Prince-Lee Isidore is a national boxer, an athlete with big ambitions and one with an impressive record. Already, one of T&T's most telling fighters, he looks in no way ready to slow down. Isidore has a story to tell.The following is that story of Isidore, told by Isidore.
"I was influenced to join the sport of kickboxing by going up to Fine Line Fight Factory–it was Fine Line Fight Club back then in 2002–watching my big brother Leroy Isidore train. I had a lot of admiration for my brother, and wanting to do what he did and be as good as him made me make the decision to join. That is when his coach Sensei Bharrath Ramoutar asked me, 'You feel you could do this?' To which I answered, 'Yeah!'
Now thinking about it, I may have been a tad cocky at the time with my response but I was confident that I could do whatever I put my mind to; also it was ideal opportunity to get to do what Leroy was doing and for me to be as good as him. Sensei (Ramoutar) smiled and said, 'Ok, check me after your exams.'
I trained hard since then and became the national (and) Caribbean silver medalist at the World Championships and eventually the country's first world amateur kickboxing champion. During that time, I simultaneously competed in amateur boxing as I became more proficient using my hands.
Quickly I became the national amateur champion silver medalist at CABA (Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association) Games, then represented T&T at the Olympic boxing qualifiers in Guatemala in 2008. The system of Olympic boxing wasn't conducive to my style so I became a professional boxer.
Since that transition, training has stepped up tremendously and demanded more of my time. Juggling boxing, work and school proved to be difficult (and) as my coach told me that at some point everything will suffer. No words were much truer, as soon enough each hindered the other.
I then came to the point where I needed to make the choice that my coach spoke about. I chose to stop school temporarily and pick it back up after my career in boxing, since each athlete has a shelf life and you can't pursue boxing successfully at an old age. So now I just work and pursue boxing.
I want to become a world lightweight champion and make a meaningful contribution to my country and show the youths that it is possible to pursue a sport at world class level, successfully. So, I lead by example by being disciplined and dedicated to my sport, as well as being respectful to those I train with and speaking to the younger athletes at the gym about the sport and life.
My record is currently at 14 wins, three losses and one draw. I would have been a lot further in the sport by now but the (stagnation of boxing at the board level) placed my career at a standstill during those periods of inactivity. I look at these and other setbacks as character building. If I'm set to become a great boxer, I must be able to overcome all challenges that I encounter, especially when I think about the humble beginning that Manny Pacquiao came from and became a seven division world champion.
(I'm) still far from the top, but I believe that once I stay disciplined and dedicated I will achieve world champion status. My opponents are going to be tougher to overcome but I've made the necessary sacrifices. I take each bout seriously and train arduously for each fight... it brings the opportunity to grow, become stronger and take me to where I want to get to - the top. Continuing on my current successful path, I see a world title reachable in the next three to five fights.
All the champions in boxing usually have to go into training camp at least six weeks prior to their fights. Ria Ramnarine and Giselle Salandy both world champions were afforded opportunities to do training camps abroad by the Minister of Sports of the day. Presently, I have to be working up to the day before my fights. Also, I am not in a position to train the required three times daily. As a result, the world has not seen the best of Prince Lee Isidore.
To the youths I say keep strong to attain your goals and make the necessary sacrifices required to achieve them and above all being disciplined and dedicated. Also be wary of who you surround yourself with. Avoid friends that would encourage you to drink and drive or to adopt habits that would set you down a path away from achieving your dream.
You don't want your parents to receive the dreaded call at 2 am. I've seen many sportsmen and women adversely affected by their lifestyle outside of their sport. Be mindful of the decisions you make today as it will affect you tomorrow. As my coach always say, 'you are free to make your own decisions but you are not free from the consequences of those decisions.'"