PRO BOXING & FIGHT MONEY WITH JOHNNY BIRMPILIS | E023 PODCAST
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ABOUT THE GUEST
Johnny “The Greek” Birmpilis (Γιάννης Μπιρμπίλης) sits down with George Stroumboulis in Toronto, Canada on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things Professional Boxing, Fight Money, Concussions, Training and Perseverance.
Johnny "The Greek" Birmpilis, the dynamic professional boxer hailing from Larissa, Greece. With a journey that spans training and living experiences in Toronto, Los Angeles, and Miami, Johnny has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division.
Currently making waves and solidifying his presence in the professional fight scene, Birmpilis initially honed his skills as an amateur in Greece before seamlessly transitioning into the punch-for-pay realm. Johnny "The Greek" Birmpilis has diverse influences that have shaped his career and the impact he's making in the world of professional boxing.
A boxer with an impressive 8-2 record. He gives us a firsthand account of the rush in the ring and the daunting pressure of holding his own against the toughest competitors. As we dig deeper, we uncover the harsh realities of financial struggles and the looming risks that could abruptly end a promising career. This frank conversation will give you a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the life of a boxer.
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“They only see the 1%, not the 99% of the work, training and effort that goes into becoming a professional boxer.”
MEDIA RELATED TO THE EPISODE
Johnny “The Greek” Birmpilis (Γιάννης Μπιρμπίλης) sits down with George Stroumboulis in Toronto, Canada on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things Professional Boxing, Fight Money, Concussions, Training and Perseverance.
Johnny “The Greek” Birmpilis (Γιάννης Μπιρμπίλης) sits down with George Stroumboulis in Toronto, Canada on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast.
Johnny “The Greek” Birmpilis (Γιάννης Μπιρμπίλης) sits down with George Stroumboulis in Toronto, Canada on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast.
Johnny “The Greek” Birmpilis (Γιάννης Μπιρμπίλης) sits down with George Stroumboulis in Toronto, Canada on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast.
Johnny “The Greek” Birmpilis (Γιάννης Μπιρμπίλης) sits down with George Stroumboulis in Toronto, Canada on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast.
ABOUT THE “INVIGORATE YOUR BUSINESS” PODCAST
The Invigorate Your Business with George Stroumboulis podcast features casual conversations and personal interviews with business leaders in their respective fields of expertise. Crossing several industry types and personal backgrounds, George sits down with inspiring people to discuss their business, how they got into that business, their path to the top of their game and the trials and tribulations experienced along the way. We want you to get inspired, motivated, and then apply any advice to your personal and professional lives. If there is at least one piece of advice that resonates with you after listening, then this podcast is a success. New episodes weekly. Stream our show on Spotify, YouTube, Apple, Amazon and all other platforms.
ABOUT GEORGE STROUMBOULIS
George Stroumboulis is an entrepreneur to the core, having launched several ventures across multiple industries and international markets. He has held senior-level positions at progressive companies and government institutions, both domestically and internationally, building an extensive portfolio of business know-how over the years and driving profit-generating results. George’s ability to drive real change has landed him in several media outlets, including the front page of the Wall Street Journal. George was born in Toronto, Canada to his Greek immigrant parents. Family first. Flying over 300,000 miles a year around the world puts into perspective how important family is to George’s mental and emotional development. With all this travel to global destinations, the longest he stays even in the most far-out destination is 3 days or less - a personal rule he lives by to make sure he is present and involved in family life with his wife and three daughters. To read about George’s global travels, stay connected with his blog section.
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FULL SHOW TRANSCRIPT
George Stroumboulis: 0:00
I'm in Toronto, Canada, sitting down with a professional boxer by the name of Johnny the Greek Birmpilis. This guy is insanely talented, has several knockouts under his belt and we're going to talk about the entire business of boxing what it means to be a professional boxer, the costs, you know, the drive, what's needed to be in this industry. We're going to unravel everything.
Johnny Birmpilis: 0:23
Everybody wants to see you winning, but when you lose you respect the sport more, you respect the opponents, you respect the mistakes and you don't want to do it again. But we've got something very big, very bad in our sport and we've seen through these. Many fights died or they became, like you know, handicapped. They cannot even function, they cannot think, they cannot talk. Now it's sad, but it's a part of the sport, you know.
George Stroumboulis: 0:46
So enjoy this episode of Invigorate your Business with George Strombolis, as we talk about the business of boxing.
George Stroumboulis: 0:57
My name is George Strombolis and I'm extremely passionate about traveling the world, meeting new people and learning about new businesses. Join me as I sit down with other entrepreneurs to learn about their journeys. This episode of Invigorate your Business starts now.
George Stroumboulis: 1:19
I'm excited to be here. I'm excited for you to make the time. I know you're busy, always in the gym, always hustling. We'll have a pre-intro to this and we'll put up all your videos and everybody will get to learn you. But the goal of today is to really learn who Johnny the Greek, the Belises, understand your background, really get into like just your lethal in the ring. You're a nice guy outside of it and I want people to learn about this industry. I know nothing about boxing, I don't know the economics of it or everything, but we're going to jump into this. I'm excited. Thank you for coming. Thank you for inviting me. Appreciate it, man. So tell the world who are you?
Johnny Birmpilis: 1:55
As you know, my name is Yanis Birbilis. I go by Johnny, the Greek Birbilis. I'm from Latissa, greece. I was born and raised there. I started fighting there and then I moved to Canada. Then I moved to the States like long story short.
George Stroumboulis: 2:08
Yeah, so you're everywhere. I actually met you probably over three years ago in Miami. Yeah, in Miami, yeah, and coolest thing, I still have the photo and cool spot Met you, I recognized you. So we started chatting and then someone else told me he's like, oh, he's the boxer. And then by the end of it I asked, hey, can we take a photo with my daughter? And you were just so cool, just great energy man, and I always find people that are lethal with their hands or no combat sport are usually the biggest gentlemen. Nice people Do you find that? in general.
Johnny Birmpilis: 2:39
Yes, I've been in this sport 70 years and I met a lot of people. You can't believe how nice they are. You can't believe this guy going to the ring and 10 upside down he's more changes like instantly and he became a different person. But outside of it I met only good people. The only thing we have is ambition. When I step into the ring, you change, but outside of it you know you're the person your parents raise you to be right, absolutely Nice and kind and polite For people who don't understand.
George Stroumboulis: 3:06
We have a lot of listeners around the world. Central Greece, central Greece, exactly the central part of Greece. Yeah, so you were born there, raised there and then when, like, I know you shared the story before but like, how do you get from playing soccer as a kid to wanting to punch people in the head? How do you make that transition?
Johnny Birmpilis: 3:23
I was going to high school and I had my best friend and my neighbor have to come back, take the bus again. I was taking two buses to go to school. Right, it was far away from our village. And I say, oh, which team are you playing? I was soccer. Because I thought he's still playing soccer. I said I don't play soccer anymore, I box. I think he said that that's it. My man got stuck there from the next day. I joined him, never stopped since. But did you know anything about boxing? Up until then, nothing, nothing. I never watched anything. I never watched Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali, because in Greece it wasn't that popular. Right, right, right, all the soccer. That's all we need to do. That's all we're doing, playing in the parks or outside the streets.
George Stroumboulis: 3:58
And.
Johnny Birmpilis: 3:59
I fell in love since day one. I started watching videos after. I love the process. The process you know since day one, the transition I got, how I learned my stance, how to put my hands, how I can move my head. I love the process, right Every day.
George Stroumboulis: 4:13
I love it a little bit more and you say when you were a kid, you start at 17?, 14., 14. And now you're 31. 31. So that's not a long time ago, but it is a long time ago, over a decade, of doing this. 17 years, 17 years. So walk us through. You're in Greece, right, like where do you progress? How do you end up in the States?
Johnny Birmpilis: 4:34
You know every time people ask me I get emotional. So I was in Greece and in Greece he had no future as a professional boxer. You know, I was very good amateur and I always start like my coach, asking me once after a championship say, yanny, what do you want to do after? And I was the same coach. I just want to be pro. I always imagine myself, since I started boxing, to hear my name in English and announcers calling my name and nowhere. You know, I was going back from school, I was going back from training and I was talking to myself, you know, like an announcer, like I was announcing myself. It's funny but silly and it's true. You know, that's that's how I started. And then I reached out to some people. I reached out to some people in Australia, some people in America and some people in Canada.
George Stroumboulis: 5:14
So while living in La Risa, you're emailing them, you're calling? No, I was texting them through Facebook.
Johnny Birmpilis: 5:18
Okay, like nothing very legit or very professional Facebook. I knew I search on Facebook and I search it out and some people replied to me from Australia. In America was hard then, because you need to visa, you need to be somebody, you need to show them who you are before they invite you. And in Canada I had a guy there in Canada, australia, the guys who were telling me if you ever come, let us know. So I was about to go in Australia two weeks before I come. The guy from here, my ex-man, was from here. He was like Johnny, I like your resume, come here everyone. If you ever come in Toronto, come and see me. After the weekend was Friday. The next Monday I booked the tickets Come on, and two weeks I flew here in Toronto. At what age? I was 25. Okay, I'm 26. And I showed up here. He didn't know anything. I told him I'm coming. He couldn't expect me to come. I showed up here. I speak no English. I knock off his door and he started laughing. Come on, he met all of his best fighters. Then they started laughing. They were laughing at me. They couldn't believe. I just showed up.
George Stroumboulis: 6:21
But laughing in that man, this guy's serious, he's ready, yeah.
Johnny Birmpilis: 6:24
Look at this kid. He told me he's coming, he's here, and at the moment the guy was talking to me so much and I was like no, I don't understand Me boxing. I was saying me boxing Like let me fight to show you who I am, right? That's why I was trying to explain to him. Right, that was the beginning of the story. I came here, he helped me, he gave me fights and my dream was also to go in America, right, because America is the mecca of boxing.
George Stroumboulis: 6:49
Yep, everything. It's a fight, exactly.
Johnny Birmpilis: 6:52
After three years successful in Canada. Here I beat almost everybody that put in front of me. I was undefeated. I was ranked number one for a bit in Canada as a foreign fighter.
George Stroumboulis: 7:03
For an amateur. Is that how it like? How does that?
Johnny Birmpilis: 7:06
work Professional, professional. So when you?
George Stroumboulis: 7:08
showed up here, were you already a professional fighter? Yes, from. Greece, yes I was one and all. I won five.
Johnny Birmpilis: 7:15
A win. Okay, it was a win. And I came here and there was people with better record than me and more experience than me here, right, but I beat them. You know I ran in the middleweight division, then I ranked number one in Canada and I was in New York and you know I was an international fighter coming here. Nobody knew about me and that's incredible, you know huge Greek community in Toronto, massive. They put me up because they will come and see my fights and that's good for business, the promotion, was there a lot of support from the community. Yes, okay, yes, even my ex manager. He was going to the Greek town. He was putting the poster of me and the people say, oh, he's Greek and you know, let's go support him. And people coming, what's the fight? I was sending a lot of tickets. In that sport you need to sell tickets. You need to sell if you want to go high, especially in the first steps. So my promoter has to say, oh, this guy can sell tickets after, so I can put them in the show.
George Stroumboulis: 8:04
You have to have the persona and self promotion Like yeah, exactly Okay.
Johnny Birmpilis: 8:09
Be good people, be kind, be polite and talk to them. Socialize good Right, it's very important, but people don't know that. The most people think you're a fighter just going to fight. Exactly, you know exactly. They see you on social media. They see you in YouTube. You're punching people, I see, but they don't know the real you.
George Stroumboulis: 8:28
That's the one second. They don't know the rest of the day Exactly. They're putting in exactly.
Johnny Birmpilis: 8:32
They see that 1% Right. They do this in the 99 behind the scenes Exactly.
George Stroumboulis: 8:36
Yeah, oh, that's easy for him. While you know, while we're sitting here, you're training all day. Every day we're gonna get into the professional, but what's amateur look like? So you start in Greece, you're in the amateur circuit. What does that look like? You have local fights and then how do you know, when you become professional, like, what are those steps to get there?
Johnny Birmpilis: 8:56
Professions, just choice if you ever want to make it right, if you want to do this world. But remember, in Greece the sports will do that good, except soccer and basketball. Yeah, boxing has no money In the end of the day, when you say profession, you gotta make a living out of it. Yes, right, so I was an amateur and in Greece, like you have club shows, you know, and you get some fights and after 15 fights you become a third division fighter. After 25 fights, second division, okay, 30 fights, we are the first division and you fight for championships. You take fights, you take experience and some people follow the the profession from there. Yeah, so we just been coaches or the neighborhood box again. They do that's a hobby when they are kids. I was fighting and I was. I was loving even more. Each time or winners or losses I was, I was loving it more even when you were losing in Greece.
George Stroumboulis: 9:45
Yes, of those 30 plus fights to get to the first division, you obviously had some losses as well.
Johnny Birmpilis: 9:51
Yes, exactly like I had 66 fights and I had nine losses 66 fights, nine losses only.
George Stroumboulis: 9:57
Yes, and of those nine people, like you're obviously learning from every defeat. Yes, because you know what when?
Johnny Birmpilis: 10:02
you're winning, it's comfortable, yeah, yeah, everybody likes you, everybody wants to see you winning. But when you lose, you respect the sport more, you respect the opponents, you respect the mistakes right, and you don't want to do it again. And I lost nine times as a amateur and do as a pro now and I, well I. It sucks, but they say you, you're learning, the break is how you could draw the outcome. Of course it sucks because you're losing, but you don't do the same mistake again. And me personally, I think I become better when I lose because I respect more aspect of sport. Right, I expect my opponent, I expect all the moments that will come, like this, and now I have less and less and less interest to lose. Now, yes, right, because I'm learning more every angle, everything, exactly.
George Stroumboulis: 10:48
That's incredible. So talk to me while we're talking about losses. So your professional record now here in North America as a pro eight to a no, yes, okay, and eight, how many knockouts of those eight victories for four knockouts. Just talk to me about that. Like what, what's that feeling like when you get that Knockdown of that person, your opponent, and they're just laying on the canvas?
Johnny Birmpilis: 11:11
what goes through you. One of the fighters said one time, and I would say I repeat again I hope everybody, everybody the world, they can feel at least one time that that level of happiness you get a time it's you can, you can describe it. You feel alive. I feel alive. You know, you feel like you, just you just born, you just step into this world where you feel like a god, you know, because you forget about how many people watching at the TV or how much crowd you have. You forgot about everything. Everything is dark, right, everything is just you and him and fighting and you see him down. Everything starts shining. You don't see people anymore. You see faces but you don't realize who it is. You see bright lights and it's like You're in paradise. You know really very exciting.
George Stroumboulis: 11:55
So let me ask you is when you step into the ring, is is your goal always to try to go for a knockout, like when you what's a victory to you? You want to make sure.
Johnny Birmpilis: 12:03
Yes, I want to make sure I'm gonna. I'm gonna get the victory, whatever it is, over the knockout or decision. But no, we don't go with the, with the KO. This I'm going to to be myself, I'm going to fight because I'm trying hard for it right, and I know I will show up. I will show up good, the fight night, right, and whatever the wind comes, it comes, but we don't change the knockout. If I see opportunity, yes, I might take it, I will try to take him down, but the other day we just want to win the fight you want to win the fight with whatever that course is.
George Stroumboulis: 12:31
It's incredible, dude, the way you Physically. You're not Massive tall guy, but you're shredded. The strength you have is insane. When I see you Punching these guys and knock them like that's just insane power man, how does it feel on the receiving end? Have you ever been knocked out in your career?
Johnny Birmpilis: 12:49
No, I've been. I've been sometimes easy and see but never been knocked down. I don't know how it feels about me. When I was a kid I got sometimes, you know, some body shots, some heavy body shots. People tell me a little bit crazy, but I like it.
George Stroumboulis: 13:01
When I get hit and I have, I like it.
Johnny Birmpilis: 13:02
You know it motivates me, you know, I just I'm gonna make sure you're not gonna hit me there again, you're not gonna help me again.
George Stroumboulis: 13:08
You're right, right, it rattles you, man, like even growing up playing hockey or getting in Fights in the part, like when you get that and you're just like stunned for a second. It it rattles your cage and you need a second to kind of figure it out.
George Stroumboulis: 13:21
Yeah, I've always wondered, like when you're in a boxing ring.
George Stroumboulis: 13:24
It's just one-on-one. It's not a team sport. Even though you have coaches and supporters and people in your corner, it's all on you that day, like that's just got to be tremendous pressure, like stepping into the ring.
Johnny Birmpilis: 13:34
I said to some, some of my younger fighters they have. We have to come up and say listen, sometimes you feel a lot of pressure and everything. But remember you need the pressure because In the boxing ring, when the bell rings, what everybody does, everybody takes a step out your coach, your second corner, the referee, everybody. When the fighter, that moment takes a step in. So I'm taking a step forward, everybody takes a step back. So you know you're alone. You're gonna get that pressure Right. It's very lonely, very strong moment because you see everybody's stepping out. You're stepping in. You know you're about to fight. You know the guy is in front of you, he's gonna punch you in the face and you got to do the same to him. It's it's not about yeah in the head.
George Stroumboulis: 14:16
So where does this come from? Like you're training, you can't be in better shape, right Like you're. You're shredded endurance, you're running. I see your stuff on social from Miami, living in LA just non-stop, right like you have to because you're a professional. Where's that motivation come from?
Johnny Birmpilis: 14:33
I don't think there's any motivation, just in discipline. Now, you know, it's the love of half of that sport. Maybe you can call that love motivation. Like my coach was, like I went my last five then I'm gonna say, hey, yummy, take two weeks up. You know, go chill, relax and say, coach, I can't right, I don't come to the gym, I'm not good, I'm not feeling good. I have love for this ball. You know, it's like my life. It's like I said to my friends, like I fell in love with this ball and never disappoint me. Yeah, way in a losses, it got me sad, but it never disappoint me. Really, I take what I give right. Yeah, I wasn't performing good, I lost, it's okay, I got it, I accepted. I'm a man, I take my wish, take my losses too, but the love of half this sport, I think, is there. If you can say motivation, have so much love. I never loved anything like that. It's. Boxing is a sport, right, but you gotta love it very much if you want to do it the way we do it. I do it as a profite. You know it takes everything out of you. It takes your life, takes your friends, it's your family, everything. You have to focus there, 200%. You have to to sacrifice everything else. You have to leave everything behind everything. Yes, you gotta focus there. This has to be your priority. You have to be the gym 365, 24, 7. People don't understand that, right, right, you have to know be drinking like the whole year round. You have, you have to be careful your diet. You have to be constantly. You die you know the whole year around you have to be die, yeah yes, people don't understand that, but it's is the love doing it, love about the diet. Yeah, the whole process is like still have me a lot. I'm still always a boxer 17 years, and if somebody talks about boxing, we can, they can say oh, I feel how much you love it still it radiates on how much you're.
George Stroumboulis: 16:19
Yeah, it's a part of me so let me ask you that you're boxing right now, what's the end goal? Because physically you can only box for so long, right? Yes, you're gonna get older, yeah you're gonna get older, but like, like, what are the next steps right now? So you have a fight coming up December, right, yes, so what's your progression?
Johnny Birmpilis: 16:36
like, what success to you success to me is like taking one fight at a time and winning, and keep going, keep going, keep jumping up to the rankings. And I want to get my title shot. At least I want to. I want to take that taste. I want to fight for a shot when I lose. I just want to go there I was dreamed about since I was a kid. So I want to do it. I conquer some of the dreams, I live them, but now when I go to the end of it, and that's a title shot, as your exactly.
George Stroumboulis: 17:01
And who's at the top in your division right now? Who's the top?
Johnny Birmpilis: 17:04
it's a terrible office, okay, so the best now as a Regis brothers David Haney just fighting out next, the next month too, and some guys from America. They're very, very good, the best, careful. It's a very competitive division too. Yep, and what's the weight?
George Stroumboulis: 17:20
class one 140, 140. Okay, super lightweight, super lightweight. So you have your goals, dude, that's, that's incredible. How does it work in the boxing world from to get a title shot? How many more wins do you have the position? Because boxing, this is one of the sports that I don't understand. I know other sports you win, you go to the next round, you win, you go.
Johnny Birmpilis: 17:42
This one varies, but like it's just very you know why because you've seen some people that have 35 fights, 35 and all like they undefeated, but they never got a title shot. It's the right fights. Right if I do one, two, three, four times and a win and I'm ten and no, but for the same paper, I thought I thought only bombs, nobody cares, nobody can give me the title. You have to win the right guys, the steps. So you're gonna fight a guy. Is that step for me, like the 15 and 2? The next time you want to fight the guys when we 25 and 2 and 3, you know you have exactly like a slot, it's like a ladder. Yeah, you have also find a guy a little bit better than the guy before and keep winning so you can reach the shot. Well, you can be at the rankings and the people can can give you the opportunity after because you ended, you fought the right guys right so you're.
George Stroumboulis: 18:30
You're professional, this is your full-time job like so you in your fights. That you've done that earns you enough money to be able to reinvest in train and not have to work. Or had it had I have to work.
Johnny Birmpilis: 18:44
You have to work, especially when you're a young fighter. You have to work. I never before I never had the manager to give me, you know, food or place to leave. Everything else is. I came here I had to work for my living. I have to support myself all on your own, exactly I have to support my life. So I found work. I start working to make money to pay my rent, to pay my food and focus on my training, because the training, only the training, or the fights I had there, the money couldn't provide me, the you know place to locate Toronto because everything is expensive. You have to do something to the side to make sure you have you have enough to support yourself, totally yeah.
George Stroumboulis: 19:20
So that's why I had to work and and you're in expensive cities Toronto, miami yes, they're not cheap cities right now if you went to Alabama, maybe, maybe it's the money is good enough yep, but you have to be consistent.
Johnny Birmpilis: 19:34
Now, if I took three times a year, you know I have enough money, right, especially a young fighter. You get what? five thousand dollars or ten thousand dollars first it ends with them not enough yep, so on average in this space, if you fight, you can make ten thousand in a fight, in a single fight yes, as a special you can start the first fights, the first professional fighters, like two thousand dollars, three thousand dollars, fifty hundred dollars, and then, if you win, you go after you get three to four thousand, they go five to six, and they go ten to twelve and then you go fifteen to sixteen. The numbers jump like crazy up, and after you take fifteen to sixteen you might go to forty right big jump yes, after forty go to 120.
George Stroumboulis: 20:18
120 thousand for one fight for one night, but on average three fights a year. Is that what you're seeing? Yes, or two, or?
Johnny Birmpilis: 20:25
two. Yeah, when you get like that kind of money, you get two times a fight, right. But if you take a fight for one hundred and one hundred thousand and you win, then it's probably three hundred thousand, right, you win that. After it's gonna go like one million. The amount of the jumps you have is crazy. If you get opportunity for one hundred thousand dollars and you lose, you might get once more. Maybe you're gonna get one more time. So you can see it wasn't, it was a mistake the first time you look okay, you take a turn, you win okay. But if you take it between twice and you lose, you don't get the money ever again.
George Stroumboulis: 20:55
So is that basically your career is done exactly. You decide if you know it's done.
Johnny Birmpilis: 20:59
But you get that kind of money right, you have to end your short after again. You have to fight three, four fights again with the low money so we can go up again. See, we need the right guys that's what's crazy to me.
George Stroumboulis: 21:09
Because you're paying for your trainers, you have an agent, you have a manager and you always hear this now, like if you watch about the whole YouTube stars fighting the professionals, even these big boxers at that level, they'll always say come on, you'll never make that money like you will in these fights and you sacrifice so much. Right to get in front of these fights. Right, like it's a hard grind, right every day, because you're paying for that, like you're fighting in Houston. Those are your expenses. Right, you're paying for flights, hotels, all that stuff.
Johnny Birmpilis: 21:39
I mean, most of times the promotions pay when they call you out, when they call you over there. But, yeah, the most of times I pay. I pay for my training camps, I pay for my flights, I play for my food. Food is expensive. You have to eat proper, you have to eat good food, the clean, organic stuff. Right, sometimes you need to go with different places to train in different, in different city. You have to rent a hotel or a baby there somewhere to live and you have to cook or to. If you have not no time to cook, you have to buy food. Yeah, which is more expensive to the flies, everything, everything. Your coach right, it has to be with you, have to make his food sometimes, because he's there with you do you get support.
George Stroumboulis: 22:18
So from the country community do you get a lot of support. It's like, yeah, we got this covered and here's food or here's flights or training camps, or like, how does that work?
Johnny Birmpilis: 22:30
No, people told me back then I should reach out to them. But I'm not the guy. You met me. You know I'm actually working. I can make my living right. I'm not the guy I'm gonna come and ask somebody hey, support me here, or can you support me? If they want to help it, I'm open to it, right? I will put the logo in my t-shirt, in my shorts. I will do the social media like buy for them. I do everything, but they have to tell me. I'm not going to ask somebody to give me money to support me. I'm going, I'm healthy, thank God, and I'm supporting myself. I work to make a living. It makes it nice, it makes me, it makes me more passionate about it. You know, because I have to work, I have to struggle, right, I have to save money, I have not to spend money so I can support myself there, which takes more absolutely well. Yeah, you appreciate it more, like you said before, when you're at the top you get comfortable, exactly, and then you have everybody's door, everybody coming there, support you more, you already have enough, then you don't care that much, yeah the thing is the people that support you the beginning. Listen, thank God. All the Greeks around Toronto, la or Miami I've been the supporting would just be there and watch my fight and which is a big deal. Right, exactly a big deal, you know when I came here nobody knew me and even in my first fight if you see some videos or the whole stadium was Greek. Greek flags everywhere people calling people calling my name. People are never met in my life. Yeah, they call my neighbor that have a picture with me and I appreciate that.
George Stroumboulis: 23:54
I love that, you know you were getting that support back in Greece.
Johnny Birmpilis: 23:57
No, right, and then you come here man the the community here in Toronto.
George Stroumboulis: 24:01
I'm born here, I don't live here now, but I explain like it's so concentrated, people are so proud, like it's it's magical, and then they get behind the heroes. Right, they get behind the people they want to cheer about. Yes, exactly.
Johnny Birmpilis: 24:14
Listen as Greek, I think everybody's a little bit excited. You, you don't succeed because you're Greek. We have that kind of like. You know, we want to show some love to the people, that Greek man go high. But here, especially in Toronto, I saw different kind of love. I was going out and people telling me oh, he's there, he's the boxer, don't let him pay, I will pay his food. I was going out for a dinner. I was going for coffee. People, people, my coffee, because, it's amazing, I was the Greek guy, the Greek fighter. They were saying you know, they get boxes, so you're representing a country man.
George Stroumboulis: 24:43
Exactly, it's a. It's exactly, it's the whole country behind you right, you find the tv.
Johnny Birmpilis: 24:47
Let's see the flag of the tv. I came from a small city in Greece and in Miami and they see me entry, you know, with the Greek flag inside the ring amazing. It's a big thing for Greece, for all of us right and me and all the people they're doing that because we have some other Greek fighters too is, I think, is the best we can do, absolutely, you know. So, like Greece will stay here, we'll see fighters, we'll see warriors.
George Stroumboulis: 25:09
Yeah, man, you're, you're, you're a machine dude. Let me ask you about concussions. How, how do you protect yourself from that? How do you know when too much damage to the head is too much?
Johnny Birmpilis: 25:21
you know what I mean yeah, listen, this is something you don't know. Every, every time before we fight, we take a CT scan. Okay, oh, every, every time, every time before I fight. So you have to make sure you're healthy, you're okay. You do get hit a lot, or whatever. Your, your brain is functioning up and doesn't have any any space for, for injury, because we know concussions are very bad. Yep, and as my coach said, every time you get hit it shortens your life, even if you block the hit sometimes, you know, because you can ask any doctor if you want the hand, it's no matter be hit right, right, we do that in a safe and everyday basis, which is not good. So the less heat you take, the more protect, the more you protect yourselves. That's how you can avoid concussions. But concussions something very big, very bad in our, in our sport, yeah, and we've seen through years many fighters died or they became, like you know, handicap they cannot even function or they cannot think, they cannot talk. Now, it's sad, but this is part of the sport. You know, every sport has injuries, everyone. Football too, american football too. But the less heat we get, the more safer we are, the more functional, the more you can keep using your brain, you know your, your nebs, everything right, everything will be okay if you don't get hit enough. Sometimes you get hit enough and you have to know oh my god, it's done, not just concussion. You know some people have eye problems. You hit them with the head, the eyes start popping out right away. So you know this guy has to retire.
George Stroumboulis: 26:46
His body cannot take it, no more you have a good corner, though that tells you exactly right. You gotta surround yourself because you you're so passionate and everyone like you. Where it's like, you may go and just keep taking it, because you know you'll fight out of it and whatever.
Johnny Birmpilis: 27:00
Yeah, but the coach he has to save you there. Your coach, your team has a and he's showing up. You got hit enough. You know, bob, yeah, stop the fight. They have to descend. They have to see you. You might get mad at them because they stopped the fight. Because you're a fighter, you want to fight now, and tomorrow again, yes, but it's not. It's not the proper thing you should do. It's not the right thing you should do. They know that. They know, that, yes, the team can protect you better than you can protect yourself, because they see it differently, from a different angle. You don't see that angle, especially when a fight. It's okay if you give me 10 punches or whatever and you hit me hard. I'm not gonna stop some people the referee or the team and say, hey, I must stop the fight. It gets hit a lot. Right, that's how well, that's how a way avoid it, which is great.
George Stroumboulis: 27:41
I didn't know about the CT scans, too, to see where you're at.
Johnny Birmpilis: 27:44
No, of course you have to see the scan I, I exam and black work always before the fight, always okay so let me ask you in a street fight now, how?
George Stroumboulis: 27:52
how dangerous can you be in a street fight versus like, if do people come up to you and try to start fights because they know you're a boxer? You know a lot of people, yeah, so I live in California, newport Beach. Next to it is Huntington Beach, and if you go out there to a bar or restaurant, whatever, most of the guys have or a lot of them have cauliflower ears because a lot of the MMA fighters are right there yeah, so wrestlers, yeah, your wrestler. So when you see that you're like all right, man, I'm not that I go out and start fights. When I'm like ah, if you step on my shoes, I'm good, just keep walking. When you're out and people know your boxer, do people try to start with you or try to prove themselves here in Toronto and in Miami, in LA, I never saw I never.
Johnny Birmpilis: 28:33
I mean in America, I never saw that. I never had that experience. People always suspect you because you're a boxer. People know more about now here. They expect you more. They don't try to cause a problem, they like to get to know you. Yeah, but in Greece, since it was, yeah, everybody wants to prove themselves jealousy. Why is he? Yeah, so the kids they want to be. You know the the gangster, or he's a boxer. Let's see, I'm gonna beat him up tonight. They happen many times. People have tried not to be to my friends too, you know, but they don't understand. Like one punch, one of our punch, it can change their life. That's why I mean we don't, we don't fight outside, right, right, I've been, I've been spitting the face before, I've been called names, I've been slapped and I just laughed because I knew if I let my hands go, I will have them and then I will feel sorry about, I feel bad. Yeah, because you have to go to this kid's mother and tell him, hey, I hate him. Or see, she can come. She will come to you and say, well, he's my son. So hard she didn't know the story behind it, it's okay. So don't speak to me. Okay, talk to me, especially here in Toronto. People are behind the wheel, they have a road rage. Yeah, oh my god, they're swearing at you this and say you know I'm sorry when he wasn't my father. I'm sorry. Yeah, so to let them calm down, because something we want to fight 100%, you know they want to prove themselves, but they don't know who is the guy that the other guy inside exactly.
George Stroumboulis: 29:52
You never know, man, and that that's just a lesson in life. On the other side too, fighting aside, when you're somewhere, the waitress is being rude to you. The guy cut you off and he's yelling at you and they're going crazy. I always sit back and I'm like man, they're probably having a shitty day or a shitty life. You don't know what that person's going through, like I. Honestly, it takes a lot unless you're harming my kids or my wife takes a lot for me to just kind of where I see other people and then someone cut them off and they just want to murder them. I'm like what's going on? Just chill. Yeah, you know, everyone's so high, strong now, especially with like the economy, everything, everything, all this problem the world is taking out everybody.
George Stroumboulis: 30:33
I've seen that before I've seen it to me.
Johnny Birmpilis: 30:35
I've seen two friends I was out with all. The guy was rude to the waiter. She's right, because she's the waiter. She's been working here all day. You know she's tired. Yeah, since she said, like probably 150 people today, give us some space. Okay, yeah, she forgot those didn't stay what she wasn't, she wasn't polite enough. It's okay tomorrow, come tomorrow. She will be polite tomorrow of not, if not tomorrow, the day after, but when you have clear mind, like as we do the fighters. We go to the gym every day. We will fight every day. We fight ourselves. We don't have ego anymore. Yes, they're had the same process with some guys in my gym. We have no ego, george. You believe it, or we have no ego. That's crazy. It gets blues, gets beaten down, and you have to come up and people looking at you like you're the loser. You lost. How you have ego after that? You know Nothing. No ego, no pride. It goes away. When I was kid I had, or I'm, a boxer, but now people know, people see me get beat up, so what?
George Stroumboulis: 31:31
happened. Yeah, that's incredible that you put yourself in that and you have that attitude Right. And then we're sitting on the couch drinking a beer and really I could. That was he shouldn't of it. It's kind of like sports to. It always cracks me up when I hear comments from people outside of the ring or the the field. It's like man, you're not in there, so just enjoy it and shut up Right. Like you're putting yourself out there to get in the ring to take a beating, to give a beating. Like it takes a special type of person to want to do that.
Johnny Birmpilis: 32:01
Yeah, people ask about the accomplishments, right, and I always tell them my biggest accomplishment. It's like I stopped caring about what people said Saying to me because you're winning, you're the best, george, you're the best boxer in the world, you're losing. I keep talking shit. But you know, my father said you have one year, so let's go through here. Goes out the other year, right, you know so it was very hard me. I was a kid. But now even friends it'd be my family. Sometimes they don't like the way I found or the way I do things and don't listen to them. No, it became, it became a thing for me. So I can work on myself, right, but I don't let people's possession to tell me who I am yeah, I don't know who I am. My loss. To tell me, yes, okay, I lost, and what. They have nothing to say. No, how did you lose? The last fight I lost was a better man. That fight, if you want that night. They have nothing to say. They don't know what that's to say. They want to say that to you. They want to make you feel bad or they want to make they want to make people around us feel they're better than you.
George Stroumboulis: 33:01
Which is it's just ugly.
Johnny Birmpilis: 33:02
It's always an everything like this you win or you lose. I won or I lost. You talk about me, so who's the loser here exactly?
George Stroumboulis: 33:10
exactly. I mean you're, I'm in your mouth technically why?
Johnny Birmpilis: 33:13
are you? Yeah, so who's the loser here? That's a great attitude to have look how many people around here you talking about me. I lost or I got knocked out or I won what I know. This guy out where you talking about me. So who's the loser?
George Stroumboulis: 33:25
here again, 100% it's very hard, it's very strong, but this is real confidence coming from you. Again, the little I know of you and what I see and whatever, like you're very confident, but not not cocky. It's the yeah man onto the next one. Like you have this killer mentality where it's like dude that's gonna transcend, which I want to ask you, like post boxing, what's next for you after I know you're in the middle of it? You're gonna have a tremendous career. You're gonna continue. Like what else Gets you excited that when, when you have to hang up the gloves, what are you gonna get involved with?
Johnny Birmpilis: 33:59
Listen, I was. I was a business guy, you know, working in many restaurants. I've been a server before, I've been a manager Restaurant. I was looking for that perspective there to open my own thing, to open my own restaurant or my or cafe, my own bar. Yep, because I'm good with the business. I'm good with socializing with people. You know me and I have a lot of friends. I have a lot of people know me. I've been around the world so I've seen different cultures and I, if I try to mix that to make like a nice coffee or a nice restaurant, nice breakfast place, I will be doing that. About boxing, I don't know I would be around if I want. I won't be a coach. I don't want to be a coach. People say, and my closest, you're, you're gonna be a good coach on Dave, you decide I don't want to be coach because I get emotional with it. You know, okay, and I can be as a manager, I can promote and I don't know about that yet. Yeah, cuz you're still in your career. Now yeah probably the next step is gonna be me investing the money into the business you know Good for you, like restaurants or something, so I can get in nice income and, yeah, keep living my life, or whatever it comes. Where do you want to live the rest of your life? Listen, that's the best question, people. I I thought you know I'm from Greece Every say is beautiful or whatever. There I came to Toronto. Everybody says cold and snow. I want to lay all the most beautiful city. I want to Miami or I scot all year round. You love it, but I think I want to live my life in Toronto. Yeah, let's go, come on. I'm beautiful city, beautiful people, kind polite Education, so many things, kind of. Now Toronto became number number second city in the whole world like place to live.
George Stroumboulis: 35:26
Yeah, it's that's amazing Right.
Johnny Birmpilis: 35:28
Yeah, everybody's work. They have work for everybody.
George Stroumboulis: 35:31
But you say that to many people here, they're like you're crazy. I live in California now. Fine, physically beautiful place. I Like the States, it's a nice place, right? I'm Canadian, born in Toronto and Pre-pandemic we were thinking of moving back with my kids and family and then pandemic happened. I'm like I don't know. That's the way right, non political statement. But even last night I'm at this event and they're like oh, california, like guys. I miss Toronto. Like Canada in general, it's like four seasons. People are genuinely, genuinely nice. You'll find your random asshole anywhere like genuinely culturally embedded. It's like nice people, good Values, right. I miss that that side of it. And Canada in general. Toronto just gets a bad. A lot of people here like ah, the weather sucks, it makes me miserable, but that's anywhere you go to LA, then you're gonna hate that, you know, it's always sunny, all those always homeless people everywhere there's always always something.
George Stroumboulis: 36:29
I never see what was something.
Johnny Birmpilis: 36:31
But no, I found myself in Miami. We're asking what are you from? I said from Toronto. And Toronto is the second home for me because when I came here, nobody knew me. Right, I was nobody. I never found on TV or whatever. I came here I found the huge stadium in the Greek community. People come support me. I found the TV and Everywhere I will go here, people know me. Toronto, for me, is the second home, is make me feel like when. What grease didn't make me feel all these years? That's where Toronto is also my heart. Yeah, it's amazing. And I say to people home is where, where the people you love are, or the people they love you. It can be here, greece or Miami. If you have people they love you, miami you feel home. It's home for you, absolutely for each one. Yeah, it's cold or whatever.
George Stroumboulis: 37:18
Toronto's beautiful. It's beautiful man, and what?
Johnny Birmpilis: 37:20
you want to get on a plane and go to the Sun. You go Exactly in two and a half hours, you're there. You're there.
George Stroumboulis: 37:24
Oh, absolutely, man, and the city loves you, right. Like that's exactly that's good. So we have Yanis. We got to bring the other Greek Yanis I did the cool ball to Toronto. Will create a nice little Community here it's more Greek community. Exactly, move over Drake right. A couple more things I want to ask you just. We talked a bit about the YouTube fighters and that whole. What are your thoughts? Do you think that brings more attention to boxing in general?
Johnny Birmpilis: 37:50
Definitely. Psi, logan, paul, jake, paul, they bring a lot of people. We don't know, you cannot see that, but we sure they bring a lot of people. Big community because this guy's a famous and the people are saying, behind the computer, you it's not the kids that go into the gym and train every day, so it brings even more people. They never walk out again. They never even thought about being in a boxing gym because they're behind computer the whole day. That's that's how we grew up. They grew up and now they keep coming to the gym and they keep training and they keep practicing and their kids and they have future and they can sit differently the more rest of the body is different, right, so they do like 300 percent. They do very good. These guys promote in boxing. Absolutely. They make good for sports. Yeah, absolutely.
George Stroumboulis: 38:35
They do it. Yeah, and growing up it was always like Mike Tyson. I'd watch some stuff. I was never a big boxing fan. And then, when Lennox Lewis was, out of here in Toronto, yeah. Canadian pride, then kind of nothing for me. And then now I found myself even paying for a couple of fights to see who Logan's fighting Mayweather what like. It's cool for that. It's definitely bringing attention from someone who's not a big boxing fan, but technically it's such a unreal sport to break it down.
Johnny Birmpilis: 39:05
Anything else on your end?
George Stroumboulis: 39:07
that you know promotion wise. So what do you do to promote yourself and draw more eyeballs to your fights coming up?
Johnny Birmpilis: 39:13
I just saw myself how hard I'm working, like my do or my 30th training today when I did my final come so I can promote them, so I can make people see all this guy working hard who must watch. His next fight is going to be good, it's going to be ready. You know, something new is coming from him and the way I promote myself through social media and through all kind of media that come in my way, you can try to promote them. That's why you have to do and you know being around and talking to people and people they know you say, oh, I'm fighting now in Houston, oh, I'm fighting now in LA, I'm fighting now in Miami, so that people can come and support. You can take at least a little bit. At least you can get one more viewer. Yes, you know to. To sell a bit more and to make more people to see you, to reach out and see what you and what's the work you know when you're going to see the fight night.
George Stroumboulis: 39:59
Yes, so to our listeners and viewers. Right? This is on all streaming platforms YouTube, everything, social media clips get thousands of viewers collectively, right. How can they support you? Is it so your next fight coming up? Is it going to be on, is it doesn't that?
Johnny Birmpilis: 40:15
No, there's, no, there's, no, there's no time, because show time is going to be the last year they promote in fights. Oh, really, mma or boxing is going to be the last. That's what I said so far. I don't know the details yet. They can see me on social media, especially Facebook, twitter or Instagram the most important, yeah and as Johnny Birgielis, they can see my, my career. I want to fight. I always announce when I'm fighting or where I'm fighting, which show, which promotion, which city. I was do that because I want people to, I want more people to to see me fight. You know, absolutely perform that night and, yes, they can try to meet there, they can see me there, they can follow me there, they can support me there. For all your Greek viewers and people, that was in you I'm more than welcome to meet every single one of them in person and take a photo of them and do everything with them because, as a Greek, if I can, if I want to lay, I met so many Greeks, very, very. I went to Miami, stayed to the Greek church. I love all the Greek people. I like it, you know. I like meeting me. I like meeting my own kind, absolutely. I think everybody does, absolutely.
George Stroumboulis: 41:17
I'm just saying that it feels at home Right. It just feels right you know, it feels good to speak your own language, sometimes. Absolutely, man, absolutely the promotion side, this fight coming up in December. Right now, just walk us through what's training look like. And then, physically, when you're there, what's your two days, three days, no girlfriends like? Is that all true? No sex, yeah it is true.
Johnny Birmpilis: 41:40
It is true the last two weeks for sure, you don't get any girlfriends, any sex, nothing. You have to keep that energy. You have to keep that passion, that fire, like for the fight night. Save all that, exactly, save all the energy. If it is more than sense you can save, you save it OK. Ok, you have to put it out one night because you might have one moment to get out.
George Stroumboulis: 42:01
You need to take it out that moment, because you might have no opportunity after right.
Johnny Birmpilis: 42:05
The two days before and the week before is very hard because you cut him weight. Everybody's cutting weight and it's very hard. You don't need a lot, you lose a lot of sweat, you don't drink a lot of water anymore and it's very hard process.
George Stroumboulis: 42:17
It's torture Like you're miserable going into that fight. Yes, of course.
Johnny Birmpilis: 42:22
The fight before the weekends. We say the fight starts at the weekends, right the day before the weekends. I cannot sleep, nobody can sleep. Jesus, you show up and you have a black black, six-eyed eyes. It's bad. You cannot sleep because it's stress. You lose your weight, you're hungry, you can't even drink water. Anxious, right, anxiety, anxiety. You can't sleep. You're thinking about too much. You're thinking about if you lose or if you win. If you lose, how you're going to lose. Everything goes through your mind. Everything, everything is ahead, everything. You have to control it, to let it down. But it's hard. If I get close, you believe in. More you feel it, more your skins get irritated. You know, yes, it takes a lot.
George Stroumboulis: 43:03
Dude, you see your passion when you talk about this. Like that's the difference between pro and just someone who, like you're obsessed with this.
Johnny Birmpilis: 43:10
Like it's incredible to see that you know it's the process, it's the time it will come One day if I have kids. It was my time. I was there. You know that moment. I lived there, that moment. You saw now YouTube me fighting. I was there. I found that. That's why it's going to stay alive. You know the moment. We are alive and we spent what we did, what we spent here, right, and I want to be able one day to say my kids if I ever have kids like, hey, I live my moment, I live my past. I live the fight I found, I won, I lost, I did it. You know I'll be proud of myself. Send that to my kids. And the other day, I don't care about the people around us, nobody actually cares but the people are close to you. The family you have, the family you want to create, that's the most important, that's it. You own your kids. Look at your eyes, say, oh, look at my dad. He did. You know he was the guy at once.
George Stroumboulis: 44:00
Absolutely, so you're already creating that legacy for the next generation before you even start your family.
Johnny Birmpilis: 44:05
Yes, like that's forward thinking and if you see me, you follow me on social media, all the people tell me oh, you inspire me. Oh, good, inspiration. I always want to inspire people, right? Because I have friends, I have family members too. They go to city and they never went for what they want. And look at me, guys, I left the city, I left my village and I came to America and Toronto, in the beginning to chase my dreams. It was a dream. Nobody believed me. My own mom yeah, george, my own mom told me don't go. My own mom, my own father, told me don't go.
George Stroumboulis: 44:37
We didn't talk about that. So you're leaving, not the end again. I get it, especially Greek parents. It's like they want the safe route Go study, go get this, go do that. So you come up with I'm going to be a professional boxer. What are you crazy? What's their initial reaction?
Johnny Birmpilis: 44:52
Yeah, you crazy. After the first time I came back home and I had marks all over my face red marks, black eye and mom said don't ever go back there again. My dad said that's OK, it's OK, nothing will happen to him. After a week, again the same thing, mom, she was pushing me to stop. She never wanted me to do it. I thought probably 90 times. So far mom never watched me fight. Oh really, she can never watch me fight. It's crazy, my mom. The last fight I was on TV. I was on the zone and all my friends went to my home back in Greece and I watched with my sister and my family. Mom was watching everything. When the referee said box, mom went to the room. Stop praying, come on, man. She couldn't watch. I had to say that's my mother. She cannot see me get ahead or get in. She never watched me and she never will.
George Stroumboulis: 45:40
That's adorable though, man.
Johnny Birmpilis: 45:41
She cannot do it. But it's really hard to say you're on, you don't flesh and you don't kid your own people getting hurt.
George Stroumboulis: 45:49
Yeah, it's still your, her baby.
Johnny Birmpilis: 45:51
You know what I mean? That's her.
George Stroumboulis: 45:52
Exactly so. When you have kids in the tocalo and your son wants to get into the sport, you support them, yeah but I won't push them, you won't push them, I won't push them Like this is your life, this is your path. You're not trying to.
Johnny Birmpilis: 46:05
If he wants to be passionate on go boxing, I make sure I teach him the right things or the mistakes I did. I tell him what my mistakes are. He's not going to do the same mistakes. Right, he can do his mistakes, but I want to make sure he's not going to do my mistakes. He's allowed to do his own mistakes, but if he asks me, I will never push him to both. So do whatever you want, as long as you're happy. If he loves boxing, I will support him 100%. If he loves to be an architect, I will support him 100%. He wants to be a doctor? Support him 100%. Whatever he decides, if he doesn't want to be a boxer, I will just make sure he's not going to do the same mistakes I made.
George Stroumboulis: 46:38
Right, which is great. He's going to have that insight.
Johnny Birmpilis: 46:40
Yeah, he's going to have some kind of help, some kind of like back on story.
George Stroumboulis: 46:43
Yeah, Let me ask you. And again, man, thank you for your time. This has been awesome.
George Stroumboulis: 46:47
Thank you.
George Stroumboulis: 46:48
When you get into a ring, it's kind of, in life and business too, you can tell by people's eyes Whether I feel like this person is trying to fuck me over or I don't trust this person or whatever. When you get in a ring and it's just you guys, everyone pulls back. You guys pull in and you look at that person in the eye, like, have you ever been intimidated by someone in a ring just by seeing their story and their eye, like, once you connect and it's like, ah fuck, this is going to be a tough fight. And then, on the flip side, have you ever? When you walk in, you just know that you got this person mentally.
Johnny Birmpilis: 47:20
Right, Like once you connect that, I feel like fuck man, it's a different story, you know. Yes, I had many moments like this, but me and the waiting and the waiting, when we face each other. After the waiting, I can see Agar, this guy. I already bit him mentally the way I was looking at him. I saw his eyes changing, you know, and I saw a guy before the most of the time I see him, I go it's Agar. So I looked deep in his eyes. He couldn't see me. So I got him. I won already. But one time I had a guy, a guy from Argentina. The guy wasn't cared, he had the bad boy reputation and I was looking at him at the whole waiting and I couldn't get any out of it. He wasn't talking, he wasn't moving, I couldn't get no reaction. So this guy's actually going to be tough and I had a tough night. I ended up knocking him out on the fourth round.
George Stroumboulis: 48:05
I had a tough night but I knocked him out.
Johnny Birmpilis: 48:07
And yes, I had a tough night. The guy gave me a fight, he cut, I cut both of my eyebrows, right and left. No way, four stitches here and three stitches here. The guy came to fight and he saw me with the waiting because I couldn't see what's going to happen Most of the time. Mike Seuss, now I can see, oh, I got it, oh, I already won, but this guy I couldn't see. He wasn't cared losing. He came to fight.
George Stroumboulis: 48:31
He wasn't cared if he was going to be wait or not.
Johnny Birmpilis: 48:33
He came to fight Gotcha Right. He came to give me a fight, which he did, and it's more appreciated because I'm a fighter too, you know.
George Stroumboulis: 48:40
Yeah, Dude, that's crazy. And then the fights that you did lose, like if you fought them again. What did you learn from those ones specifically? There's only two losses professionally.
Johnny Birmpilis: 48:51
Yeah, it's the mistakes, you know. I did the bad diet or I couldn't eat good, I was sleeping, I was resting enough, I already didn't train enough. All the mistakes I did, I don't do them this way. So I lost twice from different perspectives. But now you know it's less changed for me to lose because I learned from both. I think I learned from both. You know, or I'm learning, so I can put that in my game so I don't make that mistake again, right.
George Stroumboulis: 49:16
You know, I think it was okay.
Johnny Birmpilis: 49:18
I might get cut with a good puncher and somebody can knock me out, right, you don't know. As long as I'm learning and I'm improving my game, I'm okay with it and I'm confident enough. I'm self-confident. Lose or win. First of all, I have that tool here that says I always win. It means you win or you learn. You never lose, right. So, yes, loss is loss, but I learned something about it, absolutely.
George Stroumboulis: 49:41
As long as you learn something.
Johnny Birmpilis: 49:42
I don't consider it as loss. Right yeah, in my head I might say I lost. I don't care. I know who I am, I'm confident who I am, I'm confident what I can do next and I know how I can perform better now. It's a big lesson for me. I mean for everybody, but I'm talking about me, dude, you're inspiring.
George Stroumboulis: 49:59
That energy is like, and it's real energy, it's not fabricated. You know, december 1st is the fight. Yes, sir, yeah, I'm going to try really hard to be there in person because I would love to see that Houston Texas. I would want to date this episode, but we're going to follow you, support your career, man, and just keep rocking. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much Appreciate it brother. Appreciate it, man.
George Stroumboulis: 50:22
Thanks for listening to this episode of Invigorate your Business with George Strombolos. Please hit the subscribe and like buttons and follow me on all the main podcast streaming channels. Also, please share your comments when you can. I appreciate your help in expanding this network to a worldwide audience. Until next time, stay invigorated.
CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO
00:00 The Business of Boxing: Johnny The Greek Birmpilis
09:38 The Significance of Losses in Boxing
16:32 Boxing Career Challenges and Financial Struggles
19:20 Money Earned as a Pro Boxer
22:30 Support From the Greek Diaspora in Canada and the US
25:09 Concussions in Boxing and Protocol
28:23 Boxing, Public Perception, and Life Lessons
33:59 Business and Boxing
37:00 YouTube Boxers: KSI, Jake Paul, Logan Paul
46:48 Boxing Mentality and Learning From Losses
49:38 Learning From Loss and Inspiring Energy
advice on becoming a professional boxers
Becoming a professional boxer in the United States requires a combination of skill, dedication, and a step-by-step process. Here are the general steps and requirements:
Basic Boxing Skills: Before considering a professional career, you must have a solid foundation in boxing. This typically involves years of training and experience in an amateur boxing club or gym.
Age and Physical Fitness: You must be at least 18 years old to turn professional. Additionally, you need to be in excellent physical condition, as professional boxing is a physically demanding sport.
Get a Trainer/Manager: It's essential to have a professional trainer or manager who can help guide your career. They can provide you with the necessary coaching, strategy, and connections in the boxing world.
Amateur Experience: It's highly recommended to have an amateur boxing background. Competing in amateur bouts allows you to gain experience, build a record, and improve your skills. Successful amateurs often have a better chance of attracting attention from promoters.
Licensing and Medical Examinations: You must obtain a professional boxing license from the state athletic commission where you intend to compete. Part of the licensing process usually includes a thorough medical examination to ensure you are physically fit to compete.
Select a Weight Class: You'll need to decide on a specific weight class in which to compete. Different weight classes have different weight limits, and it's important to choose one where you can be competitive.
Secure Financial Backing: Training and competing in professional boxing can be costly. You may need financial support or sponsorship to cover training expenses, travel, and other costs.
Find a Promotion Company: To get bouts and make a name for yourself, you may need to sign with a professional boxing promotion company. These companies arrange fights, promote boxers, and handle many of the logistical aspects of your career.
Record and Rank: As you start winning professional fights, your record will build, and you'll earn a ranking in your weight class. Being highly ranked can lead to more significant opportunities and title fights.
Build a Fan Base: In addition to in-ring performance, promoting yourself outside of the ring is crucial. Social media, public appearances, and connecting with fans can help you build a following and increase your marketability.
Maintain Professional Conduct: Professional boxers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner both inside and outside the ring. Any misconduct can lead to fines, suspensions, or damage to your career.
Stay In Shape: Professional boxers need to maintain peak physical condition year-round. This involves rigorous training, diet, and lifestyle choices.
It's important to note that becoming a successful professional boxer is incredibly challenging, and competition is fierce. Not all amateur boxers make a successful transition to the professional ranks, and many professional boxers struggle to make a living from the sport. Having a solid support network, dedication, and a strong work ethic are critical to pursuing a career in professional boxing.
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