Before touching weights, Marcus was taking care of his four little brothers while his mother was fighting a bout of drug abuse.

He attended Dakota Wesleyan University for two years, but after encountering a lot a racism he returned home.

Haley admits that he always looked up to Shawn Ray and Mike Ashley as a youth.

While in Las Vegas, Haley started training at Gold's Gym and met a female bodybuilder named Gabby.

He earned his IFBB pro card by placing 1st in the Super Heavyweight division in the 2005 USA Bodybuilding/Figure Championships.