Episode #221
You Can’t Teach This: Coach Joey on Bam Ortiz, Work Ethic & Turning Pro
Subscribe for more interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@WeighingInWithTravisHartman?sub_confirmation=1 ___________________________________________________________ Coach Joey from El Rancho Boxing joins Weighing In with Travis Hartman* to talk about one of the most exciting young fighters in his gym — Brandon “Bam Bam” Ortiz — and what makes him different. At just 19 years old, Bam is preparing to turn professional on August 28th, but Coach Joey says the thing that separates him isn't simply talent — "it's his work ethic, toughness, discipline, and willingness to be pushed." Coach Joey breaks down the moment he realized Bam had something special, including pushing him through 8- and 10-round sessions, watching him handle adversity, and seeing the switch flip when he began working with professional fighters. The conversation goes much deeper than boxing, touching on: Why you can't teach a fighter's heart and work ethic The difference between a trainer, a coach, and a teacher Building confidence in young athletes Why great coaches develop people, not just fighters “Hard work beats talent when talent won't work” The importance of teaching young athletes how to problem-solve How AI and ChatGPT are changing the way young people learn Why Coach Joey would choose a fighter with an elite work ethic over raw talent Bam's transition from amateur boxing to the professional ranks What success really looks like on August 28 Why Coach Joey wants Bam to enjoy the moment and embrace his professional debut And perhaps the biggest message of the episode: "you can teach technique, but you can't teach someone to want it." Bam's professional debut is August 28th. The work has already been done. Now it's time to see what happens when the lights come on. 00:00 – Intro 00:28 – Coach Joey on Brandon “Bam Bam” Ortiz 01:00 – The work ethic that makes Bam different 01:27 – “You can’t teach that”: Testing a young fighter’s heart 03:04 – Pushing Bam through 10 rounds 04:05 – What coaches look for in a fighter 04:33 – The truth behind Bam’s Instagram persona 05:48 – Why Bam lives and breathes boxing 06:06 – Seeing the difference when Bam works with professionals 07:13 – Building a blueprint for Bam’s career 07:36 – The confidence Bam was missing 07:51 – The power of having someone believe in you 08:23 – Three types of coaches: Cheerleaders, coaches & teachers 09:00 – Teaching young fighters to become quality people 10:07 – Knowing when it's time for the next chapter 10:48 – Why Bam is getting the best version of Coach Joey 11:15 – “Hard work beats talent when talent won’t work” 12:00 – Leadership and setting an example for young athletes 13:00 – Why boxing needs more teachers, not just trainers 13:38 – Teaching fighters to think for themselves 14:30 – ChatGPT, young athletes & the loss of problem-solving 15:13 – Why hard work matters in life, not just boxing 15:30 – Why Coach Joey would choose work ethic over talent 16:24 – “I’m a mirror”: Giving back the effort you receive 16:59 – What does success look like for Bam’s pro debut? 17:22 – Success isn't necessarily winning 17:41 – “Receipts”: Turning doubt into motivation 18:06 – Coach Joey’s message for Bam on August 28 18:30 – Why rounds are more important than a quick knockout 18:56 – The moment Bam has dreamed about 19:24 – “We succeeded as a team” 19:29 – Coach Joey from El Rancho Boxing 20:15 – Final thoughts #Boxing #BrandonOrtiz #BamBamOrtiz #CoachJoey #proboxing
