How Curmel Moton went from crying in a bathroom stall to the world’s best young fighter

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Curmel Moton didn’t want his father to hear him. He didn’t want anyone to hear him or see him. So, he curled up and locked himself in a hotel bathroom stall, letting the tears slide down his face as he let the disappointment bleed through his eyes, trying to stifle his sobs. For a moment, his spirit was broken, crushed in the National Silver Gloves 70-pound final loss to a fighter named Breishaun Johnson, someone Moton had previously beaten.

It was then, Moton thought, sitting in that bathroom stall, that he felt destined to do something in boxing.

He was 11.

He swore to himself that he would never go through that gut-wrenching, gut-wrenching pain like that early February afternoon in 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Independence, Missouri. He would never lose another fight, he promised himself.

motto did lost again—five years later.

He hasn’t lost as a pro so far. He won more than 18 national amateur titles. He had a 156–7 amateur record. Currently he is the best young fighter in the world. The 18-year-old lightweight, who fights under the Mayweather Promotions banner, is powerful, fast and rising fast. Trained by his father, Curtis, Moton is 5-0, with four knockouts. On Saturday night at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Moton will face 25-year-old Hilario Martinez Moreno (4-4, 4 KOs) in a six-rounder on Danny Garcia’s Swift Promotions 11-fight card, partnered with Susan G. Coming to beat breast cancer.

To this day, Moton remembers who beat him nine years ago and how it set the stage for a renewed and arduous climb to the top. Mayweather knew about him when he was eight. Moton himself discovered the magic in his hands a few years later. The rest of the boxing world is catching up.

“Yes, I was that young,” he says. “That’s when I started taking boxing more seriously. I hate to lose, I mean I really hate losingand that loss (to Johnson) in the national final when I was 11 kicked me off. I even remember the child’s name. I would cry in the ring if I lost. When I was young, I didn’t know how to deal with losing. Then, after that national championship loss, I learned how to deal with it. I just cried. I got myself together. My father came to pick me up. I wasn’t about to show him I was crying.”

But Curtis knew. He could see the emotion and sadness in his son’s bloodshot eyes.

A week after the national final loss, Curtis “Curmey”, as he is known to family and friends, was back in another tournament in Branson, Missouri. Curmel won easily.

“I wanted to get him back to winning as soon as possible, but I remember that national tournament loss,” Curtis recalled. “He would always cry in the ring the rare times he lost. He doesn’t take losing well.”

The Motons are originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. Curtis had Curmel in boxing gloves when he was four, and in the gym when he was six. Part of the reason was Curmel was a whirling tornado in his youth, running over or through everything in his path. He was on the short, stocky side, like his father, filled with impetuous energy. The neighbors were afraid to bring their children over and told Curtis, “Please tell your child not to hurt my child.”

When Curmel was six, Curtis and Curmel moved to Las Vegas, where Mayweather came upon him in a few years. Otis Pimpleton, a highly respected Las Vegas-based trainer, literally watched Curmel’s boxing life emerge from his origins. Curmel was seven. Pimpleton then noticed Curmel’s inflexible work ethic and insatiable desire to learn.

“Because of his strict background from his father, Curmel always wanted to stay busy in the gym,” Pimpleton said. “Even at seven he wanted to keep learning. I would train all these kids and I would bring them to Floyd to see if he could help us get these kids to tournaments. Floyd made sure these kids were always funded, and made sure they could always get to fights. Curmel used to be very short for his age. He liked to take on bigger, older kids. He was short and stocky. Curmel was knocked down, but he always got back up and he was never outclassed. The kid is very humble and very respectful, and that comes from his father.

“He still wants to learn. He just turned pro. We have at least another 20 years. He has a lifetime ahead of him. Mel is like Floyd was. He never wants to stop working. That’s why the kid is as good as he is. He is special. There is no doubt about it.”

Curmel grew from the stocky, chubby kid to 5-foot-7. He is intelligent beyond his years, gentle, very approachable, very friendly and likes to knock people out. He has been labeled “Mayweather’s protégé,” although he wields far more power than the Hall of Famer ever had in his long, storied career. He is also willing to be patient while climbing.

He is a positive future of the sport without the baggage.

Curmel turns 19 next June 4. He finds himself the face of Mayweather Promotions—a good, friendly face.

It wasn’t that long ago that he was a crying 11-year-old, dabbing toilet paper on his face to wipe away the tears. He now fights in front of thousands on the undercards of major shows as he trends upward.

“If I could do that, go back in time to the kid who was crying in the bathroom stall after that loss, I’d probably leave the kid alone because it’s worked out pretty well so far,” Moton said. “I still remember how I was alone in that stall. It cracks me up every time. When I work and I get tired, I think about that time and don’t want to relive it. It gives me the energy to work harder. My time will come. I just have to be patient.”

And take the 11-year-old crying child in him along for what could be an unforgettable ride.