MACON, Ga. — The Montgomery brothers' story starts with their father, Michael Montgomery Sr., a former professional in the Big Apple.
"When I started fighting, the fights that I was having were club fights. And I was fighting two divisions out of my weight class, so people didn't want to fight me because I was knocking them out too fast."
Mikhail Montgomery says his dad asked him and his two older brothers, Maliek and Michael, if they wanted to go to a boxing gym one day. And that's where they learned how to be quick on their feet and earn their Golden Gloves—perfecting their skills at the Bay Street Middle Georgia Boxing Gym.
In our previous reporting, we've told you about Maliek Montgomery becoming the first amateur boxer in Macon ever to win the Golden Gloves Championship. Not once, but twice. In 2017, the boxing trio signed with the sports management group Witness Sports Management.
The brothers have had many knockouts while boxing in high school and after graduating. Remembering all their wins is difficult, but it's a long list of wins. Maliek Montgomery says he comes to the gym with a purpose.
"Whenever I come in, my goal is to improve myself. Whether it's mentally and physically. Leave the gym physically better or leave the gym with a greater sense of myself."
Michael Montgomery Jr is a six-time Georgia Games champion, Maliek Montgomery is a USNBC Featherweight Champion, and Mikhail Montgomery has an undefeated record in the ring. Their success in the ring has led to an even greater accomplishment outside the ring.
In 2014, the county Commission named the boxing gym at Freedom Park in honor of local boxing legend Bishop Frank Ray. Ray managed the Macon Boxing Club while teaching and training young kids how to box. Montgomery Jr. said when he heard his family name would be added to the boxing gym at Freedom Park, he couldn't believe it.
"I thought it was crazy at first. I was just like, what? I ain't never experienced anything like that. No gym putting my name on something. It's some Martin Luther King junk or something," Montgomery Jr. said.
Mikhail Montgomery says he hopes the recognition will inspire others to get into boxing just like he and his brothers did.
"For me, it's all about the next generation. We've done so much and we have much more to do but it's all about that next generation -- Being that my name is on the gym that might be the push it takes to get somebody if not my kids or somebody from around my neighborhood to step into that ring and do great things."
The brothers hope their boxing careers will shine a light on Macon and put the city in the center of the ring.
Right now, no date has been set for the renaming ceremony.