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World Champion
Jerry "Golden Boy" Trimble
I wasn't born fearless. I was a scared, bullied kid from Newport, Kentucky who struggled with self-doubt and insecurity.
Then I discovered Bruce Lee and the martial arts, and everything began to change.
Through discipline, determination, and the courage to face my fears, I went from a frightened teenager to becoming Jerry "Golden Boy" Trimble, a two-time World Kickboxing Champion.
But the greatest victory wasn't winning a world title. It was discovering that fear didn't have to control my life.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Inspired by Bruce Lee, I discovered martial arts as a teenager and began studying Taekwondo under Richard Hamilton in Newport, Kentucky.
I trained six days a week, sometimes four to six hours a day. At just 15 years old, I earned my first-degree black belt after only 18 months of training.
Taekwondo gave me something I'd never had before: a sense of purpose, discipline, and growing confidence.
For the first time, I began to believe in myself.
By 16, I was competing in tournaments across the country and had become one of the top teenage martial arts competitors in the United States.
FROM TAEKWONDO TO KICKBOXING
As a teenager, I discovered kickboxing and knew I'd found my next challenge. I began adding boxing to my Taekwondo skills, training with Terry O'Brien at Shamrock Boxing Gym in Covington, Kentucky.
On June 6, 1980, at 19 years old, I stepped into the ring for my first kickboxing match and TKO'd AAU champion Tommy Marshall in the fourth round, winning the Kentucky State Championship.
That victory changed everything.
I quit my job at Kroger's warehouse, said goodbye to my family and friends in Newport, Kentucky, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with one dream: to become World Kickboxing Champion.
THE RISE OF THE GOLDEN BOY
When I arrived in Atlanta, I joined forces with legendary kickboxing promoter Joe Corley and trainers Asa Gordon and Tony Mullinax.
I continued climbing the ranks, defeating Anthony Thompson to win the Georgia State Championship and earning a reputation for my speed, flashy kicks, and entertaining fighting style.
The Atlanta media took notice, and a nickname began to follow me: “Golden Boy.”
What started as a nickname became my identity in the ring as I continued chasing my dream of becoming World Kickboxing Champion.
I continued building my professional fighting career, knocking out Jimmy Falbo with a right cross in the second round.
After breaking my collarbone, I spent much of my recovery training in a shoulder harness. Just seven weeks after the injury, I returned to the ring and defeated Robert Visitacion to win the Southeast Lightweight Championship.
I also faced Mississippi Golden Gloves Champion Sam “Angry Man” Perry, knocking him down six times with trainer Asa Gordon in my corner.
PROVING MYSELF IN THE RING
After defeating fourth-ranked world contender Mark Gurley for the second time, his camp accused me of using performance-enhancing drugs.
I agreed to blood and urine testing, and the results cleared me of any drug use.
I let my performance in the ring speak for itself.
THE FIGHT THAT ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN
When I was scheduled to fight number-one-ranked world contender Tony “The International Tiger” Rosser, fear nearly got the better of me.
I seriously considered backing out. But after a conversation with my uncle Leroy, I made a decision: I wasn't going to let fear make that choice for me.
I trained hard for two weeks, stepped into the ring, and fought one of the best fights of my career.
I stopped Rosser in the third round with a jumping spinning hook kick followed by a right cross. Bang!
That night reminded me of something I've carried with me ever since: courage isn't the absence of fear. It's choosing to act despite it.
THE U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP
At 23, I faced Brooklyn's Tony Arneaud for the United States Kickboxing Championship.
After nine hard rounds, I walked away as the U.S. Champion, another major step toward my dream of becoming World Champion.
THE DREAM BECOMES REALITY
World Champion Leroy “Superfeet” Taylor wasn't giving me a shot at his title. So my team came up with an unusual plan: fight his brother, John Taylor.
I faced John and stopped him in the sixth round. Moments later, Leroy stepped into the ring and challenged me to a world title fight.
On April 26, 1986, at the Omni Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, I faced Leroy Taylor for the World Kickboxing Championship.
With Sonny Willis and Tony Mullinax in my corner, I defeated Leroy Taylor and achieved my dream of becoming World Kickboxing Champion.
Throughout my fighting career, I held world titles with both the PKA and PKC.
I was 24 years old. The dream that brought me to Atlanta had become a reality.
THE FINAL ROUNDS
Before my rematch with Leroy Taylor, I defeated European Champion Pascal Leplat.
To prepare for the rematch, I traveled to Houston, Texas, to train with Tim Hallmark, conditioning coach to boxing legend Evander Holyfield.
Leroy Taylor and I went the full 12 rounds. The fight ended in a draw, a decision that didn't sit well with the crowd.
My final professional fight was against Curtis Bush of Virginia. After 12 hard-fought rounds, that fight also ended in a draw.
After years of chasing championships and living my dream in the ring, I knew it was time for a new chapter.
I packed my bags and headed to Los Angeles to pursue another dream: becoming an actor.
Goodbye, fight game. Hello, Hollywood.
HONORS AND RECOGNITION
In 2018, I received the Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Award at the 50th Anniversary Battle of Atlanta.
In 2019, I was inducted into the World Kickboxing League Hall of Fame.
JOE ROGAN ON JERRY TRIMBLE
Joe Rogan and legendary MMA trainer John Hackleman discuss Jerry Trimble's kickboxing career and fighting highlights on The Joe Rogan Experience.
MICHAEL JAI WHITE ON JERRY TRIMBLE
Actor and martial artist Michael Jai White highlights Jerry Trimble's exciting fighting style and spectacular knockouts during an interview with VladTV.