Pain Don't Hurt: Fighting Inside and Outside the Ring

2006:MarkMillerwasarisingstarinprofessionalkickboxing--handsome,hard-charging,andawinner.Butwhenaroutinephysicaluncoveredaseriousheartcondition,hewasbarredfromcompeting.Heneededaprocedurethatwouldsavehislife--andendhiscareer.Miller’sdramaticandlife-savingsurgeryalsoworkedtoreunitehisfracturedfamily,andshortlyafterhisreleasefromthehospital,hebegantrainingagain,refusingtoaccepthisfightingcareerwasfinished.Butwithinayear,hisfather,hismother,andhisbrotheralldied,andMiller’sshort-livedandfragileoptimismcollapsedundertheweightofhisgriefandhisfearhewouldneverfightagain.Unmooredandgrief-stricken,hefellintoatailspinofdrugsandalcohol.PainDon’tHurtistheremarkablestoryofhowMarkMillerascendedbackoutofthatblackholeofsorrow,addiction,anddisablingphysicallimitationstobecometheonlyprofessionalfighterinhistorytoreturntotheringafteropenheartsurgery.Aninspiring,exciting,andfrankaccountofthefights--bothinandoutofthering--thathaveshapedMiller,PainDon’tHurttracksthecourseofMiller’sremarkablelife,fromhissixyearoldself’sobsessionwithBruceLeeandChuckNorristohisabusivefather’sboxinglessons,whichwerehisonlydisplayoflove;fromhisadolescencespentmasteringmartialartsfromhapkidototaekwondotohisriseasakickboxer;fromfightinginThailandtotrainingintheNetherlands;fromthedepthsofdespairtotheloveofhisthreesonsandtheempoweringrewardsoffatherhood,whichpushedhimbackintocombat.Adeeplypersonalaccountofperseveranceanddetermination--andguts,blood,andglory--PainDon’tHurtisamesmerizingstoryofhowonemanovercametheodds,timeandtim