

From Hilltop to mountaintop, that is the road Tacoma boxer Mike Gavronski is taking.

So far the climb has been firm and steady, ever steeper, ever higher. His recent win over Nathan Bedwell at Little Creek Casino in Shelton shows he is on track, and if he continues the progress, a shot at a world title will be waiting.

Gavronski, who works in Auburn, is following in the footsteps of such famous Tacoma boxers as Rocky Lockridge, Sugar Ray Seals, Johnny Bumphus, Leo Randolf and Irish Pat McMurtry.

His climb up the mountain may not be as difficult as his climb to adulthood has been. He was raised in Hilltop in a violent and dangerous family, a tumultuous environment to which no kid should be subjected. Gavronski had to make decisions that would have been difficult for most adults, but he has always understood what was best for him.

By the age of 13, life at home had become so precarious at home that he asked his grandparents if he could live with them. They agreed and eventually adopted him. They had both been previously married and each had four children.

“They consider me the child they had together,” he said.

By taking him away, Gavronski said, they saved his life.

Like so many young people in tough situations, Gavronski turned to boxing as a way to vent his aggressions and as a possible way to rise in the sporting world. In the amateurs he quickly realized his talent in 50 bouts with only eight losses. During that time he fought well against present world contenders like Daniel Jacobs and Sean Porter.

Boxing is a precarious business. Everyone claims to be an expert, and they often offer the moon to a young man eager for fame. Gavronski fell into several of these traps before finding Sam Ditusa, a trainer and manager from Seattle with a reputation for knowledge and honesty. They are about ready to sign a promotional contract with Banner Promotions, one of the largest and most successful promoters in the world. Banner has handled such fighters as Ricky Hatton, Cristobal Cruz, Verno Phillips, Dmitry Pirog, and heavyweight champion Chris Byrd.

Gavronski has managed to avoid the seamier side of boxing, especially concerning drugs. He saw too many lives destroyed in the Hilltop area. He avoids any associations with fighters, especially ex-fighters, involved with drugs. He has even changed gyms to protect himself.

Unlike many emerging fighters who refuse to work, Gavronski has always held a job.

“There is no such thing as a bad, or meaningless job,” he said. He has held a job for as long as he can remember.

Balancing work and boxing

Maintaining a job and finding the time to train can be difficult. He presently works for Cloudy Sky Tree Services in Auburn. The owner is a boxing fan and has no trouble letting Gavronski take time off to train in different parts of the country occasionally and to attend fights. He recently trained and fought in the Midwest and will be going to California soon. He knows that sparring and training in different places and with as many boxers as possible is essential for success.

Gavronski (11-0-1) would like to fight every month, but with the decline in boxing interest, bouts are becoming difficult to find. He is also coming up against the problem of many decent emerging boxers – no one wants to fight him.

To help maintain his conditioning, Gavronski is considering MMA, popular with the new legion of fight fans. In MMA one can use any type of fighting technique including boxing, wrestling, and martial arts. Because of that he runs the risk of pulling or tearing various tendons or muscles that might injure his boxing career.

“I’ll have to discuss it with my management team. I only know one thing – I want to fight.”

The peak of the mountain is within view and if he stays on track he might be fighting for a world championship within two years. Every climb to the top is difficult, but the view is spectacular.