by “‘Damn, I’m Proud of That Kid’: The Rise
of Julian Dolin”
I am here with Julian Dolin, an exciting 18-year-old up-and-coming fighter who trains under
Bryan Gedeon at The Fight Factory of Cleveland in Lakewood, Ohio.
Julian has been competing for only about 16 months in the 132-pound division and has already
compiled a 10-5 record, with three victories coming by stoppage. Back in July, he put together a
very impressive performance, earning a unanimous-decision victory over the 2026 Golden
Gloves Novice Champion.
Julian’s path has been anything but smooth.
He was raised by his loving mother until her struggles with addiction became overwhelming,
while his father was in and out of his life. Julian eventually lost his mother to an overdose, and
just two years later, his father also passed away from an overdose.
Julian then went to live with his grandparents. His grandmother had once come from
considerable wealth, but after a series of misfortunes, the family went from being millionaires to
living paycheck to paycheck and relying on assistance, all while raising Julian.
This young man has already been through more in his 18 years than many people experience in
a lifetime. Yet Julian is a true fighter in every sense of the word. He continues to take on
whatever life puts in front of him and keeps moving forward.
Kee on Sports: You’ve only been competing for about 16 months. What originally got you
interested in boxing?
Julian: It all started when I was about 10 years old. I felt very out of control in life and like I
couldn’t take care of myself. Seeing people like Mike Tyson, who had been in similar
circumstances and built something from nothing, really opened my eyes to what the sport had to
offer.
Kee on Sports: What do you enjoy most about boxing and being in the gym?
Julian: I enjoy the controlled suffering and the community most, without a doubt. I’m surrounded
by so many people at the gym who I consider close, almost like family, and having that outlet to
stay focused is healthy for a person like me who can go off the rails pretty easily. I enjoy the
feeling of clarity.
Kee on Sports: What do you think you’re really good at outside of fighting?
Julian: Outside of fighting, I consider myself a charismatic person. I enjoy socializing and
analyzing how different people’s brains can operate under entirely different systems than mine. I
like taking note of all the different kinds of people I come across.
Kee on Sports: Do you want boxing to eventually become your career, or do you see boxing as
something that can help you build a bigger future for yourself?
Julian: Boxing is absolutely going to be my career. There’s no doubt in my mind. I fell in love
with this sport at 10 years old, and there’s been no looking back.
Kee on Sports: When you picture Julian Dolin at 25 years old, what does that life look like?
Julian: I think about having a well-established name in the boxing and bare-knuckle boxing
scene and being able to fight full time and live off it.
I imagine four training sessions a day, three or four good meals a day, isolated away from the
distractions of society and surrounded by the crew at The Fight Factory of Cleveland.
Kee on Sports: Besides boxing, what do you want for yourself in life?
Julian: Besides boxing, I want to take care of the people who are important to me. I want
millions in the bank and a massive family.
I’ve always had this vision that, God willing, I make it to my 90th birthday and I’m sitting in a
room full of 100 people who all came from me.
Kee on Sports: What kind of work or career could you see yourself doing outside of boxing?
Julian: Outside of boxing? Bare-knuckle boxing, definitely. Haha.
But seriously, probably something sales-related. I enjoy using my social skills, and I’m sure I
would excel at it.
Kee on Sports: You’ve had to grow up pretty quickly. What’s something you wish somebody
had taught you when you were younger?
Julian: That’s a great question. I wish I had someone to help instill discipline in me at a younger
age.
It’s something I’ve had to build myself, and I think it’s a key factor for success in life and the No.
1 thing a person should instill in their child. It’s just a crucial skill to have in life.
Kee on Sports: What worries you the most about becoming an adult and having more
responsibility?
Julian: What worries me most about becoming an adult is just my loved ones getting older.
I feel like I’m fully prepared for any adversity or responsibility that may come my way. As I age,
so do the people I love, and that’s something that weighs on my mind, especially with all the
time I intend on committing to my aspirations.
Kee on Sports: Who are the people you trust the most, and who has the biggest positive
influence on your life?
Julian: I trust Coach Bryan more than anyone on this planet, and that’s why I’m so ride or die
with this gym.
It’s hard to describe the influence Coach has had on me. It’s similar to a father, but I would say
most fathers don’t help their kids develop in the way Coach has helped me.
It’s truly something exceptional that you only see once in a generation. There are a lot of shitty
fathers and a lot of shitty coaches. I can safely say Coach has never let me down, and I know
he always moves with my best interest at heart.
Kee on Sports: When you’re struggling or something bad happens, who is the person you
usually turn to?
Julian: I do my best to deal with everything myself. I feel like it’s my burden to bear, and it’s
unfair for me to put my issues on other people who also have their own things they’re struggling
with.
But I’m not perfect, and sometimes I do need support. Coach Bryan is one of the only people I
feel comfortable going to in that way.
Most of the time, I won’t even say anything. He’ll just notice something is up and make a
comment about it and assure me that if I ever need something, he’s GOT me, no questions
asked.
Most people don’t get the opportunity to have someone like that in their life, and I’m forever
grateful.
Coach has lived such a full life that anything I might need advice on, he’s probably been there
and done that and has the answers I need.
Kee on Sports: Who would you say is your biggest role model right now?
Julian: I would definitely say Coach Bryan is my biggest role model. He’s given me the
opportunity to chase my dreams, and he’s taught me that it’s never too late and there’s no time
like the present to go out and chase that shit.
Kee on Sports: What are your plans when it comes to finishing your education? Are you
working toward getting your GED?
Julian: I recognize that people can view me differently because I have a middle-school-level
education right now.
So I’m actively taking classes and courses to work toward my GED. I just make sure I pace
myself and keep it at a rate I’m comfortable with while maintaining my other responsibilities.
Kee on Sports: You’ve already been through things at 18 that a lot of people never have to deal
with. What do you think those experiences have taught you?
Julian: I think all these things that have happened to me really set me up for success in life.
They set my tolerance for dealing with rough shit very high, and I handle adversity well.
I’ve always wanted an exceptional life, and it would be greedy for me to only want the good that
comes with that. I want an exceptional life in every avenue, both good and bad.
I’m going to have a completely unique experience in life, and I’m just grateful everything has
played out the way it has because it’s given me the opportunity to put the work in and achieve
these aspirations of mine.
Kee on Sports: What kind of man do you want people to say Julian Dolin became?
Julian: I want people to say I was a man who set an example and showed the next generation
that through enough grit and determination, you can get it out of the mud and make history. A
real-life rags-to-riches story.
Kee on Sports: When can we expect to see you in the ring again?
Julian: I’ll be fighting Aug. 29 in Pittsburgh, Sept. 12 in Buffalo, and then in Cleveland for the
national qualifier during the last week of September.
That will be my first national tournament.
Kee on Sports: Before we finish, is there anybody you’d like to thank or give a shout-out to?
Julian: Absolutely. I would love to give my thanks to Coach Bryan, who, as I mentioned before,
is the one who makes all of this possible for me and helps make sure I’m on track to becoming
the best in the world.
My grandparents, who believe in me, trust me and helped me become the man I am today in
one way or another.
And my girl. She holds shit down and is very supportive. She gets her family to buy tickets for
my fights and supports me through all of it.
When I asked two-time Hall of Fame coach Bryan Gedeon about Julian, his first response said
just about everything.
“Damn, I’m proud of that kid.”
Gedeon continued:
“Julian is a great kid. He’s in the gym all the time, he works hard, and he’s a good teammate
and just a great all-around person.
“I’ll share a quick story about how Julian impacted my life without even knowing it. Actually, he
still doesn’t know this.
“One night, I was driving home after a fight with him in Youngstown, and I started thinking about
how much this kid has been through in his life. Through all of it, I’ve never once heard him
complain or feel sorry for himself.
“When I got home that night, I actually woke my wife up and talked to her about it. Seeing the
way Julian carries himself really put things into perspective for me. It made me reevaluate some
of the insignificant things in my own life that I would normally let bother me or give too much
thought to.
“Sometimes you think you’re the one teaching or helping a young person, and without even
realizing it, they end up teaching you something too. Julian did that for me.”
For Julian Dolin, boxing is clearly about much more than wins, losses or what happens between
the ropes. It has given him direction, discipline, a family and something to chase.
At only 18 years old, his story is still in its opening chapters. Where it ultimately takes him
remains to be seen.
But if the toughness, loyalty and determination he has already shown are any indication, Julian
plans on making sure the rest of that story is written on his terms.
