06/26/2026
Today Charley finished his journey at the WBC World Championships, losing to a very good opponent from Ireland.
Charley was nervous, and that’s completely normal. It was only his third ever fight, and he was facing one of the best young fighters in the world.
I’m very proud of him. He worked incredibly hard to prepare for this opportunity and conducted himself with maturity from the first day until the last. He trained hard, stayed humble, respectful and courageous all the way through.
Robert, Charley’s teammate, also played a big part in Charley’s preparation. They spent many rounds together getting ready for this challenge, pushing each other every day. The whole team contributed, and that’s what makes these experiences so special.
It was also great to have Charley’s parents here to share this journey with him. They made the long trip to support him, and I know how much that meant. Having Oscar, his brother with the team made the experience even better. It was very special to have my son Rickson in the corner with us... These championships are about much more than the fights. They’re about sharing the journey together.
Charley has a huge heart, and I’m grateful to coach kids like him. Experiences like this are priceless and will help him grow not only as a fighter, but as a young man.
Thank you to everyone who supported us and helped us get here. It really means a lot. Without your support we wouldn’t have had this opportunity or learned these lessons.
A little side story... Charley’s opponent came from the very first gym where I ever took a Muay Thai class in Cork, Ireland. His coach was actually running that class. It was nice to see him again after all these years. It’s a great gym that has produced many excellent fighters, so it was a special full circle moment to meet them again here on the world stage.
The journey continues. Courage. Humility. Discipline.
