Even though she admittedly grew up in what she describes as one of Baltimore’s roughest parts of town, Destiny Day-Owens remains committed to overcome her early obstacles to become one of America’s premiere women boxers. Meanwhile, she proudly represents her city each time she enters the ring.
At age 22, the former student at the legendary Frederick Douglass High School has overcome a series of setbacks as a youngster and is now ready and prepared to join the nation’s elite pugilists, specifically from her Golden Gloves prize rankings to a become a notable professional fighter.
Courtesy Photo
L-R Twelve-time World Champion Tori Nelson, Mack Allison III, owner of the Time 2 Grind gym, and up and coming lady boxer Destiny Day-Owens.
Currently, she trains with renowned boxing coach Mack Allison III, owner of the Time 2 Grind gym in Northeast Baltimore. For Day-Owens, she always figured the fight game was in her blood. Having grown up on what she describes as the “rough side” of West Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood, Day-Owens describes herself as a tough girl, who has always managed to find herself in arguments and fights.
“Really, I had anger issues!” she admits.
With the help of her now deceased father William “Mr. Bill” Owens, Day-Owens eventually found herself, and realized she was born to fight.
“My father was very patient with me. They (her parents) said they named me because they realized I would have a destiny to achieve. While her mother, Doris Day, is about 20 years her father’s junior, Day-Owens says she is the youngest of her parents’ children, and now reflects her father’s patience and old-school spirit.
“He was 50 when I was born,” she said. Mr. Owens died three years ago, in his 70s.
These days, in addition to consistent training at Time 2 Grind gym, Day-Owens takes pride in raising her two daughters, Unique, 6 and Destiny II, 4. The youngest girl is following in her mom’s footsteps, with a similar love for the fight game.
According to coach Allison, Day-Owens is a natural-born boxer.
“I’d say her dedication to the game, is what makes her stand out,” said Allison whom Day-Owens now considers her surrogate father.
“He pushes me to be my best, and at times he reminds me of my father,’ she said. “He treats us all like family.”
So, what you may ask would spur a young mother into becoming a boxer?
“It’s in my DNA. The fight game found me when I was just six or seven. I can recall placing a mattress up against the wall and acting like I had a heavy bag. Later, it became natural to me when I would fight my brothers like one of the boys. We didn’t have a lot of money, but my father helped instill the passion in me.”
Day-Owens has already won three Golden Gloves trophies, in just her third year of amateur boxing. She has also won the acclaimed Baltimore 2017 Mayor’s Cup and Queen of the Ring. Now, she is primed to turn it up the notch, and hit the professional ranks.
“I’ve been through a lot, and have made a lot of bad choices coming up, but one day I realized I had one opportunity and one life to do this. After getting my mind right, I realized it was time to start grinding and never look back. The feeling of having them raise your hand and call your name as they put the strap around you and your opponent is a real morale booster. I can’t wait to become professional,” Day-Owens said.
Coach Allison predicts his prized pupil should become pro within the next two years and he is very optimistic she will shine brightly in the professional ranks.
“She’s almost ready,” he said.
Meanwhile, Day-Owens is a proud student of the fight game, and calls Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier two of her favorites. She is also a fan-favorite of fellow Marylander, Sugar Ray Leonard, of Palmer Park, Maryland. On the female end she gives props to Layla Ali for helping to pave the way for lady fighters to earn a respectable prizefight purse.
“Now I’m on a mission to be the best female boxer of all time, and [to] show the young children all over the world that you can truly accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. Everyone’s path is different, so follow yours,” she said. “I will never stop grinding until I achieve my goals.”