Killian Still Has Competitive Drive

Killian Still Has Competitive Drive

David Hall

At 14 years old, Lane Killian began boxing under the guidance of his father. Killian started boxing at his father’s Golden Gloves program in his hometown of Fort Payne, AL. Over the next few years, Killian accumulated over 100 fights under his belt. However, his boxing career took off when he was 18 years old.

Killian was watching U.S. Marine Leon Spinks and Clinton Jackson in the 1976 Olympic games when he decided that was what he wanted to do. Killian said, “I decided about that age I was going to join the Marine Corps and hopefully make it on the boxing team.”

Killian spent three years boxing for the Marines before being signed by a promoter out of Las Vegas. When asked if the time he spent with the Marines helped him in boxing, Killian said, “No doubt.” He believes discipline was the biggest lesson he carried from the Marines into the boxing ring. Killian went on to say, “If you don’t learn anything else in the Marines, you’ll learn discipline.”

Over 21 professional boxing matches, Killian achieved an impressive 17-4 record. Throughout his time in the Marine Corps and his professional boxing career, Killian fought in many places. He said, “I’ve been all over the country when I was in the Marine Corps.” Although Killian has much love for his hometown Fort Payne, when talking about the difference between boxing in Fort Payne versus Las Vegas and other big cities, he said, “It’s unreal.”

The success Killian had throughout his boxing career led him to be inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps Boxing Hall of Fame. Speaking on what that means to him, Killian said, “Without a doubt, that was the highlight of my career getting inducted in the Marine Corps Boxing Hall of Fame with guys like Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, and so many more.”

Today, Killian resides in Fort Payne. He has found a new sport that drives him. Running with Jerry Clifton and “the crazies” has become a hobby for Killian. He says he has run two marathons and aims to run one each year. Killian plans to run in the 2022 Freedom Run created by Clifton.

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