A Champion in our Ranks.

UNITED STATES

12.03.2019

Story by Pfc. Gregory Muenchow 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

FORT POLK, La. — On Nov. 24, in Kissimmee Fl., Spc. William Pinkney, a native of Fort Worth Texas and combat medic with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, stepped into the ring to compete in the Sugar Bert Boxing National Championship for the light-heavyweight class.
When the bell rang Pinkney knew that the fight was his to win.
“I’m always calm before the fight if I prepared the right way,” said Pinkney. “With all the hard work and training twice a day there was no way I was going to lose.”
Pinkney began boxing in May of 2018, shortly after he arrived at Fort Polk. The community he found within his unit and at Ground Zero Boxing Gym in Leesville made his victory possible.
“My chain of command has all supported me,” said Pinkney. “When I first got here, I told them I wanted to try out for the Army Team and bring home a championship.”
From the beginning, Pinkney had the championship on his mind.
“The first time he came in and saw a couple of fighters with belts, he decided that he was going to be a champion too,” said retired Sgt. First Class Sidney Russell, the owner of Ground Zero Boxing Gym and one of Pinkney’s coaches.
Pinkney’s road to the national championship ran through three fights. In his second bout, he came up just short with a close loss.
“After that fight, I decided that no one was going to outwork me,” said Pinkney. “With enough hard work you can do anything, so I just had to work twice as hard.”
His reinforced resolve after the loss was apparent to his coaches.
“He came back after the loss working harder and better,” Said Sgt. First Class Jeffrey Cereceres from Task Force Four Ops Group, and one of Pinkney’s coaches. “It was that determination that made him win Nationals by a long-shot.”
That work ethic and resolve brought Pinkney to the National Championship with a clear head, ready to bring home the belt.
“He dominated the fight from beginning to end, his opponent only landed 3 or 4 punches each round,” said Cereceres. “He made the fight look easy.”
After three rounds of keeping the pressure on his opponent, Pinkney was declared the victor by unanimous decision.
“I’m proud that I was able to bring home the belt and represent the Army,” said Pinkney. “And I know my all my guys are proud of me too, my mom even wears the belt around.”
(Article by Army Pvt. First Class Gregory Muenchow)

• Date Taken: 12.03.2019
• Date Posted: 12.05.2019 14:07
• Story ID: 354438
• Location: US
• Hometown: FORT WORTH, TX, US