‘Too Hot To Handle’ Star Chase DeMoor Gets Real About The ‘Stigma’ Of Being A Reality Star

Chase DeMoor knows exactly what people think when they hear his name. For years, the 6’5” athlete was best known for his appearances on Netflix dating shows like "Too Hot To Handle" and "Perfect Match," where his larger-than-life personality and confidence made him a standout reality TV figure. But as he transitioned into boxing, Chase DeMoor quickly realized that fame came with a price, one he would have to fight to overcome.

In a candid conversation with The Blast, DeMoor opened up about the "reality TV stigma" that followed him into the ring, the discipline required to earn respect in a brutal sport, and how his career-defining win over Andrew Tate helped shift public perception.

For DeMoor, the challenge wasn’t just learning the sport of boxing. Instead, it was convincing people he belonged there in the first place. “It became clear to me once I stepped into boxing gyms and realized people already had an opinion of me before I ever put gloves on,” he explained. “Reality TV gave me visibility, and I’m grateful for that, but boxing is a completely different world."

He continued, "I understood pretty early that if I wanted to be taken seriously, I couldn’t rely on my past. I had to build something new through consistency, humility, and real work over time.”

The "stigma," he says, wasn’t something he could simply ignore, either. “I’d be lying if I said no,” DeMoor admitted when asked whether he worried the label would permanently follow him. “That stigma is real, and it’s not something you can erase overnight. But I also learned that boxing has a way of stripping everything back to the truth. You can’t fake conditioning, discipline, or resilience.”

Once he embraced that reality, the doubt became fuel. “Once I accepted that progress would be slow and earned, the worry turned into motivation,” he told The Blast.

Walking away from the exposure of reality television wasn’t nearly as difficult as earning credibility in boxing. “Convincing the boxing world, without question,” DeMoor said. “Walking away from exposure is a personal decision, but changing perception takes time and patience. I knew I had to show up repeatedly, fight often, and take real risks before people would even consider changing their minds.”

That mindset is reflected in his schedule. While many crossover fighters compete occasionally, DeMoor fights as often as five or six times per year in televised bouts, a deliberate choice rooted in accountability. “It was more about accountability than criticism,” he explained. “I wanted my actions to match my words. Staying active forces growth, you can’t hide behind potential when you’re fighting regularly.”

Despite the progress, he says misconceptions still linger. “That I’m here for the spotlight rather than the craft,” he said. “The truth is, most of my work happens when no one’s watching. Boxing has humbled me, and I take that responsibility seriously.”

One of the biggest shifts in public perception came after DeMoor’s highly anticipated victory over Andrew Tate, a moment he describes as a turning point in his career. “Yes, it did,” he said when asked whether the fight felt different in real time. “Not because of the opponent alone, but because it felt like a moment where preparation met opportunity. I could sense that people were starting to reassess what I was capable of.”

For DeMoor, the fight represented more than just a matchup. It was a chance to rewrite his narrative. “Absolutely,” he said when asked if he felt he was fighting a narrative. “I was fighting years of assumptions and doubts. I wasn’t trying to prove anyone wrong. I was trying to prove myself right and show what disciplined preparation looks like under pressure.”

After the win, the opportunities changed, but so did the expectations. “The expectations became higher, and so did the responsibility,” he explained. “Opportunities became more structured and serious, and with that came the understanding that every performance matters more now.”

While fans often see the fight nights and highlights, DeMoor says the most difficult parts of his journey happen far from the spotlight. “The quiet sacrifices,” he said. “The long camps, the isolation, the routines that don’t leave much room for comfort. People see the fight night, but they don’t see the months of discipline leading up to it.”

There have been moments when the mental and physical toll pushed him to question the path, but those challenges ultimately reinforced his purpose. “Yes, there have been tough moments,” he admitted. “But those moments also clarified why I’m here. Boxing has forced me to grow mentally just as much as physically.”

The discipline required now is a stark contrast from his life before entering the sport. “It’s a lifestyle now, not a switch you turn on and off,” he said. “Everything is intentional, how I recover, how I train, how I prepare mentally. That structure has changed me for the better.”

Outside the ring, DeMoor is also redefining what a modern fighter’s brand can look like. He recently broke a Guinness World Record for the highest-priced influencer boxing gloves ever sold, a milestone he says wasn’t about money alone. “It was about showing that influence backed by effort has real value,” he explained. “The money is symbolic, but the message was about impact and credibility, not just attention.”

Looking ahead, his goals remain rooted in growth rather than shortcuts. “It takes me toward higher-level challenges, meaningful fights, and moments that push me beyond comfort,” he said of his future in boxing. “I’m focused on growth, not shortcuts.”

And years from now, when people look back at his career, DeMoor knows exactly what he hopes they’ll say. “I hope they say I earned respect,” he said. “That I didn’t rely on labels or hype, but showed up consistently, faced challenges head-on, and built something real.”