Junior welterweight Mike Kimbel made a successful transition from mixed martial arts to professional boxing under the guidance of former light heavyweight titleholder Chad Dawson. 

On Sept. 7 at Foxwoods Resort, Kimbel (7-0, 5 KOs) delivered a first-round knockout against Anthony Mora (4-3-1, 3 KOs). However, that victory is only part of his journey.

Kimbel, 27, of Waterbury, Connecticut, credits Dawson with teaching him valuable lessons, the kind one normally receives in school. “I treat sparring and training as quizzes," Kimbel said. "When it’s time to fight, that’s when I take my test.”

Kimbel's switch to boxing came after a frustrating stint in MMA. Despite signing a six-fight deal with Bellator, fight opportunities dried up, leaving him at a crossroads, especially with his partner’s pregnancy adding pressure to his situation. "I couldn’t get booked, couldn’t get fights," Kimbel said. "I really didn’t know what I was going to do."

That’s when his agent, Paul Guarino, suggested boxing and introduced him to Dawson. Two days after Kimbel made his pro boxing debut in January 2023, his son was born, marking a new chapter in both his career and life.

Kimbel holds Dawson in high regard, not only for his boxing success but also for his laid-back personality. "He’s chill, almost shy," Kimbel said. "We’ll be in the car heading to sparring, and he’ll put his headphones in. I’m like, ‘Coach, we can play it on the radio,’ but he’ll say, ‘You don’t like my music.’"

Balancing his boxing career with both fatherhood and a full-time job as a commercial roofer, Kimbel’s daily routine is intense. "I’m up at 4:45, work by 6 a.m., finish around 3, and head straight to the gym," he said. 

Despite the challenges, Kimbel is determined to rise to the top. He attributes his rapid success in boxing to his deep respect for the sport. "A lot of MMA fighters think they can walk into boxing, and they don’t understand the science behind it," Kimbel said. He then recalled being mocked by a lifelong boxer during a weigh-in, who dismissed him as "just another MMA guy."

"He told me, ‘This is boxing, not MMA,’" Kimbel said with a laugh. In the second round, Kimbel delivered a knockout, proving his doubters wrong. As he approaches his third year as a pro in January, Kimbel is determined to keep proving he belongs in the boxing ring.”