Chances are, you’ve never heard of David Emanuel Peralta. That’s because until very recently, he was a taxi driver in his home country of Argentina.
Peralta, who is now 34, used to box quite a bit. In fact, he boasted a very respectable record of 26-2-1 — a fact his passengers were no doubt very unaware of. But when Peralta got the chance to fight Robert Guerrero in a match that drew a considerable amount of attention, the temptation was too great. He put his driving on hold to take a shot at besting the two-division titleholder Guerrero.
Listed as a 70-to-1 underdog, nobody took the taxi driver from Argentina seriously. The 34 year old Peralta was in good shape — especially for a taxi driver — but he had been removed from the sport for quite some time and was considered to be absolutely no match for his rival.
Incredibly, Peralta triumphed in that bout, and was subsequently given a chance too good to pass up. He made the move from Argentina to Miami, Florida, and now trains there full-time in a complete resurgence of his boxing career. Peralta’s trainers and handlers believe he has it in him to be a title contender, and that’s the plan moving forward.
David Emanuel Peralta’s story is just the latest example of amazing people who achieved great things during or after a career as a taxi driver. The added flexibility involved in being a taxi driver certainly gives drivers the lifestyle and time necessary to develop or follow another passion… including championship boxing!