In the world of sports, winning is often celebrated, but one El Paso father is reminding everyone that attitude and perseverance are what truly count.
Dominic Barry, an undefeated professional boxer and popular social media influencer, recently shared a powerful moment with his 7-year-old daughter, Nalah Barry.
Known for his journey from a failed NFL attempt with the Los Angeles Rams to becoming a cruiserweight boxer starting at age 26, Dominic has built a following by balancing fame, family, and philanthropy.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he now lives in El Paso, Texas, with his wife and daughter, who is already making waves as a Jiu-Jitsu grey belt and junior gold medalist in martial arts.
The father-daughter duo has captured hearts online with their close bond and shared passion for combat sports.
People love seeing their training sessions and competitions, which highlight Dominic’s role as both a dad and a coach.
But lately, Dominic isn’t in the spotlight for his own fights.
Instead, it’s a viral video of Nalah’s reaction during a Jiu-Jitsu match that’s sparking conversations about parenting, sportsmanship, and handling disappointment.
In the recent video clip posted on Facebook, Dominic shared a candid moment from Nalah’s match.
The caption reads:
“When things don’t go our way we don’t pout, throw tantrums and give up we fight through. The tears are perfectly fine but the attitude when she realized things weren’t going her way is what alarms me. She was winning the entire match and because she couldn’t finish with a pin and he was not letting go of her leg she throws a fit and gives up. Win, lose, or draw it doesn’t matter but the way we carry ourselves means everything. A lot of you aren’t going to agree with this but she chose to go back out there. She chooses this sport every day. She chooses to compete. This is something I had to learn as well growing up when I would throw tantrums and want to quit in sports when things weren’t going my way.”
Via Facebook
The video shows Nalah’s very first matchup, which started intensely and promisingly.
She was dominating the entire time, but things took a turn when she couldn’t secure the pin, and her opponent held tightly to her leg.
Frustrated, Nalah lost her cool and composure, throwing a tantrum right there on the mat.
Dominic doesn’t mind her crying after a loss; tears show passion and investment in the sport.
But the tantrum during the match and the way she gave up simply because things weren’t going her way? That, he says, is not okay.
In a YouTube description from a related video, Dominic explained further:
“I told her if she continues to throw fits like this after losses we’d be done. Not because we’re losing but because that’s terrible sportsmanship to act like that. We will be prideful in victory and defeat. She bounced back and had a much better day.”
Via Youtube
At the end of the video, Dominic made his stance clear:
“This is the last time you’ll ever see her do this. I promise, if she does that again y’all will never see her again on Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling match. I’ll take it from her.”
Via Facebook
This isn’t the first time Dominic has addressed emotional challenges in sports with Nalah.
In other videos, like one from an AGF tournament in Lubbock, he pulled her from competition after a similar meltdown to teach consequences and the importance of emotional regulation.
As a former athlete who learned these lessons the hard way, Dominic draws from his own experiences.
He started boxing late in life after being cut from the NFL and has since gone undefeated in his professional career, often sharing how perseverance shaped him.
For Nalah, who competes in tough divisions and has won gold medals, these moments are about building character beyond the wins.
The viral video has mixed reactions regarding Dominic’s tough love approach
Donic Meadows commented:
“She handle the loss better than some of the boys. ‘My sons still get upset after a loss. This our 4th year wrestling. She has a high expectation of herself which most wrestling kids do. Show her some videos of some good losses and show her how they handle it. Made a difference with my 2. Ijs”
Via Facebook
Alexander Williams added:
“I know a lot of people will not agree with your point of view, but it’s your decision to make. Maybe when she’s older and a little more mature, she will show interest and learn a better way to handle disappointment. There is nothing wrong with setting high behavior standards for your kids.”
Via Facebook
Jamie Diaz shared a different perspective:
“Naw don’t do that ! She just doesn’t like to lose that’s natural. If she doesn’t cry it mean she will except losing . If anybody said it’s ok to lose and you learn from losing is the only thing you learn to lose more. No body like to lose. Crying mean she hates to lose. When she doesn’t that a problem.”
Via Facebook
Sahran J farnklin wrote:
“She didn’t throw herself on the ground kicking and screaming. She didn’t buck up. She was not aggressively upset. She was sad and disappointed. No big deal. The toughest grown men cry too. Allow her the space to process her feelings. Can’t get upset with her just because you don’t like the way she processes feeling upset.”
Via Facebook
Sherita Smith offered advice:
“I was an athlete all my life and losing can make anybody emotional, however this is also a physical sport and that can make things even more challenging. I know your dad and coach but she might need you to be just dad and ask what makes her so emotional and go from there to create a safe space so that she doesn’t have to be emotional. Good luck .“
Via Facebook
These reactions highlight the ongoing debate about how parents should handle kids’ emotions in competitive sports.
Some see Dominic’s method as building resilience, while others advocate for more empathy and space to process feelings.
In similar comments from other videos, parents share stories of their own children’s struggles, praising Dominic for his transparency and hands-on parenting.
Ultimately, Dominic’s message shows, It’s not about the win or loss, but how you carry yourself through it all.
By sharing these real moments, he’s not only teaching Nalah but inspiring other families to prioritize attitude and perseverance over trophies.
As Nalah continues her Jiu-Jitsu journey, with her dad’s guidance, she’s sure to grow stronger both on and off the mat.
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