Tales of the Tape: Meet the Boxer Bartenders
They trained for 90 days, pairing late night bar shifts with early morning work outs. And it was all in the name of winning the belt for their hometown. The Bartender Boxing Organization is a charitable non-profit exhibitionist sporting organization that promotes healthy lifestyles in the bartending community, turning bartenders into boxers in a matter of weeks. Sponsored exclusively by Tequila Cazadores®, the event pits city-against-city, bartender-against-bartender, for a chance at glory.
Here are the Tales of the Tape, Miami versus San Francisco. These two cities went head to head in the boxing ring this summer at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Whose corner are you in? Only one way to find out who won: vote!
Koryn Tibor versus Mariah Thies
Mark Tomaras
Name: Koryn Tibor
City: Miami
How she got here: As soon as I found out BBO was coming to Miami I knew I had to join! It gives Miami bartenders a chance to challenge themselves, to work late nights and train hard in the mornings to go for the ultimate goal, the belt!
How she trained: South Beach Boxing really gave it to us the first couple weeks. No holding back. Prepared us for the worst and the best! They pushed us past our limits and encouraged us the whole way. Doesn't mean it was all hugs and kisses, but life never is. Closing the bar at 5:00 or 6:00 AM then training at 11:00 AM wasn't easy.
Mark Tomaras
Name: Mariah Thies
City: San Francisco
How she got here: Bartender Boxing came to me at an extremely pivotal point in my life. I had just started bartending at one of the best cocktail bars in the city, but I was in an extreme state of depression and I knew I needed to do something drastic to flip the script on my life. Boxing brought me discipline, motivation, and self-worth. I saw myself blossoming into a powerful woman who was no longer trapped under the rubble of poor mental health.
How she trained: I think the biggest challenge anyone faces during training, or even in a fight, is realizing that it’s never about the other person. It’s about you fighting yourself. You fight your weaknesses, your doubts, your aches and pains. And then, when it’s all said and done, that’s a battle you know you can conquer all on your own.
Derek Stilmann versus Emilio Salehi
Mark Tomaras
Name: Derek Stilmann
City: Miami
How he got here: This industry can be really tough on you: the hours, the intensity of work, the stress, and obviously the unhealthy amount of drinking. A couple of years ago I didn't pay enough attention to that and ended up getting really sick. After that I promised myself that I would practice a more balanced lifestyle. So when Bartender Boxing came to my city, I knew that I needed to prove to myself—and show my peers—that we can do this and still be one hundred percent invested in this industry.
How he trained: What really got me ready for my match was everyone I trained with. We pushed each other past our expectations of our own limits and when we fell, the others were there to catch us and inspire us to continue.
Mark Tomaras
Name: Emilio Salehi
City: San Francisco
How he got here: I've always been a huge boxing fan, and often stay up super late just watching old boxing videos on Youtube. I was dying to get in the ring and train but my budget and schedule didn't really allow the opportunity. So when BBO came around to San Francisco I signed up immediately. Our first week of training was also the first week of opening our new cocktail bar. A lot of people thought it was a bad idea to commit to this program, but I just knew it had to do it. In the end boxing gave me the confidence and stress relief I needed to open a new bar.
How he trained: I knew if I was able to execute a couple attack plans while keeping my hands up I had a good shot at getting the belt. Music was also instrumental in giving me strength and getting psyched up for the fight. Even though I felt confident before my fights, it was still really difficult to shake the jitters and butterflies in my stomach. Getting sick and losing my lunch in the bathroom was not part of the plan but sometimes you just gotta roll with it!
Josue Gonzalez versus Douglas Bedford
Mark Tomaras
Name: Josue Gonzalez
City: Miami
How he got here: I’ve always been pretty active. I used to wrestle in school, and I did some mixed martial arts for a while. When the opportunity to do Bartender Boxing presented itself I was thrilled. I immediately got all the info I could and signed up.
How he trained: Due to my history with combat sports I was pretty confident and had a good understanding of how to prepare for the match. I simply watched what I ate, didn’t go out drinking every night, and, most importantly, I trained 3-5 times a week.
Mark Tomaras
Name: Douglas Bedford
City: San Francisco
How he got here: Prior to signing up for Bartender Boxing in April 2018, I traded in alcohol for yoga and kettlebells. I was looking to make positive changes (like everyone does) before my birthday which happened to also be in April. I saw Bartender Boxing as once in a lifetime opportunity to bridge the two things important in my life: health and bartending.
How he trained: We relied on our coaches to teach us the technical aspects of boxing, but I ran miles a day for the endurance required...so much running! The hardest part besides the fight was the diet. I went from 195 pounds to 174.6 pounds. I was always hungry, to say the least! I loved the focus and discipline of being in "boxing shape.”
Rebecca Ramirez versus Shauna O’Neil
Mark Tomaras
Name: Rebecca Ramirez
Most Popular
GQ RecommendsPercival's Black Friday Sale Is Packed with Jolly Good Menswear DealsBy Reed Nelson
StyleThe 64 All-Time Greatest Celebrity Fits from GQ’s Men of the Year PartyBy The Editors of GQ
GQ RecommendsSteal These Sweaters From Your Dad ImmediatelyBy Gerald Ortiz
City: San Francisco
How she got here: As a bartender here in San Francisco, I’m fortunate to be able to get to experience all the amazing food and beverage. However, I was definitely lacking in self-care. When I saw that Bartender Boxing was coming to San Francisco, I knew it was what was missing in my current lifestyle. People told me I was crazy, thought I wouldn’t make it past the first couple weeks. But as time went on, those same people were the ones pushing me not to give up.
How she trained: The road to fight night was intense, it was nerve wracking. But boxing gave me the tools to roll with the punches, literally and figuratively. Balancing work, life, and workouts definitely pushed my sanity—but in the best way possible. Working til 3AM, getting up at 7AM with my son to get him ready for the day, going to boxing class for two hours only to turn around and go right into a 14 hour day. That was definitely the hardest part for me. It was 100% worth it, though!
Mark Tomaras
Name: Shauna O’Neil
City: Miami
How she got here: I opened my bar three years ago after John Lermeyer recruited me. I was a little apprehensive at first because we were really close and I didn’t want to ruin that friendship. Turned out to be the best decision I have yet to make, and if it weren’t for him I wouldn’t know half the amazing people in my life and this industry. Which led me to finding out this program was coming to Miami. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity, this program has completely changed my life.
How she trained: The match took a lot of physical preparation, but even more mental preparation. It’s crazy how this sport is equal parts mental and physical. You can’t underestimate your opponent; at the same time you can’t go out there expecting to lose. Finding that balance is hard.
Kristina Popova versus Kimberly Rosselle
Mark Tomaras
Name: Kristina Popova
City: Miami
How she got here: I was going through a break up, and I already had my regular membership at South Beach Boxing. A girl dropped out of the program and I got invited to substitute for her. So only a month before the first fight, I started training with the group.
How she trained: I was training every day, even when I needed to close the bar at 5am. I would still wake up early and go to train at South Beach Boxing. In the beginning it was hard, because I like my teammates, so to fight someone that you train with and you like it's really not that easy. But you get in that ring and you need to try to shut off all emotions and just get it done.
Mark Tomaras
Name: Kimberly Rosselle
City: San Francisco
How she got here: I was transitioning out of a fruitful and yet highly demanding management position, and I was eager to challenge my mind and my body in a different way. Working in an industry that I feel so passionate about, it is easy for your whole self and your identity to get wrapped up in a job. I saw the Bartender Boxing program as the perfect opportunity to nourish and discipline my body and myself in a thoughtful and active practice of self-care.
How she trained: One of the greatest challenges was to not get lost within the anxiety of the final fights. But I reminded myself that the fights were not the culmination of the program but rather a component to it. By allowing myself to remain present during each practice and throughout the entirety of the program, I was able to gain a truly invaluable experience from Bartender Boxing.
LOS CAZADORES® TOMAN CON RESPONSABILIDAD. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.©2018. CAZADORES®, ITS TRADE DRESS AND THE DEER LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS. IMPORTED BY TEQUILA CAZADORES® U.S.A., SEAL BEACH, CA. TEQUILAS EACH – 40% ALC. BY VOL.
Related Stories for GQSponsor ContentBoxing