A powerful new podcast, Defiant, will tell the extraordinary story of Eric Morante; the first licensed amputee boxer in the United States.
Produced by Stak., the six-part series charts Eric’s journey from a devastating battlefield injury to rebuilding his life through sport.
In 2007, while serving as a US Marine squad leader in Iraq, a bomb blast tore through his unit, claiming his right leg and nearly his life.
Returning home to Texas, Eric faced PTSD, addiction, and isolation before rediscovering his purpose through boxing.
That passion led him to co-found the National Amputee Boxing Association, a movement using the sport to help veterans heal from trauma and limb loss.
At its height, amputee boxing drew national attention and seemed on course for Paralympic recognition, with Eric at its heart. But in 2019, moments before a landmark fight against an able-bodied opponent, his licence was revoked, ending the sport he helped create.
Now, eight years on, Eric is still fighting. He teaches boxing to children with cerebral palsy, veterans with PTSD, and people with disabilities, using the sport that once saved him to inspire others.
Defiant is an emotional story of resilience, community, and the power of sport to transform lives.
Listen to Defiant from Monday 10 November on all major podcast platforms.
