By Steven Ryzewski From Seminole Chronicle

Winter Springs gym owner makes return to ring

At age 36, Mike Sawyer is ready to reignite career

When Mike Sawyer stepped into the ring on Saturday in the Cayman Islands, everything came rushing back.

The owner of UFC Gym in Winter Springs, who had not fought professionally in more than two years, said it was a thrill to be back in front of a crowd.

“It was awesome; it was incredible. … there’s a part of you, you hear that crowd roar, there’s a part of you that’s alive,” Sawyer said. “It’s addictive. … I would liken it to jumping out of an airplane, to skydiving or something.”

Though he did not win the fight, it was noteworthy that a local businessman had lost a majority decision to an up-and-coming, undefeated fighter whose first five victories had all come by knockout. Sawyer, however, made it to the final round and lost only when judges voted his opponent victorious.

And, perhaps most notable, was that Sawyer performed so well against Peter Lewison who, at 26 years old, was a decade Sawyer’s junior. At the age of the 36, “Money” Mike Sawyer was back in the ring and showed the crowd just what he was made of.

“He [Sawyer] really put on a show,” said John Scully, Sawyer’s trainer. Scully was the fourth-ranked light heavyweight in the world during his own boxing career. “The truth of the matter is, the opponent [Lewison] … he told me after [the fight] twice that he thought he’d lost,” he said.

For Sawyer, who bought his gym in Winter Springs two years ago, getting back in the ring in his mid-30s was a way to prove to himself that he could still hack it.

“It was a test. I was testing myself, and I passed,” Sawyer said. “I’m taking it more seriously now, and I’m enjoying it, which is crazy.

“I turn 37 next month and I’m getting better.”

It was a step back into a career that had been dormant for two years. Sawyer, who started his pro career with a 4-1 record, had decided to focus on a career in banking, and eventually as a gym owner, after a disappointing showing in his sixth professional fight dropped his record to 4-2.

Despite the success Sawyer experienced in his professional life, he said he couldn’t shake the itch he had to get back in the ring. So, when a friend who was putting together a show in the Cayman Islands called six weeks ago with an offer, it was something the gym owner had to consider.

“About six weeks ago I got a phone call from [the promoter] saying, ‘Hey man, we’re putting together show. What do you think about fighting?’” Sawyer said. “I said, ‘Give me a week; let me see how I feel.’

“I felt good — my body responded. I started getting the hunger back. It [the comeback] wasn’t a long, planned thing. I was just kind of like ‘You know what? I can beat this kid.’”

For Sawyer, the comeback is a challenge to himself more than anything. Sawyer said he might only have a few years left in which his body will respond well enough to fight professionally, and the last thing he wants is to look back and wonder “What if?”

As his trainer tells it, Sawyer isn’t chasing any dreams of world championship matches or anything like that — the return to fighting is deeper than that.

“Boxing is a special game. People kind of assume that everybody is in it to be the world champion, and that’s not the case,” Scully, who at age 46 was Sawyer’s main sparring partner, said. “Some guys are in it to prove something to themselves … just to say they could do it.”

In addition to coming up just short in a decision that could have likely gone either way, Sawyer reaped other rewards from Saturday’s fight. Scully said a promoter from England is interested in having Sawyer fight across the pond.

Sawyer said he is open to more fights and that he will be able to continue his career because of the support and understanding of the staff and members at UFC Gym.

“I have an incredibly good staff that handles things when I’m not 100 percent committed to growing the gym; I have people that can step in my shoes and they do a fantastic job,” Sawyer said. “We have about 500 members and they’re just so easygoing … they’re so supportive of each other and of the staff and of me. It’s to the point where the gym almost runs itself.”

That support, coupled with the support the Winter Park resident received from friends and family, made the hard work of the past six weeks worth it.

“ I must have gotten, you know, 150 texts and emails and messages,” Sawyer said. “It doesn’t take someone very long to send a text or send an email or something like that, but good Lord it feels good when you receive one.”

For more on this story go to:

http://www.seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2013/10/30/5271361f84b66

Saturday (26) Boxing results at King’s Sports Centre

Super Middleweight

Dariel Ebanks – Cayman (0-0) vs. Elvis Martinez – Dominica Republic (11-32-2) Ebanks making his professional debut won by KO just under two minutes into the fight.

Light Heavyweight

Peter Lewison – Cayman (5-0) vs. Mike Sawyer – USA (4-2) Lewison won by a majority decision. Two judges scored the fight for Lewison 58-56 and the third judge scored it 57-57.

Light Middleweight

Charles Whittaker – Cayman (39-14-2) vs. Juan Manuel Matias  – Dominican Republic (8-9) Whittaker won by KO in the fourth round. Two right hooks sent Matias to the canvas.