Michelle Cook, One tough Mom

Step into the ring with Michelle Cook and you step into a storm of pounding, punishing leather. Her hooks quickly come screaming out of nowhere and behind every thundering fist is only 118 pounds of a svelte gym-shaped mother of one. She lives up to her nickname "thunder hands". However, out of the ring Michelle is quiet, calm, laid back and a little shy.

Michelle, a 21 year old Snye Native, is preparing for her second professional fight on Thursday, February 27th at the Conference and Event Center in Niagara Falls, NY. In December of 2013 Michelle signed a four year professional boxing deal with Pretty Girl Promotions, an off shoot of Pretty Boy promotions.

It can be almost cliché to say that boxing can save a troubled kid's life but for Michelle boxing did save her life. Michelle started boxing in 2010, at the age of 19, when one of her sisters informed her that there was a boxing club located in Massena. "I went one day and I instantly fell in love with boxing. I was smoking pot and doing oxycontin at the time but I kept going back to train. I couldn't breathe very well and that's when I knew that I needed to stop. Boxing helped me to stop doing all the drugs."

Michelle's coach and fiancé, Atsiaktonkie Ionkiats said, "The first day I worked with her I instantly knew she was something special. She could hold her form for four rounds and that is rare for a beginning boxer. I was all excited and I called other coaches to tell them but they weren't as excited, but they'll see."

Michelle started fighting right away; six weeks after she started training to be exact. According to Atsiaktonkie, her first opponent was twenty pounds heavier with three years experience compared to Michelle's six weeks." Michelle was really good and impressive but she lost in a split decision. "I didn't care if I won or lost, explained Michelle, "I just wanted to fight and start preparing for my next fight. I just wanted to fight so badly." When asked how she got interested in boxing and fighting she replied that she had four sisters and all they did was fight. "I did a lot of fighting with my sisters and on the streets. It made me feel strong, tough and confident. I liked that feeling."

"I always knew that I wanted to box but I didn't know how to do it. I thought that I would train myself so I would do push-ups and crunches. I didn't know that there was so much more to boxing training. I didn't even know what sparring was," laughed Michelle. "When I went to the boxing club I fell in love with boxing and training. I was really into drugs at the time but I really liked boxing so I quit the drugs. It wasn't too hard to do at the time. I slept a lot and had the shakes when I trained, but it all eventually went away. My mom told Atsiaktonkie that he saved my life by training me."

Atsiaktonkie is Michelle's coach, fiancé and guitar player/singer/songwriter, he had a music career that was just starting to take off. He was just getting ready to record a new album when he started working with Michelle. "I was an undefeated boxer when I was young as well as a pretty good hockey player but I was into boozing and drugs so I screwed up my chances for both sports. I went into the military for a little while and then I went into music. I stopped the drinking and drugs and I am very proud of Michelle for quitting. I was just getting ready to sign a new contract for an album but I had to put my music career on hold for Michelle. I'm more excited for her and I was kinda getting a little burned out anyways. I have all my songs for an album so I can get right back into it when the time comes."

Atsiaktonkie tells the story of how he got involved in coaching boxing. "My son Rohronhakies (LoLo) is a boxing coach for some top amateurs in the country. When he was younger I found him a club in Cornwall and so I had to take him across the bridge. One day when I was taking him over to Cornwall I had to turn around on the bridge. I didn't realize that I couldn't do that so I couldn't go across anymore. I had to figure out how to get my son his training. I decided to start up my own program. I got funding and had to learn how to be a coach. I didn't like it at first because I was a fighter not a coach but I received help from other coaches. I learned how to coach and grew to like it. I have come full circle when it comes to boxing. Now I joke that I met Michelle because I turned around on a bridge. I have had to put the hours in but I have had pretty good success. I have had three to four fighters make it to Nationals. I believe that you can teach heart but only if that someone listens."

When two people spend a lot of time together funny things can happen like falling in love. That's what happened with Michelle and Atsiaktonkie. Soon after becoming a couple and after her second fight Michelle got pregnant. She went back to boxing only three weeks after giving birth. Michelle lost her next fight by a split decision and decided that she should take some time off so she could be a mother and rest. She took six months off which Michelle says was good for her and her new family.

Michelle was a very successful and impressive amateur fighter. After losing her first fight and having a baby, she stayed focused and came back with vengeance to win her second fight where she won the New York State Amateur Boxing Championships at the Turning Stone Casino. In her fourth fight Michelle destroyed the two-time Ringside Champion, Amber Blumfeld. In her sixth fight at the New York State fairgrounds Michelle went up against a five time Canadian National Champion and gave her a pounding to earn the victory. Michelle went on to win victories over other Champions and ended up in Lake Placid fighting for the USA Boxing's Northeast Regional Championship where she fought Nicole Russell from New York City. Michelle dominated the fight and won the title of Best Overall Boxer of all the Champions. This award was given to only one male or female across all weight classes in the entire tournament. She has also won the title of Most Outstanding Boxer at the 2012 Carmen Basillio Quest for Champions in Watertown. Michelle has caught the attention of many people in the boxing world.

Michelle was an Olympic hopeful for the 2016 Summer Olympics but she was informed that her weight class had been taken out of the Olympics. "I was disappointed but I would have had to gain too much weight or lose too much for the other weight classes so I decided to give up my amateur status and go pro," said Michelle and signed with Mercedes Vasquez Simmons, the first female promoter in boxing history. When asked if she was nervous about the change in status she said that the only thing she worries about is getting hit in the head and knocked out. Professional boxers do not wear headgear and that is the only thing that scares her.

Michelle had her debut pro fight last November against an experienced, undefeated fighter Marcia Agripino at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut. The fight ended in a draw but the crowd cheered for her and promoters were impressed. "One referee walked up to Michelle and said that she was the best fighter that he has seen in 20 years," recalled Atsiaktonkie. Her second fight was scheduled last December but her opponent was a no show and the fight at Niagara Falls will be considered her second pro fight. She will taking on a fighter from Louisiana.

Training is a big part of Michelle's day. She trains about 4-5 hours each day and luckily she doesn't mind it. "I have never seen a boxer so motivated and who loves to train. Usually you see a boxer that is skilled but doesn't like to train and a boxer who likes to train but is not that skilled. It's only once in a blue moon you find a fighter who is skilled and loves to train and Michelle is that person," beamed Atsiaktonkie. "Right now our basement is set up like a gym and that's where she trains. It's a little difficult with the baby because we don't have babysitters so I have to watch her while Michelle trains. It makes it difficult since I cannot be down there to watch and coach her. She said that she doesn't want any other coach but me so we do what we can with our situation."

Michelle's day starts out with a three mile run then an hour workout. Later in the day she is back downstairs for a couple hours of more training and spars with Jackie Turbilino. When Michelle started out she was at 132 pounds but is now down to 118. She sticks to an all natural balanced diet with no manmade foods or supplements. She eats a lot of protein, vegetables, fruits and good carbs. "We are pretty much old school," stated Atsiaktonkie.

The goal for Michelle is pretty simple "kick butt and win a world title." Turning pro is a step closer to this goal. Michelle is guaranteed at least six fights a year. She needs to beat a World Title holder in order to fulfill her goal. Atsiaktonkie believes that Michelle can be ready for this challenge by eight fights or in a year. Once she gets her World Title she will become a defender of that title and fight around the world. She won't fight as many fights as a World Champion since her training would be longer as well as the promotion of her fights is longer.

With a World Title comes television appearances, ESPN, Madison Square Garden Network, HBO, and hopefully sponsors and endorsements. "Some of these companies are already interested in Michelle," stated Atsiaktonkie. "One thing that Michelle does not want to happen is to be treated like a piece of meat. Some companies want to put female athletes in skimpy outfits. Michelle is here to box not model underwear. She's a traditional woman and needs to be treated with respect. She does not want to wear the type of clothes that show off the body. That is not a good image for our women. Tiger Woods didn't have to model underwear for Nike so why should she?"

Michelle is the daughter of Dominic and Missy Cook. "My father is so proud of my boxing," beamed Michelle. "He invites everyone to my boxing events. I promised him my belt when I win my first title."

Boxing is not what Michelle wants to do her whole life. Once she fulfills her goal of being a World Title holder and wins about three or four more titles she wants to retire and live a quiet life in the mountains with her family. She would like to raise animals, do ceremonies and practice the Great Law in the woods. Michelle would also like to help young girls by sharing her story. "We have all been affected by Indian boarding schools, but we all have strengths to overcome anything. Today boxing has helped me in many ways to overcome a lot of my weaknesses, such as drugs, alcohol and smoking. Now I am seeking a path of going back to who we really are, Onkwehonwe. As women we are the true leaders, we are the life givers and our women need strength to stand up for who we really are. Boxing has helped me in a positive way to want to change who I was, what I wear and how I talk. I just want to let young girls know that they can always turn to a good path." Michelle would love the opportunity to coach young girls someday. "I would like to motivate youth by showing them that they can make it through life without destroying themselves."

For now, Michelle "Thunder Hands" Cook is training hard in preparation for this Thursday night and for her long term goals. "I train hard so that I can live in peace," said Michelle. Her motto right now is "Just gotta keep winning" and with all her determination and drive I believe that she will do just that.