12.12.05 – By Travis Marks: Dibiella Entertainment returns December 15, 2005 with its Broadway Boxing series and that also marks the return to the ring of a hot new prospect in the featherweight division that everyone needs to pay attention to. His name is Gary “Kid” Stark Jr. and you should hop on the bandwagon right now before there is no room for you. Stark has all the ingredients of a future star. He can box, brawl, has solid defense, a solid chin, a great amateur background and that certain special something that separates him from the rest. He has star appeal you can spot it out as soon as you’ve had an encounter with him..
Stark first put on a pair of gloves at the age of five by the urging of his father, Gary Stark. While the older Stark wanted his son to be a boxer, young Gary had different aspirations, he wanted to play baseball. Stark began playing baseball and excelled at that sport. But boxing was what Gary was born to do and at the age of seventeen he returned to the ring with his father still in his corner. Much to his delight he found that everything came naturally and with this success he found himself at a crossroads. At eighteen years of age Gary’s collegiate baseball coach asked him to make a decision between boxing and baseball and fortunately for all of us, he chose the sweet science.
Stark enjoyed a superior career as an amateur. He made it to the finals in the Metros in 1999. That was the first competitive tournament he ever entered into. With each win he became more confident and his beliefs were strengthened in his abilities. The year 2000 proved to be a very successful year for Stark. He not only bettered his performance in the Metros by winning it at 112 pounds but he also was able to win the highly coveted Golden Gloves at that same weight. He hit the trifecta by winning the Regionals at that weight as well. In 2000 Gary was also able to get all the way to the Eastern Olympic finals. In 2001 and 2002 Gary was able to win the Golden Gloves and Metros again at a higher weight, 119 pounds. By winning the Empire State Games in 2002, Stark became one of the most accomplished amateurs on the east coast. After reaching the quarter-finals in the U.S. championships he knew he was ready to become a professional. He finished his amateur career as a 3 Time Golden Glove Champion and was ranked 5th in the country in USA Boxing.
Gary started his professional career with a bang! He blasted Freddie Collins in one round and showed everyone that Gary was here to make a mark. After a few more victories Gary, a student of the game picked up on the critical difference between the amateurs and the pros. “More or less, it’s about being patient, said Stark. “Everything in the pros counts. It’s not just about fast hands; you have to pick your shots and use a lot of strategy. You have to be smarter as a professional.”
Now standing with a professional record of 12-0 with six of his victories coming by way of knockout, Gary is poised for stardom. He is not only winning fights but he is winning fans. One of his biggest fans is rap mogul Damon Dash of Rocafella Records. Dash knows a star and he sees one and has made a financial commitment to Stark. This association has propelled Gary into a side career as a model. The buzz about Gary has even landed him in a recent issue of Playboy and he was also featured on the New York’s Emmy award winning WB 11 morning news.
Stark fully understands the opportunity that stands before him and he is more than ready to take full advantage of it. “I want to win as many fights as possible,” said Stark. “After about five fights I want to be fighting for a title. I don’t want to be just an average boxer, I want to transcend boxing. I want to be champion, I want to act and model.”
But before he can become a star he knows that he has to take care of things in the ring first. In his last fight he fought the very tough Juan Carlos Santiago. Stark learned a lot in that fight. “I was very aggravated because the fighter was not going anywhere and hit him harder than anyone ever,” said Stark. “That was a true test. I learned to keep my hands up, fight my fight and just box. I tried to take him out but couldn’t so I had to go back to using my boxing ability.”
Upon his return to the ring he will be facing a tough Mexican southpaw. In preparation for the fight Gary has had intense sparring sessions with Roberto Benitez, Mauricio Martinez and Allen Litzau. “I have trained very hard for this fight,” said Stark. “Hopefully many people come out to see me.”
Starks will be fighting at the Manhattan Center on December 15. Tickets are available by calling DiBella Entertainment at 212-947-2577 or at the ticket booth window at the facility.
Eastsideboxing.com wishes Gary “Kid” Stark Jr. continued success.