We tend to think of professional athletes as living in the lap of luxury, free to hone their craft at their leisure. The club fighters and hard-working journeymen that have to hold down a full-time job and train around their work schedule are afterthoughts lost in the shuffle. We tend to only think about them when they step through the ropes and proceed to providing us with six, eight, or ten rounds of entertainment.

Kaliesha West (14-1-3, 4 KOs), aside from the obvious difference of gender, is different from the other professional boxers holding down a full-time job. Unlike many of her male counterparts who sacrifice to find time to train, she holds a world title. West has been the WBO female bantamweight champion since 2010. Unlike Nonito Donaire, who held the men’s version of the WBO bantamweight title from February until October of 2011, West isn’t headlining HBO broadcasts and enjoying the spotlight as one of the top 5 profiled fighters in the sport. She is one of the many female world champions who go unnoticed, the would-be heroes and role models to future athletes.

Trained and managed by her father, Juan West, a former professional boxer, Kaliesha West is blessed to have around-the-clock support in her corner.

“I train my daughter because I want to support her. Boxing is her chosen sport and it’s my duty to be there to train and support her along her journey along to what she’s trying to accomplish,” Juan West said.

As one can expect, lofty expectations have been placed upon Kaliesha. While injuries derailed Juan West’s professional boxing career, his passion and drive were passed along to Kaliesha, and he expects dedication to her craft.

“I’m an overachiever, myself, so I have put it in her to be an overachiever. So get in the ring and give 110%. At the end of the day she can say ‘I did my best’.”

Kaliesha recognizes the challenges her father presents her with and is appreciative of his influence.

“I would say it’s been hard for the most part. Not only is it the pressure of my coach, but the pressure of my father, so there’s extra emotions involved. My dad, being someone that I look up to, his opinion matters to me,” West said during our recent conversation. “Everything he says really gets to me at the heart, which is good in the long run. I was always doing that little extra to do my best for him.”

In addition to preparing Kaliesha for battle in the ring, Juan West goes to battle for her outside of the ring. As her manager he has to work to secure fights on fight cards whenever and wherever he can. With the huge disparity in men’s fights-to women’s fights on any given fight card, one can imagine this is no easy task.

“It’s very challenging because promoters are out there looking for the next Oscar De La Hoya, or the next Muhammad Ali – a heavyweight,” Juan West stated. “They aren’t looking for the next great female. So it is challenging as a manager to convince a promoter that women are worthy to get on the card.

I’ve got a special product: a woman with amateur pedigree, the amateur background, the experience and the skills to showcase what the men are currently showcasing.”

As proud as one would expect a father/trainer/manager of a world champion, Juan West sees himself in his daughter.

“My opinion of myself as a fighter, I believed that I could have been a world champion. Unfortunately I had injuries that took me out of the game,” he exclaimed. “Then I was blessed with Kaliesha who had the same ingredients to accomplish the ultimate goal. I wasn’t able to accomplish my goals, but I was able to help my daughter accomplish her goals.”

Juan and Kaliesha set out to become a world champion, and together they achieved that goal in September of 2010, on the undercard of Shane Mosley’s fight with Sergio Mora. West grabbed the vacant WBO female bantamweight title with a commanding knockout win over Angel Gladney. When a male boxer wins a world championship, it opens doors to network deals and larger pay days. That wasn’t the case with Kaliesha West, and as she says, her journey became more difficult.

“It actually got harder because it costs money to be the champion. Just recently I signed with a promoter, so we were grateful to have my last title defense covered,” she said. “But before that I basically defended my title for free because the sanctioning fees were so expensive that the promoter couldn’t afford a purse for me.

When I got the world title I was thinking it was going to change, and I would be breaking down walls for women, and that was one of the main reasons why I went after a title. I got to be at Staples Center on a Golden Boy card under Shane Mosley – what more can you expect?”

But things didn’t change. West, like other female boxers, can’t get on HBO, Showtime, or even ESPN. She understands the task at hand and knows success will only come through hard work and determination. With the 2012 London Olympics around the corner, Women’s Boxing is faced with just that golden opportunity. More importantly, Kaliesha West will be faced with a golden opportunity.

Women’s boxing will be contested at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. With a worldwide audience at the helm, its competitors will be on display for the world to see.

“What used to be displayed isn’t half as good as what can be displayed today because we’ve made big improvements,” West told me when asked about opportunities for television exposure for female athletes. “Back then when female boxing was on TV they weren’t even allowed to fight internationally and they were so limited. Women now have all this experience from an expanded amateur game.”

As an established world champion, widely regarded as one of the best in the sport, she has the opportunity to lead the group out of the shadows and into the light.

Change happens gradually and over time, and it is unlikely that we’ll see women on HBO, Showtime, or ESPN this year, or the next for that matter. Kaliesha West knows it is unlikely she’ll reach the celebrity status of a Laila Ali or a Christy Martin, but she is ready and willing to lead a strong group of boxers, who just happen to be female, onto the grand stage.

“I have probably another 5 years or so before I’m getting up there and start getting old. My career isn’t going to last forever, and neither is my name. So where’s the future?” she asked. “I’ll go and support a female boxer if I know her personally, if I know she’s got a big fight coming up. I’ll put up other female fighters out there. I’m not sitting here trying to blast my name.

“If I wanted to talk only about myself I could, but I’d be weak. I want to come as a group of strong females.”

You can follow Kaliesha West on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KWildWildWest and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OfficialKalieshaWest.

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Gym Visit: Rivera Rec Center North Philadelphia with Victor Vasquez and trainer Billy Briscoe

According to Billy Briscoe, who currently trains Gabriel Rosado and Victor Vasquez among other Philadelphia fighters out of the Rivera Rec Center in North Philadelphia, you don’t change a fighter’s style, you work with what you’ve got.  But along those lines you help that fighter be a smarter fighter based on their style.

So when he began training the crowd-pleasing pressure fighter Victor Vasquez last year, Briscoe didn’t try and make him something he is not.  He took the aggressive pressure fighter and began looking to make improvements that would make Victor better at doing what he likes to do.  And what Victor likes to do is put on a fight the fans will love, by attacking his opponent with relentless aggression.

Briscoe knew that he would not have to search for Victor’s “ring identity” but simply improve what was there.

“He was hard wired with ring identity.  You see, the thing with that is like you know, some guys you go to their gym and they say, I’m a change your style.  No man, the old timers always told you, use what you got.  The guy comes in here, he is what he is.  Like Cus D’Amato said, people that are born round don’t die square.  He comes in here and wants to be a pressure fighter, okay we work with that.  But how can we be a more effective pressure fighter.  There’s a dumb pressure fighter and a smart pressure fighter.  Some pressure fighters walk through and take three to get one.  Smart pressure fighters jab their way in, slip their way in, use the angles.  Jab their way in, cut their way in, cut the ring, use the angles.  I’m trying to get him to be a more smart fighter.”

Victor Vasquez got a late start in the boxing game.  The North Philly lightweight boxed in his teens but didn’t really get serious until later when he turned pro in his mid-twenties.  Without the benefit of an amateur background it has been on-the-job-learning in the pro-ranks for Vasquez.

He lost his undefeated mark in his third pro fight.  He won his next five but then was stopped by Ryan Belasco in a matchup of young fighters.  Since then he has gone 7-3-1 always fighting in the local Philadelphia area with several bouts at the now closed famous Blue Horizon.

Along the way, through his ups and downs, Vasquez improved his skills and ring IQ.  But along the way, win or lose, one thing was consistent with Vasquez.  His fights pleased the fans in attendance.  It became a regular quote amongst local boxing writers when they were asked about Victor, “he is never in a bad fight.”

It really didn’t matter if he won or lost.  His style of aggressively coming forward to force his opponent into a back and forth fight that usually turned into a brawl would have the crowds cheering and walking away knowing they wanted to see Vasquez fight again.  Local promoters and managers began realizing if you want to sell tickets in the Philly fight scene, get Victor Vasquez on the card.

“I think people want to see people fight, not run.  So you choosing this sport to get in there and fight.  Not to pop shot and just run.  So, I guess that’s what they like.”

Once the Blue Horizon was no longer the spot for Philly Boxing, he went on at several shows at the Arena in South Philly continuing to draw a crowd.  Then local promoters Joey Eye Boxing, who Vasquez recently signed with, began having Victor headlining at the new Harrah’s casino in Chester, right outside of Philly, and he packed the fans into the ballroom.

“Ya, I love the support.  Whether you don’t like me, or you do, sooner or later you’re gonna end up liking me because you’re there.”

But after a loss to Osnel Charles three fights back, a fight which Vasquez feels he did not lose, he began working with Briscoe.  Slowly but surely he has added wrinkles, improving his offense and especially his defense while maintaining his all-action style.

Suddenly Vasquez was becoming simply more than just an exciting local pressure fighter.  He was becoming a talented and tough boxer that could effectively brawl to get the win and please the crowd.  Vasquez spoke about the improvements since joining with Billy Briscoe.

“My head movement, I move my head a lot better.  My angles have got a lot better.  I’m better conditioned than I ever was.  Like Billy tells me, each fight get more and more in shape.  I think I’m in shape.  Well I know I’m in shape.  The consistency, constantly punching, moving, moving.”

And trainer concurs with the fighter’s improvements.

“Head movement obviously, angles.  His punch output, his conditioning, and his boxing IQ.  You know what I mean, he’s not a dumb guy.  You always gotta add because there’s a difference between training and continual education.  Most fighters just train, we continually educate.  We always gotta find something different.  Fighter is only as strong as his weakest link.  I know I use a lot of clichés but you got to train the fighters to his weakest link.  You know his jab was always good but his head would stand and he would wait for the receipt.  Now we got him jabbing, moving his head, moving his hands, stepping around, feet start moving.”

In his first fight with Briscoe, Vasquez disposed of local fighter Gustavo Dailey with a brutally effective fourth round knockout.  It was his usual entertainment, mixed with a systematic approach that broke down his opponent with body shots, that eventually worked their way upstairs for an impressive one punch knockout that had Dailey reeling all over the ring.

In his next fight he took on former highly touted prospect Angel Rios from New York who was 9-5 at the time.  Vasquez took the early rounds with Briscoe’s style of smart pressure fighting and then kept pace while weathering a late storm from the rugged Rios to take home a majority decision victory.

This weekend Vasquez finds himself taking on his toughest test yet in veteran Dorin Spivey 40-6 (29 KO).  Vasquez is used to headlining the card, as he will do again this weekend, but he will be fighting for the first time in Atlantic City at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino.  He will also be fighting in his first ten rounder and for his first minor belt, the vacant NABA lightweight title.

“First ten round fight.  I feel excited.  I feel in shape.  I feel like I got ready for this fight.  I feel good.  First time in Atlantic City.  It’s exciting, different stage, different atmosphere, new crowd.”

Vasquez is certainly looking forward to the chance to bring home his first piece of hardware.

“I’m excited; I’m more excited and anxious for this fight than nervous.  Every time you have butterflies but being in that type of position in the tough road I had, I’m excited and I can’t wait.”

Vasquez knows he is in for a tough challenge against the battle tested Spivey and will need to employ all the lessons he has learned in the ring, what he has learned under Briscoe’s watchful eye, and be ready to adapt to a fighter that can attack or counterpunch.

“Billy teaches me to adapt to any style.  You go in there and whatever the fight calls for that’s just what it is.  We adjust as we go.  I lacked the experience in amateurs and I’m learning fight by fight.

“I don’t know much [about Spivey].  I seen him last fight in November.  He’s a vet, a veteran, I respect him, but when we get in there it’s a whole different level.  Respect him outside the ring; inside the ring let the best man win.

“Ya, ya, I have to be careful, he’s a veteran.  I go in there like I’m fighting a lion every fight.  I don’t take anybody lightly.  You can’t in this game because one punch can make you or break you, change your whole life.  So I’m going in there very cautious, very careful and ready to go.”

Vasquez did things somewhat backwards.  First he built the fan following, then he really began improving his craft.  Now the aggressive style in the ring and the hard work outside the ring is truly starting to pay off in the way of an opportunity.  A win this weekend nets him the NABA belt and a top fifteen ranking with the WBA in the lightweight division.

But you get the feeling that no matter how successful Vasquez is, he will not forget his roots.  He proudly resides and trains in his childhood neighborhood of North Philadelphia.  He continues to work as a barber, which is how he earned his nickname “The Brawling Barber,” cutting hair at Consider It Done in the neighborhood.  Vasquez also has three kids, a ten-year-old daughter, a five-year-old son, and a six-month-old boy.  Vasquez lights up talking about his kids and informed us that we visited on his twenty-ninth birthday which he plans on celebrating this weekend with another exciting win.

So once again he will headline what should be another intense and entertaining fight.  Once again he will enter the ring looking to put on a great show for the fans, but is also well aware of the implications of a victory and has plenty of goals for his future.

“I just can’t wait till the fourth, gonna be an exciting night.  They called me up, said get ready for the fight, that’s how I do it.

“One fight at a time of course.  My goals this year, end up with as many titles as I can.  Win the belts.  Like Billy likes to say, add to the trophy case.”

Notes

• The visit to Rivera Rec Center was done in conjunction with phillyboxinghistory.com, as always thanks for their assistance.
• This was my first trip to Briscoe’s gym, the Rivera Rec Center.  It is one of the more interesting gyms you will see and has a great character that fits the lead trainer.  Amongst other interesting aspects, the ring is carpeted, the turnbuckles and ropes are held together with duct tape, and it is complete with the basic bags and old school training equipment including giant monster truck tires.
• This was also my first experience watching Briscoe teach.  It is clear he is a trainer that is straight with his fighters and has an extensive knowledge of the history of the sport as well as a high ring IQ that he passes on to his fighters.  Briscoe doesn’t coddle his fighters by slapping the mitts at their gloves or telling them they look great when they don’t execute to perfection.  He congratulates them when they do it right, but lets them know with his own lingo when things are not one hundred percent (don’t wait around for the receipt being my personal favorite of his lines).

Question, comment, agree, disagree, or anything at all, send it to gboxing3@gmail.com

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How many fighters today have records of 15-0 or 20-0?  How many of them are truly that good and how many of them are products of careful matchmaking and soft opposition?  On the flipside of the coin is the question, how many fighters out there are far better than their record but did not have the advantage of management and promoters that moved them along in pre-determined fights?

Super Middleweight Dhafir “No Fear” Smith 24-22-7 (4 KO) could travel the short distance from his daily training regimen at Shuler’s Gym in West Philly to University of Penn, where the brilliant young Ivy League minds would be hard pressed to understand how a fighter can be far better than his record indicates.  Anyone who has seen Smith fight and spar at Shuler’s quickly realizes he is much better than his record and to simply judge him on wins and losses is to really miss the story of a true throwback fighter. 

Smith got into boxing in what is a common story for those in the prize fighting business.  Growing up in a tough neighborhood and having to defend themselves brings plenty of young men to boxing gyms.

“My grandmom wanted me to learn how to fight.  I lived in a rough neighborhood and was getting bullied.  I went to James Shuler Gym and wanted to learn how to defend myself.  But then, I started liking the sport and wanted to pursue it for longevity.”

Turning pro at eighteen after about forty-five amateur fights, reportedly going 35-10 but knowing he had a style suited better for the pro ranks, Smith began his journey.

Smith began a process shared by many fighters without top management and the breaks that promising amateurs get when they turn pro.  He took fights on short notice.  He was willing to travel anywhere to fight bigger names in their hometowns where they would have all the advantages.   It made him a tough fighter that had to learn in the ring and he became a skilled technician, but it did little to give him the glossy record required in today’s boxing landscape.

“Started 8-0, had a manager getting me fights, building me up, moving me along, but we just couldn’t get along so we parted ways.  I did it the hard way, had to fight guys in their hometown.  I beat some, lost some, really won some.

“All my draws was wins to me.  I beat everybody in their hometown.  You get a draw in somebody’s hometown you know what that means.”

Trainer Percy “Buster” Custus commented on Dhafir’s fights early in his career,

“They put him in a lot of bad fights for a kid his size, his age.  So he took a lot of fights without thinking about it.”

Talking with Smith, you feel he would not have had it any other way.  The Philly fighter has three daughters and a boy on the way.  He works as a supervisor at the airport while taking care of his kids and managing to get in the training demands of being a professional fighter.  He emulates the fighters of a different era that fought often, fought the best, and were not caught up with lopsided records.  They simply wanted to show they could beat the best on any given day.

“To be the man you got to beat the man.  I beat some of them, I lost some of them.  Like I said, I got to be ready.  Sometimes I’m not ready; I take fights on short notice.  My record shouldn’t be what it is but I’m not upset with it cause I’ve had big time fighters sign the contract and then say I don’t want fight this guy, he’s too tough.  I know I can fight, I know what I can do.  I just got to be ready, focused, and do my thing the night of the fight, just get the win.

“I feel as though I’m a throwback fighter from back in the day era.  Fighting every week or every other week or every month.  I like to stay busy, I don’t like to be off and be rusty.  I’m a throwback fighter and I’d like to fight every day if I could.  I feel you don’t fight the records, you fight the fighter.  I see a lot of guys get knocked out by a guy with a record like me or worse beating an undefeated guy.”

So Smith moved forward taking fights against whoever, whenever, and wherever he could get them.  Along the way he had some good wins against fighters who were supposed to beat him and took some losses due to being in tough fights, fighting on the road, and often fighting on short notice.  Smith believes that his record can fool people into thinking he is an easy out for an up-and-comer, but they find out they made a mistake come fight night.

“I just feel as though I’m a good fighter but everyone looks at my record and they think they can run over me, but then really see who I am and the people I beat, they don’t fight me and take that chance.  So I get last minute notice, week notice.  That’s how I got some of those losses but that was my fault, my mistake.  You got to live and learn.”

For a fighter like Smith it is all about getting a break and taking advantage of an opportunity.  In late 2010 Smith got that opportunity with a call to fight former world champion and Olympian Jeff Lacy.  Lacy had fallen on tough times but was still considered a top 168-pounder.  Lacy’s management looking for a good comeback fight called on Dhafir to fight Lacy in his hometown of Saint Petersburg, Fl.  Lacy was supposed to walk over Smith putting on a show for his hometown fans and then get his career back on track.  Even people in Shuler’s Gym were telling Dhafir he would get knocked out.  Dhafir had other ideas and came prepared to ruin the party.

Smith dominated the former champ and took a unanimous decision win by wide scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.  It was the high point for a fighter that had made a career of taking on the toughest challenges. Smith talked about this being the highlight of his career so far,

”I feel as though it is.  Nobody was giving me a chance, nobody in my gym was giving me a chance.  Everybody thought I was going to get knocked out and I went in his hometown, his backyard, beat him unanimous decision twelve rounds.”

The win gave Dhafir a special accommodation.  The Briscoe Awards, run by Philly Boxing History with voting from Philadelphia’s boxing journalists, awarded Dhafir with a special Briscoe award for upset of the year to mark his achievement.  On the night of the awards Dhafir was clearly proud of the accomplishment and being recognized for being the underdog that overcame the odds.

“That was the greatest thing for me, a great award, a great achievement for getting a Benny Briscoe award because he was a world class fighter, a world class champion coming out of Philly.  I’d like to thank John Disanto [editor Phillyboxinghistory.com] for giving me that opportunity to get a Briscoe Award.  I feel as though it ain’t gonna be my last, I guarantee you that.”

Smith feels he is far from done with upsets and Briscoe’s.  He plans on making a habit of taking out the best fighters and piling up a collection of Briscoe statues for upsets.

“I want some more upset of year awards, that’s what I really want.  I really don’t want fighter of the year, I want upset of the year because everybody, whoever I get in there with, has a better record or whatever, or better talent or whatever.  They think I’m going to get blown out and then when I beat them, they got nothing to say.  They can’t say nothing.”

And Smith’s talents have not gone unnoticed.  His most recent assignment was not a sanctioned fight but a call from one of the brightest stars in boxing, Andre Ward.  With a title defense and the Super Six final looming against England’s Carl Froch, Ward’s team was looking for a sparring partner that had the talent and abilities to prepare Ward for the tough British fighter.  Smith got the call.

“They called Percy Custus [Dhafir’s trainer and manager at Shuler's Gym] about me doing the training camp with Andre Ward.  They called because I had the style to get him ready for Carl Froch.  I got him ready, I was the chief sparring partner and we got the job done.”

Ward went on to dominate Froch.  With that experience comes a growing process for Smith.  He got the opportunity to work with one of the pound-for-pound best on a daily basis.  He was able to test his skills in this arena, find out that he could hang with the best, and become a much better fighter in the process.

“Andre Ward is a world class fighter and a world class champion and I think he’s going to be a champion for a long time.

“When I came home I was ready to spar with any and everybody.  I feel as though if I can get in there with Andre Ward and give him all the work he can handle, I can spar with anybody in Philly or anybody all over the world.  I know we got talent in Philly but Andre Ward is a different level fighter.  He stays busy all three minutes of the round and you got to bring out everything you know to spar with him because he’s a tough fighter and you know he’s  a world class fighter, a champ.

“I felt great, everybody saw a difference in me when I was sparring.  They was like damn, you got better when you was out there.  My jab got better.  I just like to put on a show as much as I can and I like to perform in Philly as much as I can and please the fans.”

Now, at twenty-nine years of age with fifty-three fights under his belt and a wealth of knowledge of boxing in and out of the ring, Smith wants to capitalize on the lessons he has learned and the talent he has gained.  He believes with the right opportunities and hard work he can still accomplish the ultimate goal of any fighter, to win a world title.

He needs to move forward–as he will do in his fight this Saturday at First District Plaza in Philadelphia. Smith will take on the inexperienced Quinton Rankin 4-1 (3 KO) who is a late replacement for the much more experienced Marcos Primera who dropped out recently.  For once, Smith is the one in the role of being the man who is home and supposed to win.

“I got to beat guys I’m not supposed to beat like Jeff Lacy.  I’ve beaten a lot of guys on my resume, big name fighters.  Jeff Lacy, Larry Marks, Jonathan Reid, Brandon Mitchem, goes on and on.  I got a lot of big names on my record I wasn’t supposed to beat but I beat them.

“Like our show we’re doing January 28, get some more wins, build my record up, and get a shot at a title somewhere.  You know I don’t care, I’m a road warrior.  Next fight January 28 is a tune-up fight, next fight should be end of March fighting Rayco Saunders for the State Title.  We got some good things happening with James Shuler Boxing.”

Smith has a particular goal in mind and a path to follow.  He would not be the first fighter from Philadelphia to walk the path of a tough road but endure to earn a world title and he believes someone will make the mistake of giving him a chance based on his record.

“I feel as though I’m the next Freddie Pembleton of this era.  He had a lot of losses but he still became a world champion.  A lot of people say I can be the next Freddie Pembleton.  I just got to keep training and wait for the right opportunity.

“All I got to do is get some more wins and somebody will give me a shot just looking at my god damn record thinking it’s an easy win tune-up.”

Custus, who will tell you straight-as-an-arrow his opinion, believes as well that Dhafir has what it takes as long as he trains hard and steps up when the time comes.

“The sky is the limit with his abilities.  He’s just got to really step up to the plate when it’s time to do it.”

Smith has made a mark for himself in Philadelphia boxing.  He has proven himself as a tough road warrior who could have fought in any era of this sport.  With precious years remaining in a demanding sport he looks to make the most of his time and put his name onto the list of those who have earned a title the hard way.

“I just want everybody to come watch the fight January 28 over on Market St.  Come watch me perform and move to the next level and I just want to make Philly proud like I did beating Jeff Lacy and everybody in Philly Boxing History.  Some people said I could do it, some people said I couldn’t.  I went out there and made history in Philly beating Jeff Lacy, a former two-time world champion and Olympian.  A guy like me beat Jeff Lacy.  I want to keep on doing that I want to keep on getting upset of the year awards.  I don’t want fighter of the year, I want upset of the year Benny Briscoe award.  That’s what I want.”

Notes

• Dhafir does have a plan for after boxing.  He knows his knowledge in and out of the ring will make him a great trainer and already has several fighters lining up to get in his corner.
• At this time no TV or internet coverage is available for the show with Smith this Saturday but tickets remain by calling Shuler Gym Promotions 215-416-1282.  First District Plaza is located at 3801 Market St., Philadelphia.
• The Boxing Tribune will be live ringside to provide detailed coverage of all fights on the card Saturday.

Question, comment, agree, disagree, or anything at all, send it to gboxing3@gmail.com

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By Gary Purfield

Main Events Promotions and NBC thought they had the right matchup to kick off their Fight Night series that will begin this Saturday from the Arena in Philadelphia and will air four more times in 2012.  Pitting two proven heavyweights in Eddie Chambers and Sergei Liakhovich, to show they would be looking to make even matchups fans could enjoy.

But this is boxing, where if something can go wrong, it will.  Less than a week from the fight Chambers dropped out with a rib injury.  Without enough time to find a heavyweight with enough talent to make an even match with someone of Liakhovich’s talent they were forced to think of another plan.

So in steps two young heavyweight prospects with undefeated records that find themselves in a competitive pick-em fight long before most of today’s fighters dare this move in their careers.  Bryant Jennings 11-0 (5 KO) and Maurice Byarm 13-0-1 (9 KO) will square off with the opportunity to win a headlining TV fight long before either thought they would get this chance. 

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva summed up the ups and downs of the week with the following:

“We have had one hellacious week but I think the boxing gods have smiled on us.  The boxing gods and Russell Peltz smiled on us and decided they are going to give an unbelievable match on Saturday night.”

Both fighters are from Philadelphia and will renew the territory wars as Jennings is from North Philadelphia and Byarm, who now lives in Washington DC, is from South Philadelphia.

To hall of fame promoter and matchmaker for the fight night series, Russell Peltz, this is the way it used to be and how boxing should be run.  Let talented fighters test themselves early and often and stop focusing so much on unbeaten records.  Peltz discussed his opinions on what makes a fight worth watching and what he thinks about the current trend in boxing of coveting an undefeated record.

“It’s not that there are not any good fighters around today.  It’s that there are not any good managers around today.  You have to know when opportunity knocks.”

“As the late Teddy Bruner always said, the finest matchmaker their ever was, number one do the styles blend?  Number two is the fight important, is it going to lead anywhere?  Number three, would I buy a ticket to watch the fight?  I say in both cases Saturday night [Jennings vs. Byarm and co-feature Gabriel Rosado vs. Jesus Soto-Karass], the answer is yes.”

“You can forget the fact that every good young prospect has to be undefeated.  It’s a fallacy, it all depends on who you’re in with.  Like I said on the internet today.  There’s more fighters parading around today with 15-0 and 20-0 records than ever before.  There’s only two reasons for that.  They’re either frauds or they’re the next Sugar Ray Leonard, and honestly, I don’t see too many Sugar Ray Leonards around.”

For Jennings and Byarm it is an opportunity to advance their careers while still in the prospect stage.  Jennings who has eleven fights under his belt and Byarm, who has fourteen, get the chance to headline the televised show on NBC Sports.  But with the opportunity comes risk.  In today’s boxing climate many fans and experts put far more weight on the undefeated record than in previous eras of the sport.  But for each fighter it seemed a simple and obvious choice.

I asked each man after the press conference why they chose to take such a risky fight so early in their careers.  Jennings, who was willing to step in and take a bigger risk fighting Liakhovich explained his reasoning.

“It’s important because this is why we fight, this is what we look forward to from our pro-debut.  I don’t look to have a 20-0 record or 25-0 record, I don’t look to be the perfect fighter with a perfect record.  I’m looking to be a perfect fighter.  Sometimes you got to put that undefeated record on the line just to prove whose best, to prove whose better, let the best man win.  If you keep ducking fights, by the time you get to the end, you lose, it drains you so much it pulls away from you and all you’ve done.  It deteriorates the fighter.  So I figure it’s best to take this chance right here early in my career.”

Byarm had the same determination that this was an obvious choice to take the fight.

“I have to say the undefeated record isn’t a big deal, but like Russell said, when opportunity knocks, you can’t wait for a better opportunity.  Sometimes that better opportunity will never arrive.  It was a great opportunity for both of us.”

For Jennings he also sees this as a chance to prepare himself for tough fights later in his career.

“I’ll be better off than guys who continue to duck and who continue to pick around.  I feel as though I’m ready.  I look at a lot of fighters, they get that 22-0, then they get all the way up to near top, in the top ten or whatever.  Then all of a sudden they say this guy’s not ready to fight for the title.  What do you mean?  He’s been in this game for that long, you’ve got all these wins and you’re not ready to be the best in the world.  I’m getting ready right now early in my career.  This is what we do all the way from our pro-debut all the way to the last fight of our career.”

For Byarm he sees this as a chance to push his career to a bigger level with more exposure and more fans.

“It’s going to be a great fight.  It’s going to be a great fight for me and Bryant.  Win, lose, or draw it’s going to catapult us to a higher elevation in our career.  I think this fight is going to bring out the best in each other.”

“It’s going to be great not just for us, but for, most importantly, the fans.  Like I said, win, lose, or draw we’re both going to come out with more fans than we came in with.  I think at the end of this fight they’re going to know us both.”

Saturday night will be a throwback of sorts.  The co-feature will pit two fighters, Gabriel Rosado and Jesus Soto Karass, who have taken tough roads in boxing instead of the easy way.  They were not matched so they could showcase themselves against lesser competition but because their styles should make for an exciting fight for the fans.  The main event features two talented fighters willing to face each other early in their careers to gain experience and exposure on a big stage.  Something that was done frequently in the golden era of boxing but now is rarely seen.

Bryant Jennings made it clear that his opinion is that fans should get to the Arena in Philadelphia or watch on TV.

“Me and this guy to my left, we the future.  So get ready for the future.  Get your popcorn, get your beer, get your hotdogs.  Get everything, don’t get out your seat, please don’t miss this main event, because it will be something you’re going to regret if you miss it.”

Notes

• I have to admit when I first heard earlier in the week the main event would be Jennings and Byarm I thought they had made a mistake.  Upon thinking it out, maybe I am drinking the promotional Kool-Aid, but I like the fight considering the promoters only had a few days to put together a replacement.  I like the old school nature of young fighters testing themselves early and not being afraid to put the record on the line.  I also enjoyed the confidence both Jennings and Byarm exhibited that win, lose, or draw, taking a chance like this will benefit their careers because they are challenging themselves and providing the fans with a good match.
• Russell Peltz announced at the press conference that the main event between Jennings and Byarm will be for the Pennsylvania Heavyweight Title.
• The Boxing Tribune will be live at the Arena in Philly to cover the action so check back shortly afterwards for ringside coverage.

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Philly Jr. Middleweight Gabe Rosado believes his time is coming to be the face of Philadelphia boxing

By Gary Purfield

Junior Middleweight Gabriel Rosado 18-5 (10 KO) will never be accused of being a pampered fighter.  He didn’t turn pro with a big press conference and headlines.  He was not matched carefully early to be brought along as a top prospect.  Rosado took the hard road to make a name for himself and improve his abilities inside the ring by being matched tough early and often.

What this brought Rosado was a blemished record (by today’s boxing standards) that made his fight in this Saturday’s televised co-feature on NBC Sports, that much more difficult to obtain.  But this also brought Rosado an unintended reward along the way.  He just may be in line to become a fan favorite and the face of Philadelphia boxing in the coming year if he continues his winning ways.

“King” Gabriel Rosado hails from North Philadelphia and knows as well as anyone that it takes more than a title belt and pretty record to win over Philly fans.  They like the underdog.  The blue collar nature of the people of Philadelphia appreciate the fighter like Rosado, who had to battle adversity to earn his chance in the spotlight.  While undefeated contenders Mike Jones and Danny Garcia who both have title fights on the horizon (Garcia takes on Morales for a 140 lb. title and Jones is slated to face Randall Bailey for a vacant 147 lb. title) are the obvious picks to take over the spotlight when Bernard Hopkins retires, Rosado has the back story to be the crowd favorite.

“I think when it’s all said and done I’m going to be the face of boxing in Philadelphia.  I come from the bottom; this is a grind for me.  I didn’t get it easy.  I went through adversity early in my career.  I went into tough fights early and I think the way I’ve been coming along the fans like that.”

Philly is a city that overwhelmingly embraces the underdogs and overachievers. They love the guys who muck and grind to the top.  The rough and tough blue collar players on the Broad Street Bullies Flyers teams are still heroes in the city wherever they go more than thirty five years after they won the Stanley Cup.

The 2001 Sixers made it the finals with Iverson and a rag tag bunch of grinders and overachievers.  They came up short to a superior Lakers team, but anyone who was in the building for that season and playoff run knew the end was not the point.  The point was that the city had their type of team that gave effort above their skill level every night.  Never say die warriors that had paid their dues and now were rising above expectations.  Sure, it’s nice to have the favorite but in this city the underdog will always be a little more special.

“They like the underdog, they root for the underdog and I’m the underdog.  I’m all about the fans, I’m all about giving the fans entertaining fights and I think when it’s all said and done Philadelphia’s going to really back me up.”

In that vein, Rosado has an opportunity to be embraced in one of the old fashion fight towns, in a way no top prospect who had the well-matched road to the top can have.  Rosado had to do it the hard way.

Rosado lost the undefeated record in his sixth fight against an opponent Chris Gray (3-2 at the time) he should have beat.  Two fights later he lost again–to Joshua Onyango, who was 12-13 at the time.  While Onyango had a pedestrian record, he is strong and was far more experienced.  Undeterred, Rosado began what would be a trend of improving his skills to get better.  He won his next fight and then avenged the previous loss by knocking Onyango out in three rounds.

Rosado played the underdog against undefeated James Moore (15-0 at the time) in Moore’s home area of NewYork City.  It was expected that Moore would outbox Rosado.  Instead, the visiting Rosado floored Moore in the fifth and won a unanimous decision.  After two more wins, Rosado took on Fernando Guerrero who, at the time was a hot undefeated prospect.  The fight was in Guerrero’s backyard in Salisbury, MD.  Rosado dropped Guerrero in the third, but lost the decision down the stretch.

Once again bouncing back, Rosado went back to work improving his skills.  He and longtime trainer, Billy Briscoe went to the drawing board and began crafting a boxer to go with his natural strength and toughness.  One fight after the Guerrero loss he upset former World Champion Kassim Ouma.  This was parlayed into an opportunity on ESPN FNF against feared puncher Alfredo Angulo, but Rosado was blown out in two rounds.

Since the Angulo fight, Rosado is a different fighter.  His confident personality and willingness to improve by learning from his mistakes has paid dividends.  He seems to have settled into his own abilities as a fighter with more skills on offense and defense.  He has a true boxer-trainer relationship with Billy Briscoe and they have worked hard to constantly add more and more wrinkles to Rosado’s arsenal, especially an improved defense after the Angulo fight.  Gone is the fighter who would come out of fights banged up from taking too many punches and in his place is a boxer with slick head movement that can make people miss and make them pay.

“I want to show I’m ready for the top guys at 154.  We’ve grown a lot as time went along.  I’m a fighter that works on my craft.  I’ve been in five training camps with Bernard Hopkins and I’ve stole a lot of things from Bernard.  I know what it takes.”

Since the Angulo loss, Rosado is 6-1, with the lone loss coming in a tight affair with Philadelphia counterpart Derek Ennis in a fight Rosado seemed to give away by not pressing the action enough.  Wins in that time include a knockout over Latif Mundy, who was a well-regarded prospect at the time, a win over the experienced Saul Roman, and a dominating knockout of Ayi Bruce.

Now, Rosado finds himself with a big opportunity to shine on a big stage.  With Main Events Promotions staging their inaugural NBC Sports card in Rosado’s hometown and Philadelphia Promoter Russell Peltz (who promotes Rosado) being the matchmaker, Rosado takes on veteran bad ass Jesus Soto-Karass 24-6-3 (16 KO) in the ten round co-feature.

Rosado is well aware he has to do more than just win.  With a record that does not blow fans away, he needs to be impressive to create a demand to see him fight again.

“I know the importance of this fight.  I don’t want to go into this fight and just win.  I know that we have to make a statement.  I think if we dominate Soto-Karass, back him up, put the pressure on him, get a stoppage, which is what I’m looking for, I feel that’s going to create a big buzz.  A lot of people are going to be impressed with me and that’s what I want.”

At the very least, Rosado needs to be dominant and exciting.  Soto-Karass is coming up in weight and is considered someone you should beat if you are going to be a title challenger.  But Soto-Karass has never been stopped so ending things before the final bell would certainly make a statement.

“I think if I give him a beat down, let’s say it goes to ten, let’s say he make the distance but I without a doubt outclass this guy I’m sure that will make a statement as well but I want to stop him.

“We’re the bigger guy, he’s coming up in weight.  I’m not gonna let a welterweight bully me around, not going to happen.  I don’t think he’s stronger than me and he’s definitely not bigger than me so I don’t see him backing me up.  We’re gonna bring it to him.

“I really think that we’re gonna stop this guy.  The type of pressure we’re going to apply and the way we’re going to go to the body, I’ll really be surprised if this guy goes the whole ten rounds.”

Almost every step of the way Rosado has taken the hard road in his career.  He takes the road less traveled in today’s boxing world.  Willing to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime, he has taken his lumps but is better off for it in the ring.  He has developed and matured into a more experienced and more skilled fighter due to his ups and downs.

Rosado enters his fight Saturday night looking to show that his record is not an indication of a fighter that has losses, but one that demonstrates he has taken the hard matches, which have made him a dangerous and experienced boxer, ready to take on the best.  In the process, he has an opportunity to become the face of a city dying to regain its place as a top boxing town and to be the type of winner Philly fans embrace with open arms.

“I have a lot of people that are supporting me now.  There is going to be a big turnout that day so I think when it’s all said and done, once Bernard hangs it up, I feel that I am going to be that guy.”

Notes

• Thanks to Philly Boxing History who has followed Rosado from his early fights for background information to make the story possible.

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Six months ago, Philadelphia featherweight Teon Kennedy was right where he wanted to be.  Undefeated and knocking on the door to a title shot.  Kennedy, who is known as “The Technician” for good reason, had all the necessary skills to make a title run.  In addition to his skills, Kennedy had become known for being someone who had absolutely no problem throwing caution to the wind to engage in a crowd-pleasing slugfest.

Kennedy was coming off a big win earlier in the year.  He took on fellow contender Jorge Diaz on the Gamboa-Solis undercard.  The fight was a barnburner that stole the show for the live audience.  The Diaz fight was the culmination of Kennedy being brought along from prospect to contender where he improved his skills, prepared himself for bigger fights and put on a boxing/brawling display that had fans jumping out of their seats for twelve rounds.

But several months after the Diaz fight, Kennedy found himself in a fight with the Criminal Justice system facing several possible charges including attempted murder.  With this cloud hanging over his head on August 13, 2011 at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, he entered a fight with little known Alejandro Lopez who was 21-2 (7 KO) at the time.  While Lopez was no pushover, he was considered someone Teon could beat while staying busy and waiting for bigger opportunities.

The slick moving Lopez out boxed Kennedy most rounds en route to the unanimous decision win.  All night Lopez employed a stick and move while the distracted Kennedy chased him around the ring with no real plan to change the tide of the fight.  For those who have seen Kennedy effectively cut off the ring and break down an opponent on many occasions, it was clear that he was not on his A game.  Kennedy lost his undefeated record and his NABA title in a fight he was favored to win while still having the possibility of a court date with serious consequences hanging over his head.

Since that time, all charges have been dropped and Kennedy 17-1-1 (7 KO) has been cleared of any participation in the crime.  Now Kennedy has the opportunity to get right back into contention as he headlines this week’s ESPN Friday Night Fights against Chris Martin 23-1-2 (6 KO).  For a full preview of FNF check The Boxing Tribune’s Fox Doucette article.

The question is, which Teon Kennedy will show up Friday night?  Kennedy began his career as a consummate boxer where he earned the moniker “technician.”  As time went along he became more and more susceptible to getting caught into brawls and drawn out wars.  While his fights became incredibly crowd pleasing, many ringside observers wondered if they were the best thing for Teon’s chances of winning and his long term health in the sport.  As stated above, his fight with Jorge Diaz was action packed excitement, but Kennedy probably could have won without absorbing so much punishment.

Moving forward, Kennedy will have to establish his identity.  Is he a boxer, a brawler or someone who can do both?  I caught up with Teon on one of his final days of training at Joe Hand Gym before he leaves for Las Vegas to headline FNF.  He talked about being relaxed and rededicated to the sport.

Boxing Tribune: Your nickname is the Technician and you have always been known as an excellent boxer, but your last several fights you got into a lot of wars.  Do you think you should be boxing, brawling, or both?

Teon Kennedy: Actually both, I mean I’d rather do boxing, but if I have to.  Mostly just boxing though.  Both kind of work for me but I’d rather box and keep my pretty face.

BT: Do you find that your plan is boxing but when you get hit in a fight you get caught up in a war?

TK: It’s not that I get hit but a little of the crowd also, it gets you going and you make sure they have an exciting fight.

BT: The last fight you had some things hanging over your head (criminal charges that have since been completely dropped).  Did that distract you and what went wrong [against Alejandro Lopez on 8/13/11 where Kennedy suffered his first loss]?

TK: Of course I had that stressing me because of the stuff outside of boxing and in my head.  I didn’t know who my opponent was until two weeks before the fight so that kind of played a part a little bit.

BT: Where are you now mentally, opposed to the last fight?

TK: Right now I’m real good.  I’m just focused on my fight.  I don’t have nothing outside the ring to hold me back so I’m good.

BT: Is the last fight playing on your mind coming off the first time losing?

TK: Not at all, it’s not playing on my mind.  I know you can lose some, you can’t always win.  That loss helped me get better.  It helped me work harder in the gym.

BT: What could you have done differently against Lopez that would have changed the outcome?

TK: What I could have done differently was press him more.  I laid back and should have pressed him more, got him tired into the later rounds.

BT: What do you know about your opponent Chris Martin who you take on this Friday on ESPN Friday Night Fights and what do you have to do to be successful?

TK: With him I got to make sure I go to the body.  I never seen anybody go to the body with him yet. I mean he’s a skilled fighter but makes a lot of mistakes I can capitalize on.  It’s going to be an exciting fight but I know I’m gonna beat him.

BT: Do you feel any extra pressure being on FNF that you have to not only win but look good for the TV audience?

TK: No, I don’t feel no pressure on that.

BT: Do you have any plans in mind going forward after the Martin fight?

TK: Anybody, like I said I just want to fight the top guys in a world title bout.  Anybody, I’ll fight anybody.

BT: Anything else you want to say.

TK: Just thanks to my fans out there and keep supporting me.  And my family for being there for me too.

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Friday night on the undercard of Jermain Taylor’s return, Super Middleweight and former Super Six competitor Andre Dirrell, 19-1 (13 KO), makes his return to the ring after twenty-one months out of the ring. Dirrell takes on Darryl Cunningham 24-2 (10 KO) in a ten round bout from the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon, California on a special edition of Showtime’s Shobox series.

The last anyone saw of Dirrell was in March of last year. He was giving his confused post fight interview after being blindsided in his second Super Six bout. Dirrell, well ahead on the scorecards against Arthur Abraham, was looking to run out the clock in the eleventh round en route to a major upset victory. Dirrell got the win, but not in the fashion he wanted.

In the eleventh round, Dirrell slipped to the canvas in the corner. Down on a knee, he was clocked by a big Abraham punch on the side of the head.  The lights went out for Dirrell as he slumped to the canvas, unable to continue. Abraham was disqualified and Dirrell had the victory but it would cost him nearly two prime years of his boxing career.

Prior to getting illegally drilled, Andre Dirrell was putting on a clinic, taking apart a fighter that at the time was one of the most feared punchers in the sport. It was that moment you look for in a talented contender when ability and skill cross paths with a fighters potential. Everyone knew Dirrell had speed, skill and all the attributes to be a champion. But prior to the Abraham fight, he had not been able to put it all together on one night. Against Carl Froch, in his opening Super Six bout, Dirrell was dominant at times, but hesitant and tentative at others. It cost him as he lost a controversial decision in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, England.

Dirrell entered the Abraham bout a big underdog, but was quickly dominating his slower and less-skilled opponent. He appeared well on his way to the win and, more importantly, to becoming a serious player in the Super Six tournament. He was clearly realizing his potential, dominating Abraham and even scoring a knockdown in the fourth round. All of the talent and potential Dirrell possesses was on display that night.

But then he was hit while down, leading to serious concerns and issues over his ability to physically continue in the sport of boxing. Dirrell withdrew from the tournament and has been out of action since then due to the injury and due to waiting for a TV opportunity.

“Mainly what kept me out was the injury, I had to be cleared. I was finally cleared but after that, I was cleared probably about eight months ago but I was looking for a TV date and a lot of the TV dates were taken. Fortunately Gary Shaw got me on this card. That’s pretty much what’s been holding me back.  Half and half, half was getting a TV date and half my problems after the Abraham fight.”

Dirrell spoke on his experience having to sit back and watch the Super Six unfold while he was unable to get into the ring.

“I was there and watching and excited but at the end of the day I still want my shot. For the most part, it was stressful. I would watch some fights and I would be excited but then twelve o’clock I’d be ready to go hit the gym because I’d be so anxious to get back in there.  A lot of the times I was stressed and would find myself in tears for no apparent reason.”

While Dirrell lost an opportunity and time, he believes he benefited from his Super Six experience.

“It let me know where I stood in the sport of boxing. A lot of people didn’t believe I would make it as far as I did. Even with Carl Froch, I showed my talent and I showed my world class with Arthur Abraham.  It let me know where I stand in the sport of boxing and I look forward to continuing on that ride so when I get back in the ring you know as well as me that I belong on top.

Dirrell is confident that he is medically past the blow from Abraham.  He feels he is ready to resume his career despite some concerns after the incident in his last outing.

“I thought about it in the beginning of my workout sessions but quickly, honestly, when I was getting the work in sparring sessions and just working out and working hard it all left my mind because I believe I will still be where I was when I left the sport. I’m feeling really good in my comeback.  My only concern is looking great for the fans and having a good show. I’m not too concerned about the problems that persisted after the Abraham fight.”

Now, Dirrell moves forward to resume his career and pick up where he left off.  He is confident that he can get to the top and be one of the best in the sport. Dirrell has high expectations for his comeback Friday night and wants more than just a win.

“I want to look good and I don’t want just a win. I want to look excellent doing it and I want to impress the crowd.”

Boxing can be cruel to those as they age and Dirrell, at age twenty-eight, is well aware his window of opportunity won’t stay open long. He plans on moving fast and accomplishing his goals in order to make an exit from the sport at the right time.

“When I was twenty five or twenty six I saw it as a short window so no doubt in my mind I feel like it’s a short window and its added pressure that it’s a short window. I only want to do it within that short window. I want to retire like thirty-four, thirty-five years old. My time is now and I want to take advantage of it from here on out.

“I’m just looking to get the belts man. I want to go out there and I want to prove my worth. I want to prove myself. In 2012, after the Cunningham fight, I’m not looking past him at all, then proving all of the critics wrong. If I can get all six belts in one year than by all means I’m gonna try and get all the belts in one year. That’s how hungry I am.”

Prior to dropping out of the Super Six, Dirrell was scheduled to meet his former Olympic teammate and eventual Super Six Champion Andre Ward in the third round of the tournament. It’s a fight Dirrell says he still wants and believes the fans want as well.

“Definitely, I know our day will come. That’s something the fans want to see so we’ll give it to them.  It’s all just a matter of time.”

Dirrell also had some very clear thoughts on Lucian Bute.  Dirrell believes he is a talented but protected fighter who needs to get in with top fighters in the division.

“He’s been fighting the same type of fighters and taking nothing away from him.  He’s an excellent fighter. He has a great uppercut, has a great jab.  He’s quick on his feet and his hands but you know when you’re fighting B- fighters and C+ fighters, then you fight them in your hometown. I’m not the first to say that. It’s just a grade evaluation. Not taking anything away, it’s just again, everybody, even his fans want to see him in there with the big dogs. He has to get in there with that speed. He has to get in there with that spunk.  He has to get in there with that charisma. And that’s what everyone wants to see. Lucian Bute has a lot to prove. He’s protected, you can’t deny it.”

Dirrell’s journey back starts Friday night.  Similar to the headliner on the card, Jermain Taylor (who makes his ring return against Jessie Nicklow), Dirrell will probably not be greatly tested in his bout with Cunningham. If he is at the same level as he was against Abraham, he should roll over Cunningham.  Then he should quickly get the opportunity to prove himself in the deep and talented super middleweight division. Whether he gets Bute, Ward, or some of the other top fighters in the division, Dirrell will be looking to make a name for himself. Dirrell has always had the personality to attract attention and the charisma to draw fans. Twenty-one months ago he started to show the talent that could take him to the top. Now he gets the chance to pick up where he left off and move towards accomplishing his goals.

“The ultimate goal for myself is to become world renown. I would love for my name to be a household name such as Pacquiao, such as Floyd Mayweather. And chasing them titles down is my dream.  I got a strong, strong desire to become the best that ever did it.  As long as I keep my mind set on that I know I can reach a pretty high level.

“I really want to make my grandfather proud. He’s worked hard. He’s done so much in his life.  He’s given me so much. I want to see that smile on his face at the end of the day. When that man goes to his casket at the end of the day, God forbid, I want to see him with a smile on his face. One of two goals is become the best and put that smile on my grandfather’s face.”

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“I had a conversation directly with one of the top neurologist in the world and here’s the exact conversation, I believe I can say this.  I asked him, the doctor, if Jermain Taylor was your own kid would you let him fight. And what the doctor said was no, I wouldn’t let him fight and I wouldn’t let my own kid fight under any circumstances. But if what you’re asking me is, is Jermain Taylor any different than any other fighter, is there any more risk, is there any more unnecessary risk, than any other fighter, then I can’t tell you that.  And based upon that, the man has the right to be master of his own dominion. Like he said, he’s a fighter, fighters fight.”

That was Jermain Taylor’s promoter, Lou Dibella speaking during a conference call Wednesday promoting Friday’s fight, where Jermain Taylor 28-4-1 (17 KO) makes his comeback to the ring after being out of boxing for more than two years. Taylor will headline a special edition of Showtime’s ShoBox series taking on Jessie Nicklow 22-2-3 (8 KO) from the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon, California.

It seems not that long ago Jermain Taylor was the future star of the middleweight division and one of boxing’s bright lights. The 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist dethroned long-time middleweight king Bernard Hopkins in July of 2005 and then won the rematch later the same year. Taylor brought the pleasant personality and excitement in the ring that would draw fans. He had taken over one of boxing’s glory divisions and seemed ready to continue his ascent in the sport.

But according to Taylor, he lost his hunger and got lazy. He failed to keep the fire and drive that got him to the title and was unable to maintain his place at the top of the mountain. He lost his title to Kelly Pavlik and then moved to Super Middleweight for the wrong reasons. He was brutally knocked out in consecutive fights against Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham.

“I’ve taken two years off and now I’ve got my focus back. I’ve never taken a break from boxing. The two years I had off it just woke me up. I was fighting at 168. I was not supposed to be there, I was just lazy.”

Taylor believes that he has regained his hunger and focus. He is back with his former trainer, Pat Burns who was with him when he won the middleweight title, and feels he is ready to get back to the top.  Taylor also believes his renewed dedication is the answer to the stamina issues he had that cost him in fights he was winning early against Pavlik, Carl Froch, and Arthur Abraham.

“I’m more focused. It wasn’t training camp that was bothering me. It was the off time that was catching up with me. Hanging out and all the other stuff. And now I’m boxing, boxing, boxing, boxing, that’s it.  I was training but I wasn’t smart, I was fighting in a weight class I never should have been. I’m eating grapefruit right now; I’m eating steak right now. I ate a steak last night. I mean come on man, I’m a 160 pounder and I got lazy and I got off my game. Now I’m back on boxing.

The first question for Taylor will be if he is still has the skills and ability that got him to the top. But the bigger question is whether he should even be boxing at all. Against Pavlik, Froch, and Abraham he was not just stopped– He was knocked out in devastating fashion. Following the KO loss to Abraham in the super six opener he had to be hospitalized for several days before being allowed to return home from Germany. 

Before making his comeback, Taylor underwent a series of medical exams to make sure he was physically fit to be in the ring. The outcome of those tests was enough to convince promoter, Lou Dibella that Taylor was ready to return. Dibella did a rare thing in boxing after the Abraham fight. He chose to side with the fighter’s safety over a payday. Dibella, who has promoted Taylor since the beginning of his pro career, stated he would no longer promote Taylor if he chose to continue fighting at that time. But now after medical exams Dibella, who has no trouble making his feelings known, explained what convinced him that Taylor is ready to get back into the fight game.

“After Jermain really made an effort to rededicate himself to the sport, to get himself into physical shape as a fighter. After seeing that he had seen the best specialists in the world from the Mayo Clinic to the Cleveland Clinic, to experts in Arkansas and Nevada, the neurological center in Nevada, every doctor had the same conclusion. After reviewing all the medical records including the medical records from Germany (following the Abraham fight) and they said the same thing, which was Jermain Taylor is physically able to fight; Jermain Taylor can resume his boxing career.”

Dibella went on to state that he asked Taylor for permission to speak with his doctors and was given the go ahead to do so. Dibella talked about learning from the doctors that his brain is not at any risk greater than any other fighter that steps in the ring and he is comfortable working with Taylor after speaking with the doctors.

For his part, Taylor has no concerns that he is medically at risk getting back in the ring following his past bouts. Taylor also believes his story coming back to the ring will give fans a reason to support his efforts.

“I was never worried about that. That was the last thing on my mind. When I step in that ring, that I know your putting your life on the line when you get in that ring, I would never step back in that ring again if it’s bad. So no, I never worried about that.

Everybody loves a comeback. Everybody loves a comeback story. Everybody’s made mistakes.  That’s why I love boxing so much. You can be down and come back and win a championship and everything else. That’s what I’m bringing back to boxing.”

Friday won’t tell everything, considering his opponent. If Taylor is remotely what he used to be he should dispose of Nicklow without much difficulty based on his natural talent. Future fights will tell if Taylor has it in him to be at the top or if he should be in the ring at all. 

When Taylor stopped fighting, it appeared he was the rare fighter who made the decision that his health and safety was more important than continuing his career. When he announced his return it appeared he was another delusional fighter unable to let go of the past. But few fighters in this position can say they have been cleared by the world renowned Mayo Clinic. 

Jermain Taylor may be just another fighter who goes past his due date. But he may be a rare case of a fighter who stepped away at the right time to return at a better time. He may truly be ready to go and hungry to return. He could be the comeback story he believes he will provide to fans. Friday, he starts the process. Time will tell how his story will end. But Taylor was clear on why he is returning and his plans for his future.

“I’m returning to boxing to be number one and to hold those belts up in the air.”

Notes

• I have to admit this story as a whole got to me.  Jermain Taylor right now represents everything good and bad about boxing. To those who hate the violence of combat sports he is everything that is wrong. A fighter who has been badly hurt still getting in the ring for more punishment. But to those who love the sport and the boxers for the fire inside them that drives them to compete he represents why we love the sport. When he announced his return I was very skeptical. After hearing all the medical testing that was done I think he may actually be ready to fight. I hope for his safety that is the case. I hope that his future fights are successful from a health perspective first and a sporting perspective would be icing on the cake.

Question, comment, agree, disagree, or anything at all, send it to gboxing3@gmail.com

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By Gary Purfield

Boxing is an international sport.  All over the world young prospects ply their trade in the gym and on the road as they work for their chance to make it to the top.  Many of these prospects come with interesting and varying stories to tell.  Something about the sport of boxing attracts and draws those who have a fire inside them, an overwhelming desire to compete, test their abilities, and make a difference for themselves and others.

In recent years Canada, specifically the city of Montreal, has become a hotbed for boxing like no other spot in the world.  While hockey will always reign supreme in the area, boxing has become a major attraction often drawing the eyes of the world with stars such as Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal.

Outside of Montreal, in Cornwall Ontario Canada, another talented young prospect is emerging with thoughts of becoming a champion and dreams of being a star in Canada as well as the United States.  Twenty three year old junior welterweight Tony Luis 13-0 (5 KO) has begun making a name for himself in Canada as fighter to watch.  Luis is well-spoken and well accomplished in and outside of the ring.  I had the opportunity to talk with Tony recently to discuss his background in boxing and where he intends to go with his career in the future.

Tony first studied Karate as a kid but then began training with his father who runs a boxing gym along with running a business.  His father Jorge Luis was also a professional fighter and now trains fighters in their gym in Cornwall.  Tony was pressed to make the decision between Karate and boxing but for him it was an easy call once he found his father’s old boxing videos and saw what he wanted for his future.

“At 11 years old I had to make a decision to pick one and went with boxing and fell in love with it.”

Tony found tapes of classic fights including his father fighting.  The first fighter he saw was Mike Tyson and was taken aback by his power.  He stated the second boxing video he saw was the Rocky 4 movie and as a kid the movie inspired him.  In addition he looked up to Sugar Ray Leonard and Ali for their “speedy flare”.

Luis quickly became a successful amateur fighter and had aspirations of making the Olympic team.  Unfortunately for him his experience competing for the Olympics gave him an early lesson in the hardships and politics of boxing.

Luis was a six time provincial champion and competed in international events.  He represented Canada at international meets and at 17, qualified for the Beijing Olympic trials where Tony stated that he lost a controversial decision.

“I opted to go pro instead of waiting four years.  Figured if I was going to deal with politics of the game may as well get paid for it and not wait another four years.  I wanted to go pro and had desire to be a world champion.  Figured if I started young I would have more time to develop.”

Luis sees himself as being more suited for the pro version of the sport considering his desire to go to the body and fight on the inside which works in the pros but goes unnoticed in the amateur world.  Luis believes he has the athletic skills and technical ability to make it to the top.

“I have hand speed.  I can box, I can move, I can fight on the inside, I hit the body well.  On the inside or outside I can hack it in the ring.  What I didn’t have when I first went pro I settle down on my feet more, get the man strength and everything kicking in, along with my dad and plying trade and being in the gym I’m turning into a complete pro.”

“Always went to the body.  When I was younger and first started watching tapes of boxing body shots and in fighting Julio Cesar Chavez was a big inspiration for me.  Pressure, pressure, and just grind away and his commitment to the body was something you don’t see from a lot of fighters you see today.  You don’t see a lot of fighters go to the body the way some of the fighters from previous errors did.  It came natural to me.  To be honest I always hit harder to the body than I did to the head.  For some reason I just get better power on my shots downstairs than I do upstairs.  From my very first amateur fight I stopped a kid with body shots.  I always went to the body more than the head.”

Luis started with five wins all by decision.  But as he has settled into the pros and physically matured the power has emerged.  In his last eight bouts he has five knockouts including a first round knockout of Alejandro Barrera 21-9 (7 KO) to win the vacant WBC Continental Americas title.

“I’ve been doing strength training as well along with my running and everything else.  Practicing in the gym and learning to turn the shots over properly and just the whole maturing process.

“A fighter should never look for the knockout because if you look for it you’re not going to get it.  You set it up and get the knockout by staying busy, punching in bunches, and it is the punch they don’t see is what gets them.  For me that is the mantra that has always worked for me.  To be honest I have not changed my basic style at the root from when I first went pro.  It’s just now everything else, growing up and developing the other factors, strength come into play along with the ability that I had before.”

While he learned in the amateurs and now in the pro game that the business of boxing can be difficult he feels protected with his father as his manager and trainer.  Obviously they have the typical obstacles that come along with working within the family but together they feel comfortable and believe they have the recipe to be successful.

“Since day one.  You couldn’t ask for a better guy than your dad in your corner.  Especially as a manager in your career to make sure your career is being steered in the right direction.  Your career is not being manipulated or mislead by anyone.  As far as a trainer you couldn’t ask for a better trainer.  He knows the sport, he loves the sport, he’s been involved in the sport as a fighter himself and has been a fan of it all his life.”

“Typical father-son, it’s an up and down thing.  We’ve had our battles and we work through the bad times and work through the good times and we made it, we’re here.”

Luis may have a successful boxing career ahead but for now he has to earn a living along with fighting like many other prospects.  While some fighters find a simple job (understandably so considering the demands of being a professional fighter) Tony opted for a challenging career that can wear down the most dedicated of individuals.

Luis works at a drug and alcohol treatment center in a field that often burns out its workers due to the stress of the job and the difficulty of helping addicts.  But despite the pitfalls Luis has taken a liking to the job and takes pride in helping juveniles try to get their life on track.  With the difficulties come success stories and relationships that drive those in the treatment profession.

“I work for a treatment center for Aboriginal teenagers on an Indian reservation.  It’s basically alcohol and drug rehab.  My job consists of counselor, slash coach, slash cab driver, slash big brother, but that’s pretty much what my job entails.”

“It pretty much depends.  Some weeks they throw forty-fifty hours at me, some weeks I’m only working twenty four.  The training is around that sometimes but at the same time I couldn’t ask for a better employer because he’s actually very supportive of the boxing and I can take a couple of weeks for training camp I don’t have to even ask twice.  He’s always been very supportive of the boxing and makes things as easy as possible for me.”

“It’s a rewarding job, sometimes it’s challenging.  It’s not always easy and sometimes you want to go somewhere else, but for the most part when the kid trusts you, you’re cruising.”

I asked Tony the question I ask many young fighters who have to balance the demands of training with a full time job.  How do you manage to accomplish all the aspects of training, running almost every morning, training in the gym almost every day, and throw in sparring and strength training along with a full time job?  What drives someone to mentally and physically continue such a rigorous lifestyle.

“I only have one answer for you.  I love the sport.  If I didn’t love the sport I wouldn’t be putting myself through that.  It does drain you sometimes, mentally if anything.  Especially with my job its shift work so sometimes I am working days but sometimes could be working evenings or overnight.  When a fight comes up, I still got to get up and do training.  The body clock is off, but I go to gym anyway and do what I have to do.  It’s hard.  If I didn’t love the sport I would not be doing it.  That’s the only answer I can give you that I love the sport.  You got to be a little crazy to be a fighter and I’m no different.”

Luis got his boxing genes and knowledge from his father.  But other parts of his life, including his work ethic and ability to work with juveniles seem, to have been passed down from father to son as well.  Tony Luis describes his father, Jorge Luis, as a busy full time entrepreneur running a gym and hair salon.  That gym like most boxing gyms has been a place where youth can avoid the streets to stay out of trouble, something the family takes pride in.

“Plenty of kids whose life could have gone another way for the worse.  Even if they don’t go on to be champions in the ring, they became champions in life and boxing played a part in that so the gym has been nothing but positive for a lot of the youth that came into that place.”

But the rigors of training and working were hardly as difficult as what Luis had to deal with five days before his third pro fight.  Luis had to bury his mother right before the fight and then decided to go on with the fight.  Tony didn’t bring this up in my interview with him but later decided to pass this information along.  Despite the difficulty of putting the situation out in the open, Luis hopes that his experience can help someone going through a similar situation.

So on he moves with his father by his side, an undefeated record, and an improving skill set.  Luis is already making a name for himself in Canada where boxing has heated up in the last few years.  But he is hardly content to stop there.  Luis looks south to the States as well where he wants to bring his talents to the bright lights of Sin City.

“Montreal is basically Vegas north.  It’s the Las Vegas of Canada.  To be honest, Canada’s always had good quality fighters dating back to the eighties.”

“Recently Montreal is hot again.  Guys like Bute and Pascal put boxing back on the map again internationally.  For guys like me and up and coming guys to get on these cards and big shows it’s come alive again.”

“It’s amazing thinking about that (fighting in front of big crowds in Montreal) but at the same time I still want to crack the states to.  My dream has always been, my friends and I have always wanted to make it to Vegas one day and watch a fight.  I always told myself I wouldn’t spend all this money in Vegas, I want to make all this money in Vegas.”

Currently Tony is being looked at by several big name US promoters and looks for a deal to come soon.

“I have some promoters looking at me right now.  We had a couple options looking at we’ll see what happens.  We want to hit the US market and it’s all part of taking the step up as well.”

For now, it is still a growing process.  Learning the skills and gaining the experience needed to take on bigger challenges is part of the process for a developing fighter.  A fighter with talent is not enough and has to build his craft against the right opposition and challenge himself with a higher class opponent when the time is right.

“The last fight got us the WBC Intercontinental title at 140, got me ranked.  There’s still the climb, now the climb is going to start.  It got us ranked thirty in the WBC.  Just want to keep developing and leave it up to my promoters and managers but I would like to make a couple of defenses and hopefully get some more TV time next year.  Climb the ladder and get closer and closer to achieving my ultimate goal of becoming a world champion.”

“It’s something that is a combination, it has to play itself out and one fight at a time.  But at the same time the advantage for me is I’m still young and I have time to develop and get the right fights at the right time.  I’m in no rush but at the same time I do know it is time to take a step up soon.  I would like to say by the time I have had twenty fights I will be ready to take on the best in the world.”

So outside of boxing and work:

“I’m a good guy.  Like to go out and have laughs with friends.  I have a big heart and am very giving.  I do have that fighters temper.  Very passionate guy that likes to laugh and have a good time.”

In many ways it is the typical fighter story.  He dealt with loss, trains hard, fights hard, and has to work hard outside of boxing to make ends meet.  But to make it so simple trivializes his and every fighter’s story.  Because Tony Luis, like every one of these fighters that steps into the ring putting so much on the line for the fan’s entertainment and in pursuit of a better life has their own unique story.

Notes

• While interviewing a top fighter is great I have to admit that interviewing an up and coming prospect takes the cake for me.  The problem with speaking with an established fighter is you already know his story.  But learning the details and background of what makes an emerging prospect tick, what makes him fight, and what motivates him to enter this crazy profession is what makes me enjoy interviews.
• Considering the above note, Tony Luis provided a great interview.  He spent nearly an hour on the phone with me, part of it interview, and part shooting the shit.  Considering I work in the same profession outside of the ring as the young fighter my opinion is biased as we shared a common interest in working with at risk youth.  But I found him to be as kind and down to earth as you can get and can’t help but root for him in his boxing career.  While there is no way to know how successful any prospect will be when they face the best in the ring it is clear Luis will be successful in life whether he is in the ring, working with kids, or pursuing any endeavor he sets his mind to.
• For a video of Luis in action, click HERE

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The Boxing Tribune: Riddick, the first question I want to ask is just something I’ve always wanted to ask somebody like you.  You’re one of the very few people who can answer this question in the world, and that is, what is it like being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world?

Riddick Bowe: Well, it’s a great feeling – that’s a good question I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me that before – I guess, well it’s great that everyone knows you so guess that’s a great feeling, you know?

BT: Yeah that sounds awesome.  So Riddick, what we’ve heard out there is that you’ve decided to come back and fight so I guess the obvious question is – why now?

RB: Why not now?  I mean I think right now is a good time.  I think the heavyweight division is wide open so it’s as good a time as any.

BT: Right, and so what do you think about the current crop of heavyweights out there?

RB: I don’t.  But I think that me coming back now will give the Klitschkos an opportunity to really see if they are champions or whatever.

BT: What do you think about the Klitschko brothers as champions?

RB: I don’t.  But the thing is I feel like with me being 6’5” that I can match them in size and we know I’ve got the experience and everything else so if they can whoop me then they deserve to be champions.

BT: Yep, you were a great fighter.  Actually, I grew up watching you fight guys like Evander Holyfield.  It was a great era then.  Heavyweight boxing in the 1990s was one of the best heavyweight eras ever, I mean historically speaking.  Did you guys know or did you know how good that era was back then or were you guys just living in the moment?

RB: Well when you’re in it, and you just listed everything, you’re just living in the moment.  But like you said, it was a great era and I am glad I had, you know, a guy like Evander Holyfield to bring the best out of me.

BT:  And so obviously the big guys of that era were as you mentioned Evander Holyfield, yourself, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis a bit later – excluding yourself, who do you think the best of that era was (out of those three)?

RB: Evander Holyfield. I’d put [Lennox Lewis] last.

BT: Do you wish now that you would have fought Tyson and Lewis?

RB: Well I love to fight.  I would have loved to fight them, but let’s go back to [Lewis], he ducked me any way he could.  I mean he knew, with me being champion, I’m not gonna give him [a] 50-50 [split], you know what I mean?  So he used that as an escape.  He knew he couldn’t whoop me so he just avoided me the best way he could.  But anyway, I know Mike was a great fighter, but you gotta remember a big guy that could move with a good left hand could give him a lot of trouble and that’s the kind of fight I don’t think he’d wanna be in.

BT: So if you could go back to then, or maybe even now, and fight just one of them, which one would you choose: Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis?

RB: Probably [Lennox Lewis].

BT: Alright, so your comeback – I’ve heard you were planning a January return?

RB: That’s right, yes sir.

BT:  Have you identified any possibilities yet as to who that first fight would be against?

RB: Not so far.

BT: I’ve actually read through some of your recent interviews with other sites and saw that you were training and getting ready to get back into the ring…have you done any sparring yet?

RB: Um, I’ve boxed four or five rounds just with the kids trying to get my swagger back.

BT: Is that something (sparring) you do after you have your fight set to go and all that?

RB: You just take is as it comes.  I’m just taking my time with it.  Next month we start sparring with the big guys.  I’m not starting at the beginning, you know what I mean?

BT: Right, of course not.  So, what drives you?  What makes you believe you can come back?  Obviously at age 43, you’re older than you were but younger than some of the other guys out there like Evander Holyfield, but what makes you believe you can come back after being out of the fight game so long and compete, and not just compete, but compete for a title?

RB: Well I know me, and I guess it’s like this: I look at the heavyweight division and it’s wide open.  I mean at my best, who could give me a good fight?  I don’t see nobody doing that.

BT: Speaking of Evander fighting, are there any plans to maybe give fight fans a fourth fight with Holyfield?

RB: Oh man, I would love to fight Evander Holyfield.  I don’t think any of the other great heavyweights fought four times – that’s history in itself.

BT: Oh yeah…I grew up watching that stuff.  It was one of the best trilogies ever, so maybe we’ll get a fourth one out of that, huh?

RB: Man I’m gonna tell you something about Evander Holyfield, when he fights a guy like me and I fight I guy like him, we always bring the best out of each other so by no means should anyone out there ever think that a fight like that is a cake walk because it’s not.

BT: So you and your team have your comeback planned for 2012, do you guys have any idea about how many fights you plan to fight in that year?

RB:  You know, I figure between 8 and 10.

BT: So I guess you’d kind of start and build your way back up?  How many fights would you expect before you jumped in the ring with a Klitschko brother?

RB: I’d probably say somewhere in between 8 and 15, because you gotta be sharp for them guys.

BT: What motivated or inspired you to be a boxer?  I mean it is obviously something you like to do.  Training is hard.

RB: Right.

BT: You know that better than anybody.  So it seems like you like boxing enough to go through it so what is it about boxing that motivates you to do it?

RB:  I was watching a thing on George Foreman and I realized that at the time George Foreman made his comeback that we were pretty much the same age.  So I thought if George Foreman was able to do it, I should be able to do it.   Not to mention that I’m a little bit prettier than George Foreman. So I figure with me being around the same age and being able to move a little bit better, why not try my hand?  So that’s what brought me to do it.

BT: Well you have a career ahead of you and one behind you…what do you think was your greatest victory so far?

RB: That would probably be the first fight against Evander Holyfield.

BT: What would you consider your worst defeat?

RB: Losing [the second fight] to Evander Holyfield.  I didn’t think he did enough to beat me.  I thought the best he could have done was a draw.  I mean, who wins the title on a one point margin? No one.

BT:  And that was the infamous “fan man” fight, right?

RB: Absolutely.  That fight should have been a draw and I should have retained the title.

BT: And just in that moment, what was it like seeing that guy come down into the ring in a parachute with a fan on his back?

RB: Ah man that was crazy!  You don’t expect that.  That was what got me in all honesty.  I didn’t expect anything like that.  That whole night I didn’t understand at all.  It was just like a bad dream for me.

BT:  So who was the toughest fighter you’d say you ever faced?

RB: The toughest fighter was Evander Holyfield, but the hardest hitting guy that I ever fought was a guy by the name of Herbie Hide.  I beat him for the WBO heavyweight championship.

BT:  Well, to wrap things up, what do you want to tell your fans out there who are interested in your coming back?

RB: Just to pray for me.  I want them to pray for me, and I’ll let the chips fall where they may.

BT: Any choice words for the reigning heavyweight champions – the Klitschko brothers?

RB: I mean, my last fight was over in Germany.  I fought on one of them guy’s undercards and they called me “Grandpa”.   Well I guess what I’m gonna say is that “Grandpa” is gonna tap that ass….

BT:  That’s great.  Well thanks so much for talking to us, Champ.  I appreciate it, and our readers appreciate it as well.

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