Hazel Park Gives Key to the City to MMA Fighter Myles Jury (video)
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 30, 2014)
The City of Hazel Park has made it official, Sept. 30 is Myles Jury Day in Hazel Park, in honor of the undefeated MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter who grew up there.
“When Myles walks out they show his hometown and he lists his hometown as Hazel Park, Michigan. Myles Jury did not forget where he came from. And the City of Hazel Park will never forget him. We will always stand behind him in each of his competitions. Myles you have made us so proud.”
Born on Halloween night in 1988, the talented fighter began wresting in junior high school and took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 13.
“I went to Beecher Jr. High and I wrestled under Jason Guthrie. It was awesome. It was almost the foundation of knowing that when it comes to sports I was very good. Growing up I played sports – basketball, football, but it wasn’t until wresting that I kind of understood that I’m a good wrestler, I’m a good fighter.”
Jury moved to Fenton his freshman year, but continued to come to Hazel Park where his father lived. He graduated from Fenton and attended Oakland Community College briefly before giving it up to train full time.
City Manager Ed Klobucher and Mayor Janice Parisi presented Jury with a proclamation honoring Sept. 30 as Myles Jury Day, and key to the City made with care by the Hazel Park DPW.
Jury said he was “honored.”
“I fell like no matter where I go in my life, in my career, I feel like Hazel Park has given me something special. It is an honor to come full circle and to represent this city that’s given me so much.”
Mayor Parisi said Jury is a good representative of the athletics that Hazel Park Schools and the community has always been proud of. “The best thing is that he is such a good person. Very friendly, a real gentleman.”
Jury made his professional MMA debut in 2005, and was twice on the TV show “The Ultimate Fighter.” He has gone 15-0 professionally, and is currently ranked #8 in the UFC lightweight division.
For more on the City of Hazel Park, visit their website at http://www.hazelpark.org/.
For more on Myles “the Fury” Jury, see http://theteamfury.com/mylesjury/.