Inside the Ring and Beyond: How Stevie Morgan and Coach Monyette Are Redefining Women’s Boxing on Happy Hour Holidaze
Welcome to another invigorating episode of Happy Hour Holidaze, the podcast hosted by Manny Febre and Sean Febre that toasts entrepreneurship, business, and unfiltered life stories. This time, for Season 2, Episode 32, the dynamic Febre duo welcomes special guests Stevie Morgan—a driven lightweight boxer on the cusp of a WBC regional title fight—and her coach/manager, the equally passionate and formidable boxing mind, Coach Monyette.
Over the course of this spirited conversation, listeners get an inside look at the intense discipline, grueling training, and relentless mindset required to succeed in professional boxing. Beyond the punch-for-punch narrative, Stevie and Coach Monyette unravel broader insights about entrepreneurship, self-belief, and the harsh realities women confront in a male-dominated sport. If you’ve ever wondered what sacrifice truly looks like in pursuit of greatness—or what it means to juggle business, personal ambition, and daily challenges—this episode delivers.
Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and get ready to be inspired by a story laced with grit, honesty, and raw determination.
From the Track to the Ring: Stevie Morgan’s Early Athletic Journey
Born and raised in Tampa, Stevie Morgan’s competitive spirit blossomed from an early age. A natural athlete, she excelled in track—specializing in the 400-meter dash—and even played basketball at the college level. Although some aspiring boxers lace up their gloves before their teen years, Stevie’s transition into the ring came relatively late, around age 28. But that didn’t stop her from forging a path to the top.
Transition to Boxing: Stevie recalls wandering into a local boxing gym and finding herself mesmerized by a young girl training with fearless intensity. In that moment, she decided: If a 12-year-old can do this, why not me?
First Amateur Fight: After immersing herself in rigorous training, Stevie launched her amateur career at 28, a time when many fighters are already years into building their records. Yet through raw competitiveness and focus, she rocketed to the #3 spot in the country among amateur female boxers.
This steadfast resolve carried her into the professional sphere, where she now holds an impressive record of 15-2, including 13 knockouts.
A No-Nonsense Coach: Meet Monyette
Stevie’s progress was anything but solitary. Much of her development came under the guidance of Coach Monyette, a Memphis native who has dedicated his life to the art—and brutal science—of boxing. A former fighter himself, he initially trained in Las Vegas before relocating to Tampa.
Philosophy on Combat: For Coach Monyette, boxing is not merely about points and technique—it is truly life or death. He reminds new fighters that an average of 13 boxers die in the ring each year and that stepping between the ropes requires being willing to kill or be killed.
Year of Study: In a decisive move, he once made Stevie take an entire year off between amateur fights. The directive was simple: study the history, the risk, and the harsh realities of the sport. Stevie needed to fully grasp what it meant to sacrifice everything—from relationships to normal life experiences—to become the best.
The partnership between fighter and coach rests on stark honesty. Both preach that if you don’t commit yourself 100% to the discipline of boxing, you face dire consequences.
The Brual Realities of Women’s Boxing
Boxing is unforgiving for anyone, but women in the sport grapple with an extra layer of obstacles. While male fighters often have the chance to earn substantial purses—depending on marketability and event profiles—women frequently find themselves fighting for free or even paying to get on a card.
Pay Disparities: Stevie highlights this disheartening reality: women in the ring train just as hard, spar just as often, and remain just as disciplined, yet they typically earn significantly less. This stark income gap forces many female fighters to hold multiple jobs or become entrepreneurs just to stay afloat.
Fighting for Passion, Not Money: Because the financial rewards can be so minuscule, women often step into the ring fueled by pure love for the sport and the thrill of competition. As Stevie points out, that passion makes women’s fights particularly ferocious—there’s no coasting to a decision if your entire motivation is to prove yourself in those fleeting minutes.
Scarcity of Opportunities: Despite recent improvements and a handful of big names—like Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor—opening doors for female fighters, the vast majority of women boxers remain unsigned to major promoters, scrabbling for their next fight on smaller circuits.
“Plan B is to Make Plan A Work”: The Mindset That Drives Stevie
If there’s a phrase that captures Stevie Morgan’s approach to life, boxing, and business, it’s this: “Plan B is to make Plan A work.”
Unlimited Dedication: True success in the ring mandates daily, unrelenting discipline. Training three times a day is standard, and skipping even a single session can be detrimental. Whether you’re coping with a cold, working another job, or feeling mentally drained, there is no room for excuses.
No Off-Season: Boxing doesn’t come with the benefits of a “team sport.” A single misstep can lead to a devastating knockout or worse. Fighters must constantly be in peak condition, physically and psychologically.
Entrepreneurship as a Lifeline: Part of Stevie’s “Plan A” included launching Cater Me Fit, a healthy meal-delivery service in the Tampa area. Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to shut down most of her operation, she pivoted to focus on airport grab-and-go meals, maintaining a business that allows her the flexibility to train full-time.
This relentless pursuit of greatness stems from the understanding that nobody is responsible for your journey but you. If you want something badly enough, you must be prepared to show up—day after day—despite aches, missed social events, or external pressures.
Mental Toughness and Sacrifice
Both Stevie and Coach Monyette emphasize that the mental side of boxing is just as punishing, if not more, than the physical demands.
Loneliness of the Sport: Boxing, by nature, is a solitary endeavor. Fighters spend much of their time training in isolation, and the real challenge arrives once the bell rings: you face your opponent alone.
Family and Friends: Competitors must often sacrifice time with loved ones. Birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays can slip away under the priority of pre-fight preparations. Stevie acknowledges that few outsiders truly understand the single-minded obsession that boxing demands.
Fighting for Your Life: Coach Monyette bluntly states that in training, “You’re not just training to win; you’re training to kill.” There is no place for half-measures: you must prepare both mentally and physically for the possibility of lethal force.
High-Stakes Fights on the Horizon
Despite these challenges, Stevie Morgan stands on the precipice of a major career milestone. On April 26 in Medellín, Colombia, she is set to fight for a WBC regional title. It’s an electrifying opportunity to showcase her skill and step closer to the ultimate dream of unifying belts at lightweight.
Record and Accomplishments: Sporting a 15-2 record (13 KOs), Stevie has already claimed multiple world and intercontinental titles from sanctioning bodies like the UBO, WBF, ABF, and WBN.
Short-Notice Bouts: Leading up to her South American trip, she even accepted a short-notice fight, underscoring her readiness and willingness to seize every competitive advantage. Each match serves as a live test run, sharpening her arsenal for the showdown in Colombia.
The Bigger Picture: Advancing Women’s Boxing
As Manny and Sean highlight in nearly every episode of Happy Hour Holidaze, authenticity and hustle matter above all else. Stevie’s journey—and the unwavering support from Coach Monyette—illustrates that the “happy hour” spirit isn’t just about clinking glasses; it’s about celebrating those who are bold enough to chase impossible dreams.
In the broader context of women’s sports, Stevie’s story helps spotlight the ongoing fight for equal pay and opportunities. She hopes that more promoters, like Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), will offer the exposure and compensation female fighters deserve. Through greater media visibility and consistent matchmaking of the best vs. the best, women’s boxing can surge to the forefront of the mainstream sports stage.
Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts
Discipline Is Non-Negotiable: High-level boxing demands unwavering dedication. A single missed workout might cost you not just a victory, but your health—or your life.
Entrepreneurship and Flexibility: Stevie’s catering business taught her the value of controlling your schedule and income streams, especially in a profession where fight purses can be scarce or non-existent.
Mental Fortitude Over Everything: From relentless daily training to the acceptance of potential life-threatening danger, top-level fighters must cultivate steel-trap mindsets.
No Plan B: Stevie’s maxim captures the essence of ambition. Sometimes, the only option is to push forward, no matter how steep or dangerous the terrain.
Loneliness and Sacrifice: In a world where you stand alone in the ring, be prepared for a personal life of isolation. Family, friendships, and typical life experiences may have to take a backseat.
Fight for Equality: Women in boxing contend with glaring pay gaps and fewer promotional opportunities. But with voices like Stevie’s and the growing interest from certain promoters, there’s hope for a more level playing field in the near future.
Manny and Sean’s Happy Hour Holidaze aims to celebrate the fusion of innovation, entrepreneurial grit, and vibrant life stories. Stevie Morgan and Coach Monyette embody all of these qualities, fusing unstoppable ambition with a willingness to face catastrophic risks for the sake of sport. Their story is a testament to the idea that you really can, and must, forge your own path—despite naysayers, personal setbacks, or societal barriers.
With the date set for April 26, fans and supporters alike can’t wait to see how Stevie fares in Medellín. In the meantime, you can follow her journey on Instagram at @Stevie_Morgan_Boston for an up-close look at what it truly means to pursue greatness at all costs.
Tune In & Stay Connected
Happy Hour Holidaze: Find the show on all major streaming platforms and social media. Don’t miss out on Manny and Sean’s lively, unfiltered discussions each week.
Coach Monyette: For serious inquiries about training and insight into the next generation of boxers, reach him at his Instagram handle @Monyette_Boxing.
Stevie Morgan: Stay updated on fight news and entrepreneurial ventures on Instagram at @Stevie_Morgan_Boston.
Raise your glass to perseverance, to forging your own destiny, and to refusing the ordinary in pursuit of the extraordinary. Cheers to that—and to more knockout episodes of Happy Hour Holidaze!
