THOMAS GUILLEMETTE

Thomas Guillemette – Co-founder of the Tunal Academy, Professional Boxer

My name is Thomas Guillemette. I grew up in a small village in France, in a stable and loving environment. Everything felt easy for me as a kid—at school, I was always ahead. While others were learning the basics of reading, I was already finishing novels. I had a natural gift for math and sports. I still have vivid memories of those weekends after training, coming home to a big family meal—usually a ribeye steak with fries. I felt proud, fulfilled. It seemed like the world revolved around me.

Back then, I dreamed of becoming a trader, making money, and living abroad. People told me to go to engineering school to get there, so I did. I moved to Paris. That’s when I started seeing things differently. The daily routine of taking the metro, going to class, coming home, sleeping, and repeating—it drained me. Living for the weekend, just to forget the rest. Deep down, I knew I was meant for something else.

One day, I put my phone in my pocket and went for a walk through the suburbs of Paris. At first, I had a knot in my stomach—fear of the unknown. But the more I walked, the more my mind cleared. A deep sense of clarity settled in. I knew a decision had to be made, and I made it: no turning back. I dropped out of school overnight without telling anyone.

I dove into online business. It wasn’t always smooth—I had both failures and wins—but I learned fast. I built a network, gained experience, and most importantly, I met Baris and Flo. We started traveling together: Turkey, then Thailand. That’s where I started to take boxing seriously. We spent three years there, then moved to the U.S., where I fought tough opponents, headlined events, and boxed on TV. Today, I live in China. I’ve experienced different cultures, energies, and environments. It shaped me, both as a fighter and as a man.

For me, boxing is a tool—not a destination. I don’t need boxing to make money. I’ve learned how to create income in other ways. So becoming world champion isn’t a life-or-death goal. I just want to grow. I want to test myself against stronger and stronger opponents. That’s what drives me. I’ve won, I’ve lost, I’ve struggled with weight cuts, dealt with injuries, pain, hunger, doubt… but every loss has given me something back. Every fight, win or lose, has made me better.

My fight against Nicolas Molina was a turning point. He was a smart out-boxer, great at controlling the distance. I applied pressure the whole fight, threw hard shots, but I knew I’d have to knock him out to win—and I couldn’t. I lost by decision. Still, I got a huge wave of positive feedback. Watching the fight back, I realized: I’m better than I thought. That changed everything. It’s hard to see progress when you’re training every day—but that moment gave me perspective.

I’m proud of not taking the easy route. I’ve taken fights abroad, against more experienced opponents, on short notice, with little support. I’ve faced big challenges head-on. Fear is there, of course—but I never let it guide me. And I’m proud to live a disciplined life, away from the distractions that destroy so many fighters. I had my share of parties, especially in Thailand, but now, I know what I want. I wake up every day with the goal of becoming a better man.

I don’t follow a fixed routine—life throws surprises all the time, and I’ve learned to adapt. I don’t compare myself to the friends I left behind, but sometimes I imagine what my life would’ve been if I’d stayed on the “safe” path. I have zero regrets.

Being a co-founder of the Tunal Academy is something I’m deeply proud of. I’ve seen everything from the inside—the good and the bad. Some fighters turned their backs on us despite all we gave, but others stayed loyal, worked hard, and it’s for them that we keep pushing. We want to offer opportunities—not just in boxing, but in life. With Baris and Flo, we challenge each other every day. We say what needs to be said, even when it’s hard. That’s how we grow.

I don’t have a fixed vision for the future. But if we can build something big—help as many people as possible—not just athletes, but human beings, then I’ll be happy. Of course, I want the Academy to produce world champions. But even more than that, I want it to shape proud, grounded, respectful men and women.

If I had to give one piece of advice, it would be this: stop comparing yourself. Listen to your gut. Trust your path. What some call failure is often just a necessary detour.

And if it all ended tomorrow, my greatest pride would be that I listened to myself before anyone else. I made bold decisions that few understood—but they’ve led me to a life that very few ever get to live.