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Ready 2 Rumble.....if we ever get there (flight delayed today because of snow)
Oliver Ready For Breakout Performance On SHO-BOX
In less than one-month's time, two Connecticut boxers have earned world titles in their respective weight classes. Travis Simms captured the WBA light-middleweight crown on January 6, and Chad Dawson followed up on February 3rd with a unanimous decision victory over Tomasz Adamek to earn the WBC light-heavyweight title.
Friday night on Shoebox "The New Generation", Hartford, Connecticut super-bantamweight Mike "Machine" Oliver expects to have the type of breakout performance that will catapult him into a world title fight. Oliver (17-0, 7 KO's), rated No. 9 by the IBF, and currently the reigning USBA champ, believes a win on Shoebox ,over fellow undefeated prospect Gary Stark Jr. (18-0, 8 KO's), will earn him that opportunity. "I had six wins in 2006, all by unanimous decision or knockout. I beat Carrera by a big margin, and a win Friday night on Showtime will prove to everyone out there that I deserve a shot at the best. This will be a breakout fight for me," states Oliver.
Oliver's promoter, Rich Cappiello, also feels Mike is more than ready and deserving of the opportunity for a world title fight. "Mike's beaten everyone he's faced," states Cappiello. "Each time we've stepped him up, he's performed better and better. Carrera was the top-ranked guy in the USBA, and Mike thoroughly dominated that fight from bell to bell. Mike has, perhaps, the best hand speed in all of boxing, and his power is very deceptive. He simply wears guys down as the fight goes on. Friday night, Mike is going to show everyone that he's ready to start capturing world titles!"
Mike Oliver Background
Oliver honed his boxing skills during a stellar amateur career which consisted of over 300 fights, to include a trip to the Olympic Trials, a feat only two other Hartford natives have accomplished (John Scully and Lawrence Clay Bey).
Since turning professional in 2001, the southpaw Oliver quickly became one of New England's brightest boxing prospects, and in an effort to further his advance in the professional ranks, Oliver linked up with Hartford's own John Scully.
Scully, a former I.B.F. world title challenger in the light heavyweight division, is quickly becoming one of the sports best trainers. He coached Worcester, Massachusetts' Jose Rivera to the WBA junior middleweight title, and is also training Israel "Pito" Cardona for his upcoming bout with Zab Judah.
Though the two only began working together full-time in January, 2006, Scully has worked with Mike numerous times during his amateur career. "I've known Mike since he was about four years old," states Scully. "I worked on and off with him during national tournaments, and I think that's really made us working together very easy. I've known Mike a long time, and I just know what to do to motivate him. I know what buttons to push to give him the drive to work harder."
When Oliver began looking to team up with a new trainer, he says the decision was a rather simple one. " I'm very glad to be with Scully. I've seen a lot of changes, in the time we've been together. Scully coached me all the way to the national finals as an amateur, and he is the type of trainer who really pays a lot of attention to his fighters."
Both Scully and Oliver believe the bond that they've developed over the years has played an intricate role in their ability to click together, and the changes Scully has seen in that once young child have given him a more than favorable impression on his potential. "Just in the time we've been together, I've been very impressed with Mike. He trains hard and picks up new things very fast. Mikey is very strong, and extremely fast! I don't know if you could find a 122 pound fighter out there that is faster than Mike. Plus, he hits hard! He's a force to reckon with in the super bantamweight division.
Since his first fight with Scully working his corner (2-18-06), Oliver is 6-0 with 2 knockouts. His four non-knockout victories all came via unanimous decisions.Mike "Machine" Oliver
World Rank: No. 9 (IBF)
USBA Super- Bantamweight Champ
Professional Record:
17 Wins - 0 Losses - 7 KO's
Oliver Ready For Breakout Performance On SHO-BOX
In less than one-month's time, two Connecticut boxers have earned world titles in their respective weight classes. Travis Simms captured the WBA light-middleweight crown on January 6, and Chad Dawson followed up on February 3rd with a unanimous decision victory over Tomasz Adamek to earn the WBC light-heavyweight title.
Friday night on Shoebox "The New Generation", Hartford, Connecticut super-bantamweight Mike "Machine" Oliver expects to have the type of breakout performance that will catapult him into a world title fight. Oliver (17-0, 7 KO's), rated No. 9 by the IBF, and currently the reigning USBA champ, believes a win on Shoebox ,over fellow undefeated prospect Gary Stark Jr. (18-0, 8 KO's), will earn him that opportunity. "I had six wins in 2006, all by unanimous decision or knockout. I beat Carrera by a big margin, and a win Friday night on Showtime will prove to everyone out there that I deserve a shot at the best. This will be a breakout fight for me," states Oliver.
Oliver's promoter, Rich Cappiello, also feels Mike is more than ready and deserving of the opportunity for a world title fight. "Mike's beaten everyone he's faced," states Cappiello. "Each time we've stepped him up, he's performed better and better. Carrera was the top-ranked guy in the USBA, and Mike thoroughly dominated that fight from bell to bell. Mike has, perhaps, the best hand speed in all of boxing, and his power is very deceptive. He simply wears guys down as the fight goes on. Friday night, Mike is going to show everyone that he's ready to start capturing world titles!"
Mike Oliver Background
Oliver honed his boxing skills during a stellar amateur career which consisted of over 300 fights, to include a trip to the Olympic Trials, a feat only two other Hartford natives have accomplished (John Scully and Lawrence Clay Bey).
Since turning professional in 2001, the southpaw Oliver quickly became one of New England's brightest boxing prospects, and in an effort to further his advance in the professional ranks, Oliver linked up with Hartford's own John Scully.
Scully, a former I.B.F. world title challenger in the light heavyweight division, is quickly becoming one of the sports best trainers. He coached Worcester, Massachusetts' Jose Rivera to the WBA junior middleweight title, and is also training Israel "Pito" Cardona for his upcoming bout with Zab Judah.
Though the two only began working together full-time in January, 2006, Scully has worked with Mike numerous times during his amateur career. "I've known Mike since he was about four years old," states Scully. "I worked on and off with him during national tournaments, and I think that's really made us working together very easy. I've known Mike a long time, and I just know what to do to motivate him. I know what buttons to push to give him the drive to work harder."
When Oliver began looking to team up with a new trainer, he says the decision was a rather simple one. " I'm very glad to be with Scully. I've seen a lot of changes, in the time we've been together. Scully coached me all the way to the national finals as an amateur, and he is the type of trainer who really pays a lot of attention to his fighters."
Both Scully and Oliver believe the bond that they've developed over the years has played an intricate role in their ability to click together, and the changes Scully has seen in that once young child have given him a more than favorable impression on his potential. "Just in the time we've been together, I've been very impressed with Mike. He trains hard and picks up new things very fast. Mikey is very strong, and extremely fast! I don't know if you could find a 122 pound fighter out there that is faster than Mike. Plus, he hits hard! He's a force to reckon with in the super bantamweight division.
Since his first fight with Scully working his corner (2-18-06), Oliver is 6-0 with 2 knockouts. His four non-knockout victories all came via unanimous decisions.Mike "Machine" Oliver
World Rank: No. 9 (IBF)
USBA Super- Bantamweight Champ
Professional Record:
17 Wins - 0 Losses - 7 KO's
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