Artem Sharoshkin - It's never too late

You hear the stories often, kids falling pray to gang life. For many there is no escaping where they are born, and leaving is nothing but a pipe dream, others embrace what is expected to become of them, and relish the lifestyle. No matter if it’s a borough in New York, the inner city in Chicago, or any other place in the United States, it always hard to get out. It's even harder when your way out is traveling across the globe to another country.

Artem Sharoshkin grew up in the small town of Penza, Russia, which is located 388 miles from the capital, Moscow. Unlike kids growing up in America where role models are their favorite athletes, in Penza, Russian mobsters or gangsters became the role models for some kids who were growing up in a brand new society after the USSR fell apart, a society that was still working out the new rules of the game.

"I don't know how it is now, but growing up in Russia mobsters or gangsters where like role models of some sort" said Artem. "So a lot of my friends were involved in that and eventually I was sucked in".

This isn't your local street gangs were talking here, this is organized crime, Russkaya Mafiya (Russian Mafia). Sensing that his environment would bring trouble or even worse and end to his life, Artem's parents and sister decided it would be best if he went to live in the United States, far away from the mafioso life that so many envision in Russia.

Arriving in the United States at eighteen years of age, Artem hated things at first. There was a language barrier, and the culture was different. Things began to change while watching MTV one day.

"My sister knew she needed to occupy me with something. Ok this is crazy, one day I was watching MTV channel and I think it was true life I'm a Muay Thai fighter with Kit Cope and Ben and was really into it." said Artem. "However I wasn't sure if that was something for me because I was thinking I was too old for that! You see in Russia it seems like you are too old for everything. They start kids young! I remember I wanted to try out kickboxing I was 17 I think and they told be I was too old they only accept young kids."

Despite watching the show and being interested in Muay Thai, it was still just something he would like to do, not something he was going to do. That was until his sister Irena surprised him with a membership to the The Boxing Club in San Diego. Because of his sisters gift Artem's life changed, he went from regular gym member to family member in the gym.

" I went from being a member there, to a part time janitor to a full time coach and a fighter for the gym." said Artem. "Yes if It wasn't for my sisters surprise I would probably be a completely different person today. It changed my circle of friends, my gym became my family."

Various sports and martial arts help teens find a way to discipline, for Artem it was Muay Thai. Since then he has put on a spectacular amateur career and is now looking to continue his success in the pro ranks. He won his professional debut against Titus Holmes back in August of 2010, via Majority Decision. His next challenge lies in Borzoo Honargohar when they meet on March 5th at Commerce Casino under the Stand Up Promotions banner. The fight will be Artem's second professional fight.

Some parting words from Artem.

"I guess the main message that I have is not about how hard life is in Russia or even how Muay Thai changed my life. Just don't let anyone tell you it's too late, it's never too late as long as you are driven!"