The Retired Boxer

“The old white man didn't look into your eyes, he looked clear through your eyes, and straight to the inside of the back of your head. 'Instead of runnin from pain, which is the natural thing in life, in boxing you step to it, get me?'”   ~ F.X. Toole

A fighter’s life is written on his face—the years of discipline, the battles fought, the lessons learned in blood and sweat. In this painting, I wanted to capture that raw honesty, the way time leaves its mark on a man who has stepped into the ring and faced everything head-on. His gaze is steady, not looking for a fight but carrying the weight of every one he’s endured. The quote from F.X. Toole says it all—boxing isn’t about running from pain, it’s about stepping into it. 

‘The Retired Boxer’ is a portrait of resilience, a testament to the fighters who never stop carrying the spirit of the ring within them.