“Family is everything,” Johnny Burress said.
Growing up with over 40 siblings, Burress has the sense that family will always have your back.
Burress grew up in Ottawa Hills and describes his upbringing as tough, but it’s made him into the person he is today.
“Ottawa Hills was a Class-A school who dominated in sports. I was a three sport athlete who excelled in football, basketball, and track,” Burress said.
His biggest dream was to attend Michigan State University and play football.
“My dream didn’t come true. I instead went to GRCC. I didn’t play football,” Burress said. “I feel like I lost a lot of confidence in sports after not receiving a scholarship offer.”
Feeling lost, Burress was presented with an opportunity that he couldn’t pass up.
“A distant relative of mine wanted me to go to Las Vegas, Nevada and enjoy life,” Burress said.
This distant relative was Michigan’s own boxing world champion, Floyd Mayweather.
“My grandmother and Floyd’s grandmother are first cousins. Growing up I always knew we were related,” Burress said.
When he first arrived in Las Vegas, his aspiration was to become an actor.
“A random woman approached me while I was in a casino and asked me to come to the cast of Rocky V,” Burress said.
The same day, Burress was given an ultimatum that would change his life forever: “Mayweather asked me to go to Miami with him. I was a 19 year old who wanted to live life to the fullest. So I decided to go and enjoy myself,” Burress said.
Although this may have seemed like the wrong decision at the time, it would work out for Burress in the end.
“At the age of 21, Floyd’s manager became my mentor, Burress said. “I really wanted to start my own business and become my own manager.”.
He continued to jobshadow Floyd’s manager, and on a trip back to Michigan he received the news that his fiancee was pregnant.
“It was the best time of my life,” Burress said.
But tragedy quickly struck Burress’ life.
“It felt like my life had taken a complete left turn. My daughter passed away at only four months old from SIDS,” Burress said.
Burress describes this time in his life as the darkest. With the loss of his daughter, he felt lost and confused.
“I had to get away from the situation. So I moved to New York and learned more about the sport of boxing with my childhood best friend, Peter Quillin,” Burress said.
After a successful start at 4-0 as Quillin’s manager, Burress was approached with a deal of a lifetime.
“Quillin signed with Golden Boy [a boxing promotion company]. And then Al Hammond, the CEO of Premier Boxing Champions [PBC], also signed him,” Burress said.
With the success of Quillin, Burress chose to manage three more fighters.
Burress felt his life was headed in the right direction. Quillin went 31-0 and earned a world championship before losing his first fight. When Quillin lost, Burress returned to Michigan to reconsider his future.
On his trip back to Grand Rapids, Burress was feeling empty and was undecided on what he wanted to do to better his future.
¨I was 32 years old at this time and up to this point I didn’t know what high anxiety was or even going through what a panic attack was,¨ Burress said.
To help cope with this high anxiety Burress received Chakra therapy, which helps balance the energies in the body. This treatment helped Burress get through this extremely stressful time.
¨My family and I were fearful for my own life. So in the middle of everything, I pulled the plug,¨ Burress said. ¨I truly believe that anxiety comes from the life that you don’t want to pursue.¨
Dark times actually led Burress to where he is today, when he saw a familiar face at a funeral he was attending.
¨I saw one of my old coaches, James Stokes [football coach at the high school] and he invited to come coach,¨ Burress said. ¨I was coaching for the Northview middle school program and although I wasn’t getting paid, it has helped me more than any person will truly know.¨
In the darkest of times, he feels helping the community and coaching is his way of healing.
Burress is now a
¨This school saved my life,¨ Burress said.
