RAPID CITY - Belle Fourche's Stoney Kilmer has the theme music from Rocky set as the ringtone on his phone. He also has a story to match.

After more than six years since he last stepped in the ring, Kilmer decided to make a comeback, and he has done some amazing things. He won the Golden Gloves at the state level this year and he won his first professional fight two weeks ago.

All that, and Kilmer had a good reason not to compete.

Kilmer suffered a facial injury not related to boxing in 2001. He was hit in the face with a rock and required four reconstructive surgeries. The first emergency surgery lasted six hours.

"The doctors thought that I lost all of my teeth," Kilmer said. "But they were stuck deep in my jaw."

Getting back into the ring was the furthest thing from his mind. But in March, after coaching other boxers, Kilmer, now 34, decided to give his sport another shot. It would be his last shot at the amateur level because the cutoff age for amateur boxers is 35.

"I don't think that I ever lost the desire," said Kilmer, who started boxing 17 years ago at the age of 17. "Other boxers asked me, 'Why don't you compete,' and I eventually gave in. I

wanted to box and show people I've still got it. I'm just one of those people that tell me I can't do something and I'll show you I can."

Kilmer began to train for the state Golden Gloves boxing competition in Manderson, the first level of amateur boxing. The Golden Gloves is a franchise of amateur boxing through USA Boxing, which is governed by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

But when he began training, Kilmer, and his father and trainer Mike Kilmer, noticed a difference. While Stoney was always having to lose weight nine years previous, he had less trouble recently keeping his lightweight-level 135 pounds. Kilmer's routine included three miles of running before work, and two hours after work. His father helped him with technique.

There a lot of difference between a boxer and a fighter, Mike Kilmer said.

"A lot of people can throw punches," Stoney Kilmer said. "But when and how is different."

Kilmer has won the state Golden Gloves competition before, but now he had only two weeks to train since he decided to box again late in the spring. But it was no matter. Kilmer, who finished his amateur career with a 90-5 record, won his match at the state level.

The next step for Kilmer, the regional level in Omaha, Neb., was more of a challenge. Kilmer faced one of the nation's toughest fighters in Alfredo Martinez, losing by a split decision.

Two weeks later, Kilmer had only one decision to make. He decided to go pro.

"I have been wanting to go pro for a while," Kilmer said. "But I (previously) gave up those dreams and went to coaching."

The training was more intense, Kilmer said, and he had to use different gloves and headgear. Professional fighters focus more on harder, stronger punches, and not points. Mike Kilmer said there was more planning before the fight because with the longer rounds, the boxers need more strategy.

"It was a little nerve-racking," Stoney Kilmer said. "But I have more of a pro style. I was a little more focused."

Kilmer fought professional fighter Tomi Archambault, who had fought in more than 200 amateur fights on May 17. The fight was for four rounds and he had to weigh-in and sign a contract.

Kilmer began the fight a little anxious, but eventually settled down. As the fight went on, his opponent started to "hold a lot." The worst blow of the night on Kilmer came when Archambault hit him in the eye with his shoulder. Kilmer landed some damaging body shots in the second round, and he knocked his opponent down in the third. Kilmer won the match with a unanimous 40-35 decision and his prize - $625 and free lodging and meals for the weekend.

"(The amount of) $625 is decent for a four-round fight," Kilmer said.

Stoney will likely fight again in either North Dakota or Denver within the next three months. In which time, his father will work getting him a little more relaxed in the ring, and more adept at working the ring the right way. They will also visit famed trainer Kenny Wheldon in Texas, who is a coach of 13 world champions and eight Olympians.

But most importantly, Stoney took away the knowledge that he can fight again.

"I enjoy the fact that after all of the crazy things that have happened, I've come through it."