Hieron set to defend his IFL title (Fightin' Words)

Fighting became a necessity for Long Island native Jay Hieron.

"That's how I started fighting," Hieron said. "I was the kid getting picked on, getting chased home from school, getting my lunch money taken."

Now it's Hieron (14-4-1, 6-2 IFL) who is chasing people -- this time around a ring. The Freeport product is the International Fight League welterweight champion. He will defend his belt this Friday against Mark Miller (8-2, 2-1) at The Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

"I was a late bloomer," he added. "I didn't grow until I got to high school. I was scared to get thrown in the duck pond by Freeport High School."

It was then when Hieron started taking boxing lessons to defend himself, but his focus would quickly turn to wrestling.

"The boxing gym was too far away from my house at the time," he said. "So the next best thing was wrestling. I didn't have a car, I was only 14 and I was like 'well I could join wrestling and at least I'll know how to slam somebody'."

Hieron did manage to learn a thing or two about wrestling. He eventually became an All-American at Freeport High School and a national champion at Nassau Community College, also wrestling at Hofstra.

"The competition, man, it changed my life," Hieron said. "The coaches are like father figures, [Freeport's] Terry Haise and Coach Russ Cellan. I don't even think I would've graduated high school without wrestling. Because in order to stay wrestling, I had to keep my grades up."

But then the wrestler from Freeport found an even tougher opponent in the law. Hieron was arrested for selling drugs after college. He spent a month and a half in jail and then started to turn around his life.

"I'm definitely grateful for coming out of a bad situation," he said. "I had a great upbringing, great family, I can't blame nothing on nothing. I just got steered down the wrong path. I changed my lifestyle."

Hieron would help his friend and fellow Nassau County wrestler Phil Baroni train for his fights. It was then when Hieron became interested in the sport. Now Hieron, a veteran who has fought in different organizations, has found a home in the IFL. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife and trains at Extreme Couture MMA.

"I wouldn't change anything in my life," the Team Tompkins fighter said. "I feel everything that happens in your life happens for a reason. All the adversity I've been through has definitely helped me out."

Now Hieron will compete close to home once again. Any added pressure?

"That's my city," he said. "I definitely have New York behind me 100 percent. I don't feel pressure back home when a lot of people watch me. I think it helps me."