Name: Joey Dawejko
	Nickname: "Polish Thunder"
	Birth date: June 11, 1990
	Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
	Height: 5' 10"
	Reach: -
	Division: Heavyweight
	Record: 6-0 with 2 KOs
	Stance: Orthodox
	Style: Adaptable boxer/puncher who can counter punch from long range or box on the inside.

Joey "Polish Thunder" Dawejko captured 14 U.S. amateur championships, highlighted by him becoming the youngest ever to win the Eastern Olympic Trials at the age of 16. He also turned in a gold medal performance at the 2008 World Youth Championships in Mexico.

There are few cities more synonymous with boxing than Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The "City of Brotherly Love" has been home to some of the greatest pugilists of all-time, including the late, great heavyweight champ "Smokin" Joe Frazier and Hall of Fame-bound Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. They define what is known all over the boxing world as, simply, a Philly fighter. Hard-nosed and skilled on the finer points of counter-punching, inside fighting and old school tactics, the Philly fighter is a special breed of boxer. It is from within that storied tradition that heavyweight Dawejko's love of boxing was born.

A family oriented young man of Polish descent; his grandfather, Perry Tobin, introduced young Joey to the fight game. Grandpop Perry boxed a little in the Marine Corps but, above all, he was a true fan of the sport. "My Grandpop had tickets to a local Golden Gloves fight at The Blue Horizon," Dawejko remembered. "I was only 10 years old but he offered to take me."

Some fighters fall in love with the sport of boxing the very first time they wander into a gym. Dawejko, though, fell for it right there at the legendary Blue Horizon.

"I was just a little guy, 10 years old," Dawejko said, "but I just loved the whole environment there. I loved the crowd... the yelling, screaming, shouting, and people beating up each other. That's not what it was all about, but that's how I saw it. Even being there the first time felt like I was home. I had such a great time that I asked my Grandpop if he would take me to the gym, and he said yes. I started boxing and never looked back."

Dawejko took to the gym like a natural, jumping right into fray with the enthusiasm of an eager youth. "I just loved everything about it -- training, physical work, running, and sparring," Dawejko explained. "The first day I was in the gym, I just wanted to hit the speed because that's what you see on TV. I was told that I couldn't start with the speed bag because first I needed to learn how to fight. So, they taught me the basics."

Soon enough, it was like Grandpop Perry and Joey were going to the boy's first fight, only this time Joey was fighting. "My first amateur fight I weighed 106 pounds and fought a guy a year older," Dawejko recalled. "He already had six fights. My family was there. I lost that fight but, after that I didn't lose another fight until I was about 14 years."

Grandpop Perry guided Dawejko to a 56-12 amateur record, 14 national titles, and a Junior World Championship in 2008 as a super heavyweight. The latter performance was impressive because he defeated the tournament favorite in the opening round, followed in the second round by a beating of the second favorite.

Dawejko and Grandpop Perry decided that Joey would turn pro in 2009, after working with world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman and more than holding his own. Joey turned pro September of 2009, winning a unanimous six-round decision, in which he opted to bypass the customary four-round pro debut fight. He followed that up with more two wins in 2010.

Sadly, in January of 2011, Perry passed away. Understandably, Joey took time off from the ring, but when he returned, he did so with a vengeance.

Dawejko took a short-notice fight the following September in New Jersey against a previously undefeated local favorite John Lennox. Joey showed himself and the world what he is made of.

The fight lasted all of two minutes and left the hometown crowd undeniably stunned. "I took the fight on only three days' notice," Dawejko concluded. "They tried to catch me out of shape and thought they could beat me if they didn't give me enough time to get ready for the fight. I went to his backyard and walked out a winner and had 500 people booing me. I had my cut-man and trainer, and my fiance's stepfather in the crowd rooting for me. That's it. My cut-man told me to go out there and go after him. I went out and caught him with a good double-hook to the body and hook to the head and he wobbled back. I jumped on him and hurt him real bad before the ref jumped in and stopped it."

A dream that started with a grandfather in his corner is now being carried on alone by the grandson. With a tricky style and a work ethic second to none, Joey Dawejko is a welcome addition to Boxing 360 family as he continues the proud Philly fighter tradition. We are proud to help him realize his dream.