Setbacks are piling up
Luis Tavares knows better than anyone what it means to fall and get up again. His past years have been full of setbacks: a doping case in 2022 where he had to fight hard to clear his name, a serious bacterial infection in 2023 that nearly cost him his life, and in 2024 a serious injury that led to three surgeries and a year on the sidelines.
They were deep downs, blow after blow, but Luis decided that his story would not end there.
Patience and resilience are key
“My biggest lesson is patience,” he says. “I've learned to let go of things, to accept that I can't control everything, and to be happy with the small steps forward.”
For Luis, the comeback is not a show to the outside world, but something intimate and personal. He no longer has to prove anything to others. His motive is pure: to show himself that, despite everything, he has the strength to come back.
He gets that strength not only from the ring, but also from his background. Born in Rotterdam-West, grew up with hardworking parents who taught him that you should never complain and always persevere. “Don't prick but brush,” he sums it up. It was his attitude to life, complemented by the wisdom of his trainers: giving up is easy, keeping going is difficult.
The power of mentality
Luis sees talent and mentality as two hands on the same stomach. Talent is an advantage, but without a mentality, you won't get anywhere. And it's that mentality that helped him fight through the darkest periods.
Rise, rebuild and return stronger!
The Returning Citizens slogan hits him to the core. “After all my setbacks, this is exactly what I stand for. My comeback is personal, but also a message: it's always possible. No matter how hard it gets.”
His advice for people who are now at a low point is simple but powerful: realize that there are always people who are having an even harder time, and learn to look consciously at the small positive things around you. “That can break that negative spiral.
Comeback
Luis dreams of returning to the ring one more time and becoming a world champion at Glory. But his ambitions go beyond sports alone. He wants to keep developing, socially and personally, and become a better person for his loved ones.
What inspires him the most is the support of his family. A simple call from his mother asking if he has eaten yet, or the loving support of his wife - these are the moments that give him the most strength.
Luis Tavares shows that a comeback is not just about physical performance, but about resilience, self-reflection and the courage to persevere. His story is a mirror for anyone looking for a way back: it's possible, step by step.
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