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October 29, 2004: FIGHT NIGHT- Got to the fights early and ran into Vinny Paz who introduced me to Frank Stallone. I was surprised and flattered that Stallone knew who I was and, I have to say, he is a very friendly and personable guy and, to my surprise, he is a huge and very knowledgeable boxing fan. It is very obvious he knows the game and follows it very closely and, as a matter of fact, he gave me his email address so I could send him a chapter from this book I am writing now.
Downstairs in our Fox Theater dressing room I find that we are sharing it several people including two guys I have sparred with in the past, young undefeated pros Matt Godfrey and Joey Spina. Joey was accompanied by his new trainer, former WBA light heavyweight World Champion Eddie Mustapha Muhammad.
At 7:20 Chad (Dawson) begins getting his hands wrapped. By 7:35 we are ready to start loosening up on the mitts. Jab is popping, left hand is popping. All set to go at 8:05. The fight goes the full ten rounds. The specific things we worked on in the gym for this fight were the jab, using angles and staying calm, and boxing like a professional. All those aspects were very relevant in this victory tonight, too. Chad's first ten rounder and he responded very well. I urged him constantly to keep using the jab, keep making it so that Darnell is the one who is forced to change his plans for the night. With Chad's range and elusiveness there is just no reason to do anything different from the things that won him the first couple rounds. When Darnell begins to try and put more pressure on that is when we step it up just one or two notches. The fight ends with Chad feeling good and ready if necessary to do more rounds. The decision is unanimous for us and everyone from the fans to his promoter to Vinny Paz at ringside are impressed with his poise, jab and body work. I am, too. There is more work to be done, though. Kid is only twenty-two years old and just now becoming a seasoned pro. No rush needed.
Scottie ("Sandman" Pemberton) wins the main event of the evening in another good tussle, this time with the durable James Crawford. The fight is just getting heated up in the third and features back and forth action when Scottie lands a good series of rights that cause Crawford's left eye to swell up very badly. The fight is called and Scottie is awarded a TKO win to keep his title hopes are still alive. Rematch, anyone?
Ray "Sucra" Olivera is at the after fight party. Says he is set to fight a big match against Ricky Hatton at 140 next month in England. Very big looking for a 140 pounder, I first knew Ray-Ray when he was a 106 pounder in the 1985 Golden Gloves at Lowell.
Downstairs in our Fox Theater dressing room I find that we are sharing it several people including two guys I have sparred with in the past, young undefeated pros Matt Godfrey and Joey Spina. Joey was accompanied by his new trainer, former WBA light heavyweight World Champion Eddie Mustapha Muhammad.
At 7:20 Chad (Dawson) begins getting his hands wrapped. By 7:35 we are ready to start loosening up on the mitts. Jab is popping, left hand is popping. All set to go at 8:05. The fight goes the full ten rounds. The specific things we worked on in the gym for this fight were the jab, using angles and staying calm, and boxing like a professional. All those aspects were very relevant in this victory tonight, too. Chad's first ten rounder and he responded very well. I urged him constantly to keep using the jab, keep making it so that Darnell is the one who is forced to change his plans for the night. With Chad's range and elusiveness there is just no reason to do anything different from the things that won him the first couple rounds. When Darnell begins to try and put more pressure on that is when we step it up just one or two notches. The fight ends with Chad feeling good and ready if necessary to do more rounds. The decision is unanimous for us and everyone from the fans to his promoter to Vinny Paz at ringside are impressed with his poise, jab and body work. I am, too. There is more work to be done, though. Kid is only twenty-two years old and just now becoming a seasoned pro. No rush needed.
Scottie ("Sandman" Pemberton) wins the main event of the evening in another good tussle, this time with the durable James Crawford. The fight is just getting heated up in the third and features back and forth action when Scottie lands a good series of rights that cause Crawford's left eye to swell up very badly. The fight is called and Scottie is awarded a TKO win to keep his title hopes are still alive. Rematch, anyone?
Ray "Sucra" Olivera is at the after fight party. Says he is set to fight a big match against Ricky Hatton at 140 next month in England. Very big looking for a 140 pounder, I first knew Ray-Ray when he was a 106 pounder in the 1985 Golden Gloves at Lowell.
Great song!
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