Julian ‘Quiet Storm’ Smith wins boxing championship by knockout
Renca Dunn, Daily Moth Reporter: Last August, The Daily Moth reported about one professional Deaf boxer named Julian Smith, known as “Quiet Storm” who won a boxing match. This recent week, for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Superlight International Championship, Julian won the championship by knockout. Everybody was floored.
[Video clip of Julian knocking out his opponent and being declared the winner - Credit: IG/quietstormwbc]
We reached out to Julian for an interview.
[Begin interview]
Renca: Hello!
Julian Smith: Hello.
Renca: I’m excited to have you here. Congratulations on getting the lightweight boxing championship! Wow. We are proud of you! How do you feel being a champion now?
Julian: Hello, my people! My fans. Thank you. I really appreciate it. It really inspired me. Your support. I know many people were excited to watch me.
Renca: Your nickname is the “Quiet Storm.” What is the meaning behind that?
Julian: Many hearing people can identify that I’m Deaf. I’m quiet. I can’t speak. I can sign, but I have my hands in the boxing gloves! Ha. That is how I stand on business!
Renca: That’s why you are called the “Quiet Storm.” So people can know your identity.
Julian: Right.
Renca: Did you come up with the “Quiet Storm” by yourself?
Julian: Yes, I did, I came up with it. I found some ideas and thought, “why not?” That’s how I navigated fighting.
Renca: Did you grow up fighting? Did you always like boxing? What’s your background with fighting?
Julian: I grew up with boxing and learned it. I was a little kid in the old streets in Robbins. It is a hard town. Downtown. It’s a small town. I was training and now I’ve proven that I can do it as a Deaf fighter with the championship. That’s how. My brother taught me how to protect myself because I was bullied growing up. That explains. My brother had to encourage and influence me. After my brother passed away, it was the reason why I started fighting. For my Deaf rights and everything. That’s what I prefer.
In professional boxing, I won a real championship. It’s a world title. It’s the real thing, it's international.
Renca: Now, when you put on your gloves, when you train with your trainer, how do you communicate with your trainer? With the gloves on?
Julian: Lol. Lol. Good question! Actually, I use my gloves… because my coach knows how to sign in ASL. I taught him. Everything happens before I enter the boxing ring.
Renca: During the championship match, you were sitting in a corner and getting water and all. Your coach signed to you. How do you communicate back? Do you just nod and listen and stay quiet? Or? How do you communicate in the corner during breaks?
Julian: My coach knows how to communicate with ASL. It’s easy for me to understand by watching him. Then I just do the job.
Renca: That’s cool.
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Renca: Now, this is your first big championship belt. What’s next for you?
Julian: What’s next for me? I will just keep on fighting for all my belts. They have five championships. The WBA, WBC, IBF, and IBA. It’s my goal to get all the championships. To win. That’s my goal and my dream!
I’ve been training hard daily. Staying focused. Encouraging myself. Really, I stay committed. I’m proving that Deaf can do it and Black can do it as well. Be proud. I know many people out there, little kids, have been fighting for their rights, both Deaf and hearing. I’m just here to encourage and support them. Deaf can do it. Face it and be open. I hope for it. That’s my goal for those kids and adults.
Renca: Now, as you move forward, how can we the Deaf community continue supporting you? Follow your Instagram? What other ways can we support your journey?
Julian: Guess what? I’m selling merchandise online with “Quiet Storm.” Look here.
Renca: That’s cool.
Julian: Thank you for supporting me and encouraging me. I really appreciate you, Deaf Moth, and everyone, all the fans, thank you for supporting me. God bless all of you.
[End interview]
Thank you Julian for your time. You can follow Julian’s journey on Instagram and Facebook, links to his profiles are in this transcript. You can also buy some caps or shirts from Julian, the link is in the transcript as well. We, the Daily Moth, wish you Julian the best of luck!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quietstormwbc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliansmith25
Merch: https://quietstormboxing.com/
Daily Moth story on Julian in August: https://www.dailymoth.com/blog/deaf-news-briefs-julian-quiet-storm-smith-gallaudet-university-football-team-rank-in-preseason-poll