Second-Time Champion

Peters Township’s Dan Harvison shuts out the jiu-jitsu competition at this year’s Pan Am Championships.

Peters Township resident Dan Harvison is no stranger to competition—or to victory. At 45 years old, the former professional boxer—undefeated in his 10-year career and once ranked eighth in the world—has recently achieved a new milestone. But this time, it wasn’t in the boxing ring—it was on the jiu-jitsu mats.

Originally from McKeesport, Harvison spent his youth immersed in sports. “I grew up playing almost every sport a kid could play,” he says. That athletic foundation led him to boxing after high school, where he quickly rose through the amateur ranks—capturing a state title and national ranking before turning professional. His decade-long career saw him win the cruiserweight championship and remain undefeated.

In 2015, Harvison and his wife, Michelle, moved to Peters Township to raise their daughters, Caroline and Charlotte. But retirement from boxing didn’t mean retirement from competition. “About five years ago, I decided I wanted to pick up a sport again that would keep me in shape, but also I wanted to learn something new,” he explains. “Jiu-jitsu seemed to be just that, and after a few weeks I was hooked.”

That curiosity turned into dedication and determination. Months of rigorous training followed: jiu-jitsu drills, circuit workouts, road running, and every conditioning method he could manage.

In early 2024, Harvison committed himself to entering his first jiu-jitsu tournament, in Indianapolis, Indiana. With months of intense training behind him, he earned a gold medal in three matches. This set the stage for something even bigger—the Pan Am Championships in Orlando, Florida.

The Pan Ams are one of the largest and most competitive jiu-jitsu tournaments in the world, drawing athletes from across the globe. Harvison stunned the field, winning his first two matches by submission and advancing to the finals against the returning champion. He won the championship bout in a 5-0 shutout.

“All of the hard work had paid off,” Harvison says. “It felt good to push myself to the limit and learn new skills and meet new people on this new journey in life.”

Today, you’ll still find Harvison on the mats—training, learning and looking ahead to the next challenge. “I would say it was definitely a great experience that I am happy to share with friends and family,” he says. “And hopefully, there are more goals to achieve in the upcoming year.”

Dan Harvison’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to chase new dreams—and that champions never stop growing.