Vito “The Maverick” Montemarano: Fighting Tradition, Building Legacy

Kelly Coyne
Feb 7
4 min read

Vito “The Maverick” Montemarano comes from a storied boxing lineage. His uncle, Guido

Montemarano, won the World Cup in the 1980s and developed the San Severo Style—an approach designed for shorter boxers to close the distance on their opponents.

Growing up in a boxing family has made Vito’s journey even more meaningful. He emphasized this, explaining, “...Your history is everything. Some people are born to be a fighter, born for this. Like, you can make a fighter, yes, but it's different when you have someone who grew up in this, who was born into this…”

Surprisingly, Vito didn’t start taking boxing seriously until recently. He grew up in Parma, Ohio, and attended Normandy High School class of 21’. In addition to mastering the San Severo Style, Vito is a right-handed southpaw, meaning he leads with his right hand and foot.

Beyond competing, Vito’s favorite aspect of boxing is teaching. He has had the honor of passing down the Italian boxing style to others.

His military background has also played a crucial role in shaping his discipline. Serving from 2021 to 2024, he credits the experience with helping him mature. Reflecting on his time in the military, he shared, “...I loved the military. Military was probably the best thing that happened to me because, ya know, it teaches you to grow up and mature. Most people younger don’t really know that or understand what it's like to be on your own and handle things yourself…”

Vito proudly represents Team USA and is an eight-time medalist. Reflecting on this achievement, he remarked, “I think it's an honor that I actually got voted on to that. I didn’t expect to do it so soon since I’m technically new to the scene…”

His nickname, “Maverick,” comes from his habit of giving a thumbs-up before every match and training session—just like the character in Top Gun.

Relentless Training and Rising Fame

Vito trains three times a day, following an intense regimen that includes a two-mile morning run, an uphill run to finish the day, heavy bag work, shadowboxing, weighted movements, and training in varied climates and elevations.

His passion for boxing runs deep. For him, it’s not just a sport—it’s life. Emphasizing his dedication, he declared, “What makes me more unique is how far I’m willing to go for it…”

He has also seen explosive growth on social media, setting a goal to reach three million followers by the end of March. In just 30 days, he has gained over 23 million engagements,

and his momentum continues to build.

Lessons from the Ring

For aspiring boxers, Vito’s advice is simple but powerful: “My advice for an up-and-coming boxer is, I’d say, take it slow, learn everything you can, and find someone to get behind… And just be humble. Never be one of those fighters that are showboating, trying to say they're the best. Always be open to new things and other people's opinions…”

In Life and the Ring, Vito lives by the motto “Make it personal.” He believes that passion comes from personal connection, saying that you'll be more driven toward your goals if they hold deep meaning to you. When giving advice, he emphasizes the importance of making it personal as well.

Boxing, he says, has instilled confidence and patience in him. Emphasizing its impact on his mindset, Vito stated, “Boxing honestly made me more confident, and it's made me a calmer person ‘cuz you understand you have a gift, and you know you have to be disciplined enough to know how to use it properly…”

Beyond the sport, boxing has reinforced valuable life lessons. Vito reflected, “...I would say boxing has taught me that not everything goes as planned. Usually, when you least expect it, things have to fall so they can come together…”

It has also taught him to slow down and embrace the journey. Reflecting on this lesson, Vito said, “Boxing really slowed that down—taking things one step at a time, one round at a time… We don’t have it figured out; we’re just going and figuring it out as we go…”

His biggest inspirations are his parents and stepfather. His mother built a career later in life while raising children. His father is the hardest worker he knows. His stepfather, James, a former state champion wrestler, instilled in him an “unstoppable attitude.”

Above all, Vito believes in the power of positivity, expressing, “I would say being positive is everything because with the world so set on tearing itself apart, it's not such a bad thing to wanna put a piece of it back together…”

What’s Next?

Vito is setting his sights on a title fight in July, with hopes of securing the matchup in Cleveland. He wants to rewrite history, proving that hard work and dedication can turn lofty goals into reality.

Discussing Northeast Ohio’s boxing scene, Vito acknowledged its potential, noting, “...The boxing scene is, it's pretty big here. It's not as big as places like Philly or New York, but ya know, it's pretty big. There’s some upcoming talent…”