Name: Marcelino Duarte | City: Las Vegas, NV | IG: @KingDuarte7

What does being a father mean to you?

Being a father to me Means the world because I believe to even be a father is a special trusted job from GOD to help mold a child into what he or she suppose to become. With that said I feel as a father it’s my job to help my son find his purpose in life then help him perfect his purpose so that he can contribute it to the world and in return his purpose will feed him and shelter him and please our Heavenly Father.

Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.

With my father I seen him work every day and come home tired but he made sure I had a roof over my head and the tools I needed to chase my dream with what he had. I just knew I had to take that and reach my dream and accomplish my purpose so that I could show my son by my actions and words how to achieve his purpose and be behind him the entire way.

What things did you take from your experience growing up into your own fatherhood journey?

I RAISED AROUND ALOT OF OLDER PEOPLE AND ALL MY FRIENDS DIDNT HAVE fathers in their homes so my father was their father and I just knew that when I got older if my son ever had friends without father that I need to be in position that not only can I father my son but if their are other kids GOD puts in my path I can help shape them into finding their way in life that I would be ready to step in just as my father and mother did with my friends that didn’t have fathers.

Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?

WOW SHIT YES LOL my son was born the same day I buried my grandmother which was like my best friend and grandmother all in one. I didn’t even get to hold my son until he was 6 months his mother was in another relationship and in a different state and just would ignore my calls etc everyday meanwhile I was training and preparing to go pro in basketball at the tie with the Harlem Globetrotters so long story short by the time my son was 2 I had him full time with me in LAS VEGAS as I was with the Harlem globetrotters at the time I was engaged and I knew GOD made it possible to have my son with me full time so I’m make sure I take this amazing soul and make him something that will make GOD proud of him and me. So wearing many hats I reached out to the Men in my reach from JERMAINE JACKSON FLOYD MAYWEATHER ZAB JUDAH FLAVOR FLAV BISHOP DON JUAN DEVANTE SWING ROGER MAYWEATHER AND FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR. JOE JACKSON AND I BUILD THIS VILLAGE OF GREAT MEN THAT LOOK LIKE HIM AS HIS UNCLES AND GOD FATHER TO HELP ME WITH INSPIRING HIM EVERYDAY TO be great. I started my son boxing at 3 and now he is 10 has been trained by ROGER AND FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR SINCE HE WAS 3 and now he is the youngest AMATEUR ambassador of WBC BOXING EVER AND one of the most famous kid boxers ever.

What advice would you give others new on their fatherhood journey?

BEING A FATHER IS A GIFT FROM GOD, TAKE IT VERY SERIOUS THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THIS IF I AS THIS CHILD FATHER DONT PREPARE HIM FOR LIFE SOMEBODY ELSE WILL. DONT ALLOW NOTHING AND NOBODY KEEP YOU FROM YOUR CHILD. ITS OK TO MAKE MISTAKES ITS OK TO NOT BE RICH TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU KNOWS AND HELP YOUR CHILD BE SPECIAL BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILD, THAT THEY RESPECT YOU, TRUST YOU AND ARE COMFORTABLE WITH TELLING YOU ANYTHING GOOD OR BAD. LASTLY ENJOY BEING A FATHER ALL A CHILD WANTS IS THEIR FATHERS LOVE AND THEIR FATHERS BEST. I WISH YOU AND YOUR CHILD A AMAZING JOURNEY THAT YOU BOTH CAN CONTRIBUTE AND INSPIRE TO THE NEXT FATHER AND CHILD AND KEEP GREAT FATHER EMPOWERED.

If you could write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?

DEAR FATHER I LOVE YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR ME GROWING UP AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO DO THAT LIFE OR FINANCES DIDNT ALLOW. I APPRECIATE THE FATHER FIGURE YOU WAS TO MY FRIENDS THAT DIDNT HAVE FATHERS IN THEIR HOMES. THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING PRESENT AND NEVER SPEAKING AGAINST MY DREAMS. YOU ARE A GREAT FATHER MY GREAT FATHER THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU?

 Interested in joining our Fearless Father campaign? Click here.

Purchase our exclusive “I Dad Different” shirt today. USE CODE: DIFFERENT at check out. Click here to buy now.