Michael Olajide, a former professional boxer from Liverpool, has lived a life far from ordinary. Rising to the top of his sport, he went on to train some of the biggest celebrities in the world, including Will Smith and Victoria's Secret models.
Early Life in Liverpool
Born in Liverpool in 1963 to Michael Olajide Snr, a Nigerian docker, and Olive, an Irish-Nigerian mother, Michael grew up on Botanic Road across from Wavertree Park. He recalled the area's challenges and diversity, telling the ECHO: "Right across the street from our house was a huge park... There used to be dog fights there, there were skinheads there. But it was also a lot of fun, there was a good energy – Liverpool was definitely like this melting pot."
His older brother David faced discrimination at school, but Michael noted that Liverpool was also extremely diverse, with a Pakistani family down the street who also encountered prejudice.
Move to Canada
When Michael was seven, his father moved the family to Vancouver, Canada, for work in the shipyards. Starting school in Vancouver was challenging, and Michael kept his Liverpudlian accent. He said: "I always wondered when I went to school, why people would look at me strangely. I never really understood why until many years later, and I realised that I had kept the Liverpudlian accent."
After his parents divorced, Michael and his sister Tracy lived with their mother, Olive, and lost touch with their father.
Boxing Career
Michael developed a fascination with boxing, inspired by Muhammad Ali. He reconnected with his father, who had set up a boxing gym in Vancouver, and began training. He represented British Columbia in the amateurs and fought world-rated American boxers.
At 23, he moved to New York, where his career "rocketed." He said: "I was scheduled to be the next big thing. Sugar Ray was kind of on his way out of the sport, and Mike Tyson was on his way up." Madison Square Garden bought his contract, and his first fights were on NBC.
In October 1987, he faced Olympic gold medallist Frank Tate, but a week before the fight, he sliced his index finger open on a water jug, requiring 20 stitches. He fought anyway and lost.
Fight at Trump's Taj Mahal
One of his biggest fights was against Thomas Hearns for the WBO Super Middleweight Title at Donald Trump's Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City—the first fight held there. Michael said of Trump: "When you meet him in person, you shake his hand and he looks you in the eye and he's the kind of guy you would like. What his policies are about, that is another thing altogether."
He lost the fight on points after 12 rounds and suffered a severe eye injury that left him temporarily blind in one eye. Combined with a rib injury, this ended his boxing career.
Career as a Celebrity Trainer
After boxing, Michael developed an exercise program that attracted major stars. He worked with the Rolling Stones, Mary J. Blige, and Victoria's Secret models Adriana Lima and Karolina Kurkova, as well as Iman, David Bowie's wife.
In a full-circle moment, he trained Will Smith for the Muhammad Ali movie. He said: "I worked with Will Smith on the Ali movie. It was amazing. He's really, really gifted, very talented, really focused. He did a great job in portraying Ali."
Michael now lives in Manhattan with his wife Maryann and their sons Alessandro, 29, and Kayin, 27, but has never forgotten his Liverpool roots.
