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FLASHBACK, FROM MY BOOK:
This first recap was written shortly after I returned from Las Vegas (I was there with a kid I train named Greg Cuyler who was boxing in the USA National Championships) in April of 2002.
April 2002, Las Vegas: Well, I am BACK from my trip this past week to Las Vegas for the 2002 USA National Amateur Boxing Championships where the kid I train, Greg Cuyler, went to the quarterfinals at 112 pounds and will likely be rated # 6 in the USA when the next national rankings come out. He won a clear decision along the way over the United States Air Force Champion by a score of 12-7. In the quarterfinal bout that he lost he landed at least eight punches in the last round that I counted but the computer only gave him ONE point in that three minute span. I hate that computer scoring and I think, in the long run, it is doing a BIG disservice to amateur boxing.
Anyway, the fights were at Caesar's Palace and we stayed across the street at the Flamingo Hotel (the same hotel that Bugsy Siegel first had built back in the 1940's).
It was as good to run into my friend, and one of the countries most enthusiastic USA Boxing Referees, Arizaino1. (Thanks for the pics Tony)....
I was not a designated and official "Team Coach" for the teamfrom my region so I was forced to make my own travel and room arrangements for this trip. However, I was not about to pay Vegas prices for a hotel room so I hooked up a cot and stayed in Greg's room with him and his roomate, a 119 pounder from New York named Gary "Kid" Stark. All the fighters and TEAM Coaches were allowed to eat free at the Employee Dining room any time of the day or night. I was NOT a team coach but did I eat free all week?? OF COURSE the Iceman ate free... all week!!!! Caesars security was NOT sharp enough for ME! That's right, I am unstoppable!
I was able to get some good sparring at the Top Rank Gym while I was there in Vegas. I sparred several rounds with my man Hashart aka Ronnie Hasbrouck, middleweight Jesse Brinkley and another guy whose name I never caught. Pretty Boy Floyd (Mayweather) was training there every day, pulling up in his Ferrari one day and in his Bentley the next. Floyd was cool and ****y as ever but I will say this... the kid trains HARD. He was real friendly to Greg and took a couple pictures with him, etc. Also at the gym was Roger Mayweather and Rog LOVES to talk about boxing and is a real cool and funny guy. Roger is one of the All-time greatest trash talkers in this game and backs it up with a deep knowledge of the history of the game, too... although I had a nice long argument with him about my man Muhammad Ali and his man Joe Louis. (Cassius Green, the guy you always see on TV in corners that wears the Captain's hat, he was in the argument, too, on the side of Ali and I).
Lupe Aquino, former WBC 154 Champ, was there training as was Stevie Forbes. Former Champ Richie Sandoval was there working with fighters every day... Stevie is a cool kid, too and interesting to talk to about the old amateur days of boxing. I ran into Antwun Echols in the lobby of the Flamingo... he's in town finishing up training for his next fight. I wanted to see about getting some sparring with him while I am here but he is all done sparring for his upcoming match, just cooling down until fight time.
My man Mark Breland was one of the guests at the amateur fights, giving out trophies etc. Milton McCrory was there, too, along with Hilmer Kenty. I told Milton that I had always wanted to meet him... always wanted to tell him how, in the 1986 Golden Gloves finals at Lowell, I was real tired going into the last round of a close fight and I thought of him in his rematch with Colin Jones when he won the WBC title in 1984 and how in the last round Milton just kept throwing those light flurries, shoe shining Colin, and just keeping busy enough to win the round even though he was obviously exhausted. I thought of him when I went out for the third round and I did the same thing and won my fight. He liked hearing that story, of course. I also showed him my ICEMAN necklace to sort of let him know he is not the only Iceman in town that week
Bones Adams was there. I reminded him about the time when he was just thirteen years old at the 1987 Nationals in Florida and he fought Lamar Murphy in the parking lot of the motel we all stayed at. It was the best kids "fight" I have ever seen.
1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Jerry Page was there, too. Jerry now spends a good amount of time training amateurs at a Gym in Columbus, Ohio. My man Wayne McCullough was there every day for the fights, too. Wayne is always cool to talk to and is really up on the game, amateur AND pros. Wayne has a Gym right at his house and spars regularly there with Kevin Kelley. Told me Kev hits harder than ANYBODY he ever boxed. Winky Wright was there a couple days at the fights but I didn't get a chance to say "What's up" to him. Jeff Lacy showed up a couple times, too. Jeff is a nice kid, short but strong looking. Reminds me of a 168 pound Tyson. Augie Sanchez was at the Finals working with some kid from Vegas. Livingstone Bramble was there... Bramble is always cool, too. Tells me he plans to make a video of a boxing workout so he is keeping in good shape for it. I reminded him of the video he showed me once about eight years ago in the Poconos where he had his pit bull and his Iguana fighting each other!! Actually it wasn't much of a fight. The iguana was on a chair and every time the pit would come anywhere near it the Iguana would smack the pit in the face with its tail. The pit had no idea what was happening and was kept at bay... Bramble is a funny guy. If you ever meet him ask him about that tape... he loves his animals. (I remember reading once that he had a pitbull named SNAKE and a snake named DOG)..........
One day at the pool at Caesars Palace I was taking in some sun and I heard a voice behind me, a funny kind of voice and the guy was laughing a lot, enough that it made me turn around to see who it was. Turns out it was Emmanuel "Webster" Lewis. Remember him?? He was there to take part in a wedding I think. Cool looking little dude in a purple suit. I wanted to get a picture with him but people were around him and it was a formal occasion so I let it go. But I did get pictures with McCrory, Sandoval, etc. Also a note to the guys if u ever go to Caesars Pool. I was walking by the pool area with my head down and I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of this woman NAKED in her lounge chair. I was like WHAT is going on here?? I thought maybe she was a little crazy or something then I looked around and realized... there is a nude sun bathing section at the Caesars Palace Pool. Just so u know.
As far as the amateurs go... look for some good kids in years to come from this class. There is a real tough kid from Pennsylvania named Verquan Kimbrough that is a short and STRONG Lightweight that comes to score KO's. Definitely has the pro style. He won the title here at 132 pounds. There is also a kid from Brooklyn that I have known since he was thirteen years old named Curtis Stevens. Kertis was 139 pounds then and was STOPPING kids his age. He continued to do so all the way up the ladder... he has about seventy-five fights now and has only lost a FEW. He fought in his first open class tournament in Vegas last week and is only seventeen years old... but he won five fights and the 178 pound title in impressive form. Looked like a monster, some people said. Keep that name in your memory. Curtis Stevens, Brooklyn, NY.
Andre Dirrel from Ohio didn't win the title here but he is only seventeen and has STYLE... real good prospect that Emmanuel Steward will likely turn pro after the 2004 games. Lorenzo Reynolds, 132, is another good prospect. The 139 class had a BUNCH of good looking Olympic hopefuls including Rock Allen, Omri Lowther, Chad Aquino and Josh Beeman. Allen won the title with a decision over Lowther. Also, keep an eye on 112 pounders Raul Martinez, Ron Siler and Roberto Benitez. Anyway... thats about it for now..I am on the way to the Gym so, until the next trip... I am signing off... so, until then, BE COOL
Iceman
This first recap was written shortly after I returned from Las Vegas (I was there with a kid I train named Greg Cuyler who was boxing in the USA National Championships) in April of 2002.
April 2002, Las Vegas: Well, I am BACK from my trip this past week to Las Vegas for the 2002 USA National Amateur Boxing Championships where the kid I train, Greg Cuyler, went to the quarterfinals at 112 pounds and will likely be rated # 6 in the USA when the next national rankings come out. He won a clear decision along the way over the United States Air Force Champion by a score of 12-7. In the quarterfinal bout that he lost he landed at least eight punches in the last round that I counted but the computer only gave him ONE point in that three minute span. I hate that computer scoring and I think, in the long run, it is doing a BIG disservice to amateur boxing.
Anyway, the fights were at Caesar's Palace and we stayed across the street at the Flamingo Hotel (the same hotel that Bugsy Siegel first had built back in the 1940's).
It was as good to run into my friend, and one of the countries most enthusiastic USA Boxing Referees, Arizaino1. (Thanks for the pics Tony)....
I was not a designated and official "Team Coach" for the teamfrom my region so I was forced to make my own travel and room arrangements for this trip. However, I was not about to pay Vegas prices for a hotel room so I hooked up a cot and stayed in Greg's room with him and his roomate, a 119 pounder from New York named Gary "Kid" Stark. All the fighters and TEAM Coaches were allowed to eat free at the Employee Dining room any time of the day or night. I was NOT a team coach but did I eat free all week?? OF COURSE the Iceman ate free... all week!!!! Caesars security was NOT sharp enough for ME! That's right, I am unstoppable!
I was able to get some good sparring at the Top Rank Gym while I was there in Vegas. I sparred several rounds with my man Hashart aka Ronnie Hasbrouck, middleweight Jesse Brinkley and another guy whose name I never caught. Pretty Boy Floyd (Mayweather) was training there every day, pulling up in his Ferrari one day and in his Bentley the next. Floyd was cool and ****y as ever but I will say this... the kid trains HARD. He was real friendly to Greg and took a couple pictures with him, etc. Also at the gym was Roger Mayweather and Rog LOVES to talk about boxing and is a real cool and funny guy. Roger is one of the All-time greatest trash talkers in this game and backs it up with a deep knowledge of the history of the game, too... although I had a nice long argument with him about my man Muhammad Ali and his man Joe Louis. (Cassius Green, the guy you always see on TV in corners that wears the Captain's hat, he was in the argument, too, on the side of Ali and I).
Lupe Aquino, former WBC 154 Champ, was there training as was Stevie Forbes. Former Champ Richie Sandoval was there working with fighters every day... Stevie is a cool kid, too and interesting to talk to about the old amateur days of boxing. I ran into Antwun Echols in the lobby of the Flamingo... he's in town finishing up training for his next fight. I wanted to see about getting some sparring with him while I am here but he is all done sparring for his upcoming match, just cooling down until fight time.
My man Mark Breland was one of the guests at the amateur fights, giving out trophies etc. Milton McCrory was there, too, along with Hilmer Kenty. I told Milton that I had always wanted to meet him... always wanted to tell him how, in the 1986 Golden Gloves finals at Lowell, I was real tired going into the last round of a close fight and I thought of him in his rematch with Colin Jones when he won the WBC title in 1984 and how in the last round Milton just kept throwing those light flurries, shoe shining Colin, and just keeping busy enough to win the round even though he was obviously exhausted. I thought of him when I went out for the third round and I did the same thing and won my fight. He liked hearing that story, of course. I also showed him my ICEMAN necklace to sort of let him know he is not the only Iceman in town that week
Bones Adams was there. I reminded him about the time when he was just thirteen years old at the 1987 Nationals in Florida and he fought Lamar Murphy in the parking lot of the motel we all stayed at. It was the best kids "fight" I have ever seen.
1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Jerry Page was there, too. Jerry now spends a good amount of time training amateurs at a Gym in Columbus, Ohio. My man Wayne McCullough was there every day for the fights, too. Wayne is always cool to talk to and is really up on the game, amateur AND pros. Wayne has a Gym right at his house and spars regularly there with Kevin Kelley. Told me Kev hits harder than ANYBODY he ever boxed. Winky Wright was there a couple days at the fights but I didn't get a chance to say "What's up" to him. Jeff Lacy showed up a couple times, too. Jeff is a nice kid, short but strong looking. Reminds me of a 168 pound Tyson. Augie Sanchez was at the Finals working with some kid from Vegas. Livingstone Bramble was there... Bramble is always cool, too. Tells me he plans to make a video of a boxing workout so he is keeping in good shape for it. I reminded him of the video he showed me once about eight years ago in the Poconos where he had his pit bull and his Iguana fighting each other!! Actually it wasn't much of a fight. The iguana was on a chair and every time the pit would come anywhere near it the Iguana would smack the pit in the face with its tail. The pit had no idea what was happening and was kept at bay... Bramble is a funny guy. If you ever meet him ask him about that tape... he loves his animals. (I remember reading once that he had a pitbull named SNAKE and a snake named DOG)..........
One day at the pool at Caesars Palace I was taking in some sun and I heard a voice behind me, a funny kind of voice and the guy was laughing a lot, enough that it made me turn around to see who it was. Turns out it was Emmanuel "Webster" Lewis. Remember him?? He was there to take part in a wedding I think. Cool looking little dude in a purple suit. I wanted to get a picture with him but people were around him and it was a formal occasion so I let it go. But I did get pictures with McCrory, Sandoval, etc. Also a note to the guys if u ever go to Caesars Pool. I was walking by the pool area with my head down and I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of this woman NAKED in her lounge chair. I was like WHAT is going on here?? I thought maybe she was a little crazy or something then I looked around and realized... there is a nude sun bathing section at the Caesars Palace Pool. Just so u know.
As far as the amateurs go... look for some good kids in years to come from this class. There is a real tough kid from Pennsylvania named Verquan Kimbrough that is a short and STRONG Lightweight that comes to score KO's. Definitely has the pro style. He won the title here at 132 pounds. There is also a kid from Brooklyn that I have known since he was thirteen years old named Curtis Stevens. Kertis was 139 pounds then and was STOPPING kids his age. He continued to do so all the way up the ladder... he has about seventy-five fights now and has only lost a FEW. He fought in his first open class tournament in Vegas last week and is only seventeen years old... but he won five fights and the 178 pound title in impressive form. Looked like a monster, some people said. Keep that name in your memory. Curtis Stevens, Brooklyn, NY.
Andre Dirrel from Ohio didn't win the title here but he is only seventeen and has STYLE... real good prospect that Emmanuel Steward will likely turn pro after the 2004 games. Lorenzo Reynolds, 132, is another good prospect. The 139 class had a BUNCH of good looking Olympic hopefuls including Rock Allen, Omri Lowther, Chad Aquino and Josh Beeman. Allen won the title with a decision over Lowther. Also, keep an eye on 112 pounders Raul Martinez, Ron Siler and Roberto Benitez. Anyway... thats about it for now..I am on the way to the Gym so, until the next trip... I am signing off... so, until then, BE COOL
Iceman
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