Beyond The Ropes: Haley Jordan Leonard

Beyond The Ropes: Haley Jordan Leonard

Hayley Jordan Leonard had a promising track and field athlete cut short by injury and a coach lacking empathy and understanding. Leonard lost her way somewhat, but like many, she found boxing. She saw an old quote from a former heavyweight champion of the world. Almost instantly, she was hooked.

Born in Southern California, the 28-year-old grew up surrounded by picture-perfect surroundings in Mulberry Place. “We lived on a cul de sac of roughly twenty kids. We would play sports, compete with each other, and build great childhood memories until the sun went down each night.”

Sport was in her life from an early age. “Ever since I was a kid, I was competing against the neighbourhood kids, mainly the boys,” Leonard says of her early years. “Whatever sport we could jump on – team sports, individual, down to ping pong, wall ball, pool games. I grew up naturally competitive, yet it was definitely enhanced by my environment.

“I was a track and field athlete through high school and went to college out of state on a full-ride scholarship. In my freshman year, I injured my leg due to overtraining, and I decided to come back to California to finish school. When I transferred, I still had a bit to go in rehabilitation of my broken leg. The coach at the new school threw me in with the team and expected me to keep up, though I was not fully cleared. I ended up walking away in a tough way – listening to the coach tell me I had no self-worth, dignity, or respect. As a 19-year-old girl, I took it in. I felt lost, felt without a purpose. Years later, after overcoming cycles of self-harm, I decided to get back in the gym, but I still wanted to compete. I was doing half marathons, but it was not enough. I completed full marathons – it wasn’t enough. I decided to take on 75Hard, one aspect being to read a book and I decided to pick up the book Relentless by Tim Grover. Halfway through the book, I realised I left so much on the table when it came to being an athlete. I considered getting back into running track until Relentless quoted Leon Spinks stating “I knock motherfuckers out.” It seemed fun, and I decided I was going to start over, but do it the right way. My first day in the gym was Feb 6, 2021. The day Leon Spinks passed away.”

There is something uniquely addictive about boxing. Every fighter has a different story of what it gives them. For Haley Jordan Leonard, it carries a deep religious meaning and much more.

“Since starting boxing, I have fallen more and more in alignment with myself,” Leonard says of what the attraction of her sport is. “I am addicted to chasing after perfection. But with boxing, there is no perfect. I am forced to learn something new every day. I have a tattoo that reads “ANCORA IMPARO.” Which is Latin for “Yet I am still learning,” inspired by a college professor. I love that no matter how much time I spend in the gym with monotonous repetitions, each rep is showing me a slight opportunity to improve. It’s addicting. I also just love fighting.

“Boxing also gives me purpose. I live life daily, but I learn and reflect in retrospect. On reflection, it seems to have brought all my life together. Like tying up all its loose ends. It has brought me closer to God, blindly trusting in his plan, having faith in my hard work, and having a reason to stay out of trouble.”

Leonard only has four fights to her name, with more to come. But she has vivid memories of her first ring encounter. “My first fight was an exhibition fight about eight months after I walked into the gym for the first time,” Leonard says of her first fight. “Up until a month before, I was just an everyday client who could only afford to come in two times a week. Though I dedicated hours upon hours outside of the gym. Stepping in the ring in front of all my friends and family felt surreal. But it felt right. I felt a sense of belonging. Thinking back to my first few months in boxing is fun. It felt exhilarating. Every day, I was learning so much.”  

Leonard is still very early in her boxing journey. But she is already in demand. Which offers a great sense of pride to her. “I think some of my greatest achievements are being brought on to camp for world title contenders. I’ve been in camp with the likes of Linn Sandstrom, Ramla Ali, Lupita Medina, and soon with Right Hook Roxy.

“Before I had any sanctioned amateur fights, I was hired and brought out to Australia to be in camp with Linn Sandstrom. To be recognised as talented, and to be respected by highly respected trainers and coaches is probably my proudest achievement to date.”

Leonard might only be four fights in, but she has ambitions of more. “Have a professional debut,” Leonard told me of what her short-term goals are. “And start knocking motherfuckers out.” That old Leon Spinks line that inspired Leonard to take up the sport in the first place.

But Leonard is also looking long-term. Like many, she wants to inspire others. “I want to leave a legacy for young girls and women, and show that they can be a light, and that they can commit themselves, and that they can make it in a male dominant world.”