By: Crystal Martinez
After a few miles of jogging to warm up his body, Eric Morante wraps his hands and straps on his sparring gear as he prepares to climb into the boxing ring and get in a few rounds, but not before removing his prosthetic leg and replacing it with one specially created for the activity.
Morante is proving that nothing can stop you from being healthy, active and living your dream.
On April 20, 2007, Staff Sgt. Morante and his squad of seven men were hit by a suicide bomber in Iraq. All of the squad members survived, but Morante’s life would be forever affected after the bombing.
His mother, Lula Espinoza, recalls being told of the incident that day.
“My son came and told me that we have to go, that something had happened to Eric. I began yelling ‘Please don’t tell me they killed my son!’ I was getting my nails done at the time and left right away to see what had happened,” she said.
Since that day Morante tried to find a sense of normalcy by emerging himself in old hobbies, especially one he loved; boxing. He was able to get back into the ring after his case worker contacted him about a boxing organization that was willing to train and work with him.
“I was 22 and I lost my leg. I decided to pick my life back up and begin the sport of boxing again. I want kids growing with amputations to know that they can follow their dreams and seek out combative sports if they want to,” he said.
The National Amputee Boxing Association (N.A.B.A) was founded in 2013 by Shaman Owensby, a former Air Force veteran and current personal trainer.
The idea came to Owensby while he was looking for a place for one of his clients, who was also an amputee, to learn boxing and he realized there was no place that could accommodate him. Owensby worked to change that.
According to its website, N.A.B.A’s mission is “to provide physical training with the purpose of assisting amputees in developing agility on their prosthesis through specialized boxing and cross-training programs. N.A.B.A will provide training in a safe and fun environment to pursue boxing as a therapeutic tool.”
In July 2014, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation sanctioned the non– profit organization. The organization has gotten a tremendous amount of support from other amputees wanting to join, and their supporters. About 80 percent of the fighters at the gym are veterans who lost a limb on the battle field.
The organization has inspired others facing difficulties dealing with disabilities. Morante is on a personal mission to inspire others.
In addition to boxing, Morante has completed many marathons and participated in fundraisers to help raise awareness for others in need of help and encouragement.
“I want these kids to know that they can,” he said, and is working day by day to show them that through sheer will power, hard work and determination, you can do anything.”
Eric is now preparing for an upcoming fight scheduled to take place on March 26 in Morgans Wonderland in San Antonio, TX. He is working with a local Houstonian, Scott Langham, a former professional body builder and trainer, to help others live healthy lives and show that there are no limitations other than the ones you place on yourself.
