After years of athletic and combat sports training and a successful amateur boxing run, Murfreesboro’s Jermaine Dave has recorded his first professional boxing win earlier in 2026 in his first pro contest—but in his mind, his boxing journey is just beginning.

Generally fighting at 175 pounds in the light heavyweight division, Dave earned his first pro victory in Tunica, Mississippi, in March, fighting in the 200-pound (cruiserweight) class. This follows a strong amateur period that saw Dave compile a 16–2 record.

“I’ve always been an athlete. I just like being competitive,” said Dave, who played football at Siegel High School and was later a member of the MTSU football team.

After his time at MTSU, Dave left Tennessee to pursue a career in the music industry in Los Angeles. While there, he got into training in combat sports as a hobby and would soon return to his hometown to train under local karate and kickboxing legend Bill Taylor at Murfreesboro’s Champion’s Corner Boxing and Kickboxing Gym, where his commitment to the sport of boxing intensified.

“I had the strength training,” Dave said. “I just needed the technical side of it.”

At Champion’s Corner, Dave gets to sharpen his skills in regular sparring sessions with Sam Alvey—known to UFC and Karate Combat fans as “Smile’n Sam.”

“We’re best friends at this point,” Dave said with a laugh (though he occasionally leaves their visits with a black eye or bloody nose).

When asked about some of his favorite boxers that he draws inspiration and technique from, Dave first lists boxing legends like Roberto Durán and Sugar Ray Leonard; though he also keeps an eye on today’s elite fighters.

“It looks like Benavidez is going to be unbeatable,” Dave said of the modern-day light heavyweight David Benavidez.

While he embarks upon his own professional boxing career, Jermaine “Jitsu” Dave also gets to teach younger athletes at Champion’s Corner, investing in their development.

“Coaching is the fun part,” he says, “seeing kids come in and grow.

“A lot of martial arts is character development. It helped me. Boxing gives me a purpose.”

That purpose and drive has caught the attention of local supporters. Blue Smoke Supply, which manufactures metal smokers, and local tattoo shop Aristocratic Ink have signed on to sponsor Dave.

“Jermaine is focused. He has that swagger—he’s going to make it happen,” said Jason Agee of Blue Smoke Supply, explaining why he decided to hitch his business to the up-and-coming boxer’s career.

“I never thought of boxing as a team sport,” said Agee, who now realizes that behind every individual fighter is a whole crew of trainers, coaches, sponsors, family, sparring partners and supporters.

With his pro debut behind him, a growing local support system, and a clear sense of drive, Dave is stepping into the next phase of his career highly motivated, one fight at a time.

“I plan to box as long as God lets me,” the 32-year-old Dave said.

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For more information on Champion’s Corner Boxing and Kickboxing Gym, visit championscornerboxing.com.