06/18/2026
A Shared History in the Ring
Many of you know me as Sensei Steve, a Hall of Fame martial arts instructor, but my combat sports journey has deep roots in the professional boxing world as well. I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Anthony Ivory at the 2025 Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Anthony was a top-rated journeyman in his day, known for taking on—and toppling—several world-ranked fighters. He was also a top-ranked kickboxer in the Midwest. Our history goes back to 1989, when Anthony and I faced each other in a three-round bout at Ditka’s Restaurant in Chicago. The event was held at the restaurant owned by the legendary Mike Ditka, head coach of the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, and we even had the honor of having former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks—the man who famously defeated Muhammad Ali—in the audience that night.
It was an honor to celebrate Anthony's well-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame. It’s always special to reconnect with someone who shares that same grit and history from the early days in the ring.
