Dana White back in '97

nfc90210 · Mar 25, 2008

I found this online. It's an article about Dana White written in 1997 when he was wearing, so to speak, a different hat than he does now.

April 16, 1997
Copyright Las Vegas Review-Journal

Box aerobics class packs serious punch

By Tim Willert View staff writer

When Dana White first tried to sell local fitness clubs on the concept of box aerobics, he was met with considerable resistance.

'I called every club in town, and they told me they had no place for a class like this,' said White, a Bishop Gorman High School graduate and former amateur boxer.

Now, a year later, both White and box aerobics are in demand.

On Thursday and Saturday he teaches classes at the northwest 24-Hour Fitness on Rainbow Boulevard. The rest of the week he trains people privately.

'It's just exploded in popularity,' said White, 31, a boxing and fitness trainer who is licensed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and USA Boxing. 'It really is the ideal way to lose weight.'

White claims that one hour of box aerobics burns more than a thousand calories, compared to 450 in a traditional aerobics class.

'It's all natural body movements that burn fat, build cardiovascular endurance, speed, coordination and flexibility,' he said

White's classes at 24-Hour Fitness, where boxing techniques are taught in an aerobic format and last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, regularly attract between 130 and 140 people.

'It's not boring,' he said. 'People are getting bored with the health club scene.'

White's classes don't involve sparring, and the majority of his clients don't want to fight competitively.

'The key is not boxing,' he said. 'Learning how to box is just one of the benefits. It's about the workouts.'

For those who wish to spar, White holds a boxing clinic every Sunday.
'I actually get out there with my clients,' White said. 'We go easy and have fun.'

White trains clients at United Champions Inc., a converted warehouse in the Southwest.

'The private lessons are for people who want to focus more on technique and want to be pushed harder,' White said.

White's clients are put through a rigorous one-hour workout that includes shadow boxing, jumping rope and hitting the heavy bag.

Among his clients are Steve Cavallaro, Hard Rock Hotel chief operating officer, attorney Edward M. Bernstein and 1995 American League Rookie of the Year Marty Cordova of the Minnesota Twins.

For five years, beginning in 1987, White was an amateur boxer.
His career ended prematurely when, while preparing for a Golden Gloves bout, he suffered injuries to his elbow and nose while sparring.

'I was a little discouraged,' said White, whose record as a middleweight was 33-10. 'I love boxing more than anything.

'After that I went to the gym and started training other fighters.'
He still trains fighters, but he said 95 percent of his work revolves around fitness training.

Inside United Champions, 22-year-old Melissa Rogers has just finished shadow boxing and is busy hoisting a 12-pound medicine ball up and down a flight of stairs.

'That works the back of the legs and butt, where women like to hit,' said

White, who has been training Rogers for more than a year.

An aspiring model who works at Canyon Gate Country Club, Rogers said she has lost nearly 30 pounds as a result of box aerobics.

'It's a tough workout,' she said. 'But his routine is fun. It's like no other aerobics class I've ever taken.'

White, who hopes to open his own gym someday, said 20 lessons are all it takes for him to get someone into excellent shape.

'Boxing works the entire body,' he said. 'Once someone learns how to shadow box, it's almost like meditation.'
Click to expand...

greengloves · Mar 25, 2008

amazing,i just wonder what happened to him for him to go away from boxing towards mma,must be a very astute business man.

David_TheMan · Mar 25, 2008

A failed boxer going to MMA. You wonder why? Really?

Zakman · Mar 25, 2008

greengloves said:

amazing,i just wonder what happened to him for him to go away from boxing towards mma,must be a very astute business man.
Click to expand...

Couldn't make it in the fight game, so he took a page out of Vince McMahon's notebook. :nod

Marnoff · Mar 25, 2008

A revealing look at Dana White.

Gunns4hire · Mar 25, 2008

33-10 lmao! I wonder how many by knockout? This guy is such a *****

K0NPHL1C7 · Mar 25, 2008

'I love boxing more than anything.'

Log in or Sign up

Dana White back in '97

nfc90210 Active Member Full Member

greengloves Well-Known Member Full Member

David_TheMan ESB Sage Full Member

Zakman ESB's Chinchecker Full Member

Marnoff Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

Gunns4hire Well-Known Member Full Member

K0NPHL1C7 Well-Known Member Full Member

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Dana White back in '97

nfc90210 Active Member Full Member

greengloves Well-Known Member Full Member

David_TheMan ESB Sage Full Member

Zakman ESB's Chinchecker Full Member

Marnoff Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

Gunns4hire Well-Known Member Full Member

K0NPHL1C7 Well-Known Member Full Member