So, picture this: Jake Paul, the social media sensation turned boxer, and Ryan Bourland, Solano County’s boxing pride, walk into a ring in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Paul might have an overwhelming number of fans rooting for him, but Bourland’ has grit and determination which won’t let him back down from a fight. Now, they’re squaring off in a cruiserweight showdown, and everyone’s calling Bourland the underdog.
But here’s the twist – Bourland’s got the secret sauce, more ring experience under his belt than his opponent. Besides this, he also has his long-time coach Mario L’Esperance Sr. by his side to guide him. L’Esperance Sr. shares a special bond with his pugilist, mainly because both hail from the same place: Vallejo, California. So, there’s a certain brotherhood that exists in their relationship with each other. On this note, let’s learn more about Bourland’s coach.
The man behind bringing back Ryan Bourland to the ring
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Mario L’Esperance Sr. was a boxer himself and made his debut back in 1984. Then he was active for the next 15 years as a professional boxer and retired in 1999. During his long career, he won 18 fights, 10 of them via knockout, but lost six fights as well, and had one draw. So, he knows both sides of the coin very well and hopefully will pass his experience successfully to Bourland. However, he could never get a shot at a world title, still, he knows how to put down his opponents.
Furthermore, he currently has high hopes for Bourland and believes that no matter what people say, he’s got the upper hand against the Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. In an interview with KX News, L’Esperance talked about his bond with Bourland. He said, “He and I, we just sort of hooked up. I think that we click in a lot of ways. I see a lot of me in him and he sees a little bit in me.”
He even talked about his remarkable strength and power that could pose problems for Jake Paul. So, he’s quite excited for one of the biggest matchups of his boxer’s life, and he believes he’s ready to make his mark now.
Now, only time will tell, if something like that is possible for Bourland or not. Besides boxing, L’Esperance has seen a lot of ups and downs in his life. He’s been through a very crucial surgery and overcame it like a champ, and he’s also boastful about meeting ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali twice in his lifetime. This is one of the biggest achievements in any boxer’s life.
The life of Mario L’Esperance Sr. outside of the boxing ring
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Former boxer Troy L’Esperance, whose professional career was cut short by a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis two decades ago, faced a personal battle in 2020. A brain tumor, discovered behind his eye, has emerged as the most pressing medical concern, according to his daughter Brittany Millard. While a small neck aneurysm was also identified, the growing tumor takes priority.
L’Esperance’s MS is currently in remission, allowing him to discontinue two daily medications. As per the Times-Herald, he said, “I’m in no pain. I take low-dose aspirin a day and I’m enjoying life.” Then later in 2021, he seemed to be in much better condition when he stated, “I have seen the world and now I’m enjoying being a grandfather.” During this time, he even recalled meeting Muhammad Ali on two different occasions throughout his lifetime.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
He remembered, “The first time was just after he got sick and the other time was when his daughter (Laila) was fighting a lady that I helped train.” So now, L’Esperance Sr. is still on the quest of making his presence felt in the world of boxing by passing his teachings onto Ryan Bourland for the most important fights of his life. Do you think the experience of L’Esperance Sr. will come in handy for Paul’s opponent? Let us know in the comments section.
