Ex-Linebacker Loses 125 Pounds, Wins Boxing Championship

When Tre Hubbard couldn't button his jacket after an all-you-can-eat sushi dinner, he knew something had to change. The 27-year-old former Division I linebacker from San Diego had just bought his first 2XL, and the scale showed 300 pounds.

The journey to rock bottom started in December 2019 when Hubbard lost his close friend and teammate, Clay Beathard. When COVID shut down the world months later, his athletic routine vanished with it. Without structure or direction, he gained 65 pounds in six months.

That tight jacket became his wake-up call. Hubbard called his high school trainer, Tony Thompson, who owned Train Hard gym in Virginia Beach. Thompson's response was simple: "Tre, I got your back."

At the gym, Hubbard met amateur fighter Sczar Charles, who kept pushing him to try MMA. Despite doubts about his ability to compete in the ring, Hubbard took the leap. "I didn't wait until I felt fearless or ready," he says. "I did it scared."

His new routine was brutal but effective. He ran two miles every morning at 11 a.m., trained with Tony and Sczar from 2:30 to 5 p.m., then headed straight to MMA training from 5 to 9 p.m., five days a week. When weather turned bad and he texted asking if training was canceled, his coaches always replied: "We do not make excuses—we just work."

His diet became equally disciplined. Every meal consisted of eight ounces of lean turkey or chicken, 150 grams of white rice, and 100 grams of peas with hot sauce. Nothing entered his body without touching the scale first.

Why This Inspires

Hubbard's transformation goes beyond the numbers on the scale. He lost 100 pounds in eight months and 125 pounds total, but the mental shift mattered most. Boxing forced him to confront who he was and rebuild his identity on his own terms.

The results speak for themselves. Hubbard is now 3-0 in the ring with two first-round knockouts, including one within six seconds of the bell. At 27, he feels better than he ever did as a college athlete because he finally understands how to care for his body.

Now Hubbard shares his journey on TikTok and Instagram to inspire others stuck in dark places. His next goals include running a marathon, completing an Ironman, and joining Toastmasters to improve his public speaking. "Losing weight taught me that if you can conquer yourself, you can conquer anything in this world," he says.