UPDATE

It is with heartbreaking disappointment that I am announcing to the public that I am medically unfit to compete in BOTB4 and have formally withdrawn. I suffered a knee injury 5/20 while sparring -- my right knee (supposed to be my good knee!) popped. I went to the ER that evening, went to an urgent orthopedic center the next day, and also went to my trusted orthopedic surgeon that same day to get answers. Thanks to him, I was able to get an MRI also done that same day.

The results I received Friday are grim — torn ACL, torn posterior horn of the medial meniscus, sprained MCL. I waited until Tuesday to talk to my trusted orthopedic surgeon about my options and to make a final decision.

Point blank: as of now, almost a week later and a few weeks from the fight, I cannot walk right and my knee is buckling and locking. I am afraid of others bumping into me. I stumble while walking inside a grocery store.

This is an abrupt ending to an otherwise enlightening journey. I want to take an opportunity now and share my full story. I had not shared all of these details because I did not want to be viewed at as being lesser than the other competitors. I just wanted to put my head down and work. I wanted to be treated like any other fighter.

I had actually started my boxing journey briefly at Back Bay Boxing in downtown CHS, right around the time BOTB1 was about to start. I saw some of the competitors there and thought it was really neat. It was then that I decided that I wanted to someday compete. While I was training there, I started feeling the constraints of my body from previous endeavors in my adult life (power lifting, flag football, Krav Maga). My shoulder would hurt very badly, and the left knee that had plagued me for so long since I was 15 would not allow me to do certain movements.

Regardless, I continued boxing for a couple months before the coach at Back Bay Boxing had to move on and close the gym due to various reasons. I was taking a lot of OTC medications to mask the pain.

I then tried to start training at Hurricane. I thought it was awesome. The coaches, the atmosphere, the gritty nature of the gym. Seeing the pictures on the wall. I really wanted to be a part of a match. Hurricane was the place to do it. But after trying a handful of classes at Hurricane, my injuries prevented me from training without significant pain. I opted to get these issues taken care of surgically because I had failed to get them resolved adequately through PT and exercise alone.

I first had a SLAP (labrum) repair in my right shoulder. Took over 8 months to rehab. I came back to Hurricane. I took some more classes. But my left knee (long history) was extremely painful. I couldn't throw a good hook or pivot at all. So I had two surgeries to fix that -- a partial menisectomy, and then I had a falling accident while recovering from that surgery. So I had to get ACL reconstruction as well, my third one in that left knee.

It took about a year to come back from both of those. My ACL reconstruction had some complications for a variety of reasons but thankfully I was able to make it through.

I had these three initial surgeries in a single year, so that I could chase the dream of boxing.

I worked through a lot of pain, mentally and physically in physical rehab. But I finally got to the point where I started doing some 1:1 boxing sessions at Hurricane before the BOTB4 bootcamp and felt better about my body, although certain movements were still difficult. Coming into BOTB4 bootcamp, I knew I had limitations. I couldn't throw a strong 8. I couldn't get down low on certain punches. I had to be careful pivoting. Bouncing on the balls of my feet proved difficult.

But I then decided to take the leap of faith and applied for BOTB4.

The boot camp at Hurricane was brutal. I had to push my body as hard as I ever have pushed it. I had pain in my knees, but powered through it. I continued to go to the gym to lift weights to help with my knees and shoulders. I stayed on top of my supplements, sleep, diet, and PT. I quit drinking alcohol completely in October.

Supplements -- multi, b vitamin, bcaa, eaa, turmeric, glucosamine, collagen. Sleep -- disciplined as ever, went to bed before my kids many nights. Diet -- cleaned this up a lot. Drinking -- as stated, I quit drinking completely since October. I have been doing PT 2-3 times a week since February.

After the boot camp, during fight camp, I had an initial incident in February where I strained my hamstring and was out of training for 3 weeks -- but I was able to rehab from that and continue training 4-5 days a week. I think I may have done something to my ACL at this point too as I had sharp pain in my knee and felt a pop then. But I was able to come back.

I couldn't run sprints or jump rope because of my knees. This is because in my other (left) knee I had 6 knee surgeries already. But I bought an assault bike ($1000), just for the purpose of boxing training, and I had been using that thing all the time. I needed to do interval work outside of the gym and this was my way of doing it.

But I digress... point blank, I have done absolutely everything in my power to ensure that I would be healthy and ready for this event. I have spent so much time, energy, and money towards this. I have been locked in from the beginning. I have no reservations about any of that. No one can tell me any different. My body in many ways feels better than it ever has.

In terms of my training schedule and logistics, I live in Mt. Pleasant. Hurricane is in James Island. I would go mainly to the morning classes, with an evening sprinkled in there. 4-5 days a week. 35 minutes to an hour to get to the gym each day, 35 minutes to an hour to get back. 10 minutes to get on my ankle braces, knee braces, and boxing shoes each day. I have sacrificed so much in terms of this season of life in order to chase this dream of being an amateur boxer/fighter. My family, my wife and kids, have been so wonderful and supportive as I had literally deprioritized them in order to chase this personal dream of mine.

Despite all of this, I know deep in my heart and mind it would be a disservice to myself, my family, my gym, and my opponent Mark if I were to step in that ring in this severely compromised state. Mark, I was looking forward to stepping in the ring with you, and I am deeply and sincerely sorry that I am unable to. I hope that I have given ample enough notice that the BOTB4 org can find you another opponent ASAP. I wish you the best and know you will put on an incredible fight.

In terms of next steps, I will have to get serious surgery done to fix these issues. Having done ACL surgeries before, I know I am in for a grueling rehab....again. I will be 35 next year and not getting younger. I realize that this was my one shot at this type of competitive boxing opportunity. I am heartbroken and devastated that I cannot see it through. I have not slept well this past Memorial Day weekend. In addition to not being able to fight in BOTB4, this also impacts all of my summer plans, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the nightmare I find myself in now.

Before I finish this post, I wanted to list a summary of what I feel are accomplishments, and I wanted to extend thanks....

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Raised almost $4000 to go to local Charleston charities
• Lost 20+ pounds without any drugs
• Blood pressure went from stage 1 hypertension to normal
• Made the promotional poster for BOTB4 (cool!)
• (Mostly) overcame my fears of stepping into the ring against scary, large, trained fighters (looking at you, Jarrod, Seth, Joe)!
• Chronic knee pain in my left (other) knee drastically improved.
• Since January -- 70 boxing classes. 19 sparring sessions, ~ 27 PT sessions. 29 assault bike sessions

THANK YOU:

To my family -- Crystal, DJ, and Claire -- thank you for supporting and understanding me, as I chased my dream. I love you all!

To the amazing coaches at Hurricane -- Coach Michael, Coach Josh, Coach Kollin, Coach Tim, Coach Heather, Coach Ryan, Coach Alshaun. Thanks for working with me, pushing me, coaching me, and making me the best I could be. I know I was a project with my joints.

To my big brother Jarrod -- you helped me in more ways than I can imagine and I am incredibly thankful for the lessons you gave me inside and outside the ring.

To my other incredible mentors in the gym-- Seth, Joe -- thank you for the pointers, tips, conversations, and the real life lessons in the ring.

To my awesome new friends and teammates -- Jarrod, Barbra, Josh, Cullen, Ashley, Ana Sofia, Maggie, Jenna. I had never been a part of an official sports team outside of recreational sports and it was really fun growing together. I hope that I have been able to impact your training positively and I look forward to supporting and watching each of you do an amazing job in the ring June 20th.

To Carolina Physical Therapy -- Erin, Liz, and Joe -- you all kept me going, despite how many miles were on this engine of mine.

To the BOTB organizers -- thank you for the opportunity. It was really awesome to be a part of it. I am sorry I could not deliver on fight night.

To my coworkers/friends -- thanks for supporting me as I had to adjust working hours at times and have had to take time off to support this dream.

And lastly, TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED AND SUPPORTED ME: Monica, Briana, Coach Ryan, Rachael, Mom, Doug, Holden, Matteo, Chuck, Rick, Ken, Marco, Peter, Kelly, Phil, Ben, Andy, Denis, Hutch, Michaela, Tim, Justin, RBZ, Dan, Glenn, Vanessa, Jeremy, Alex, Chandler, Aunt Kathy, Karen, Seth, Evan, and anonymous.

I AM SO SORRY THAT I AM UNABLE TO PUT ON THE SHOW YOU ALL DESERVE. TO EVERYONE WHO BOOKED PLANE TICKETS AND EVENT TICKETS TO WATCH ME FIGHT.

With love and heartbreak,
Dylan

Why I'm Fighting

After having three surgeries last year with a long road to recovery, I want to show my kids that you can do anything that you put your mind, body, and heart into. I have always wanted to step in the ring and can't wait to show my family, friends, and myself what I can do. I am very grateful for the opportunity to fight for such a great cause and will give it my very best shot in the ring. With how busy life is, for me it is now or never!

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Battle on the Bricks 4 is raising money for the Charleston Boxing Foundation, which supports the MUSC Children's Hospital, the Warrior Surf Foundation, and student athlete scholarships at the College of Charleston. Your donation will help support these incredible causes. Every contribution makes a difference!

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Fighter Information

Boxing Gym:	Hurricane
Occupation:	Principal Software Engineer
Fight Weight:	197 lbs
Age:	34
Height:	6'0"

Event Details

Date: June 20, 2026
Gym: Hurricane Boxing
Cause: Charleston Boxing Foundation