18.05.06 – By Geoff Mckay: In a sea of up and coming Eastern European heavyweights, one American prospect feels he has what it takes to become world champion. Trained by Gus Curren and managed by Lou Duva, 20 year old Mike Marrone has racked up a record of 14-0, with 11 KO’s. Most recently, Mike scored a first round knockout of Dan Whetzel on a televised edition of Friday night fights. EastSide Boxing sat down with Mike and his trainer to discuss his future, recent fights, and the current heavyweight scene.
ESB: The first thing I want to do is give credit where credit is due. I am here to testify that Gus and I spoke a couple of days before the De la Hoya-Mayorga fight, and Gus said Oscar would score a knockout in six. I don’t think I read a prediction that called for that and I know it wasn’t generally expected. So Dan, tell us why you made that great call?
DW: (Laughs) You know, it always seems like De La Hoya, when he’s really focused for a fight, and I knew he was, I knew he was going to knock him out. I knew it wasn’t going to go to a decision and I just felt like it was going to be in the sixth round. The only reason I said that was because I figured De La Hoya wasn’t going to go out like a madman, he was just going to go out there, put his punches together precisely, and to be honest with you, I didn’t even watch the fight. I’m going to watch it this weekend on the replay. I just knew he was going to knock him out, just from being around him in the gym for that short amount of time a couple of years back. When he’s focused, he’s focused. He’s a great guy to learn from, especially to have Mike around him, he’s different in how he acts, and handles himself as a fighter and as a man.
ESB: It was a good call. If Mike’s ready I’d like to ask him a few questions.
MM: How you doing Geoff?
ESB: Good, how about you Mike?
MM: I’m doing great.
ESB: You had a great showing on Friday night fights, scoring a first round KO. Could you tell us a little bit about the fight? Did you expect to take him out that quickly?
MM: It’s not necessarily that I expected to take him out so quick, but I did know that if I hit him the right way that I have the power to take him out quick. The whole key to the fight was just sticking to the game plan and listening, and I’ll take that win any day of the week.
ESB: The last time you were out was against Zack Page and you had a bit of trouble. Could you tell us what you learned from that?
MM: Well, I learned a lot from it and you know I just learned to treat fights like they are another day in the gym, I understand that. The difference is that this fight I listened and I stuck to the game plan and the results were obviously very different from the last one. I didn’t follow exactly what I was supposed to do with him, and had I followed what I was supposed to do with him that would have been a much easier night. I’m glad now that this happened. I heard something, it goes “Smooth seas don’t make for good sailors”, everyone has to have their bumps in the road to get where they are going.
ESB: Did you see the Green-McCrary fight?
MM: You know, I didn’t actually see the fight, somebody told me about it. Alan Green is a good fighter, and I’ve seen him knock out Jaidon Codrington, and I’ve seen him on ESPN a few times. That just goes to show that it can happen to anybody. He just had, probably the same thing that happened with me. He probably just got overanxious and it happens. It’s a learning experience and I’m sure he learned from it too.
ESB: Where do you go from here Mike? Are you going to look to make a step up in competition?
MM: When it comes to stepping up, I’m always ready to step up, I’m always ready to fight, but I leave that to Gus and Lou, they know me the best, they look out for me and they know when I’m ready. When they say I’m ready I’m ready. Whether that be tomorrow, or whenever, that’s when I’ll make the step up. I do feel that I’m improving every day.
ESB: Any idea when you might be fighting next?
MM: You know, I’m not exactly sure when I’m fighting next. I’m always in the gym and I’m always in shape so whenever the call comes I’m ready.
ESB: You’ve sparred with some top names. One that comes to mind is Jameel McCline. I know there have been others as well. What kind of learning experience has that been?
MM: To be quite honest, I learn from everybody, not just Jameel McCline, Shannon Briggs, not just the top heavyweights. I learn from the amateurs in the gym, I learn from everybody because everybody can teach you something.
ESB: Many of the heavyweight prospects are from the former Soviet Union. How do you see this affecting boxing in the years to come?
MM: They have a great amateur boxing program over in Europe, but I believe we do have some of the best prospects now, and I do believe North America will have its fair share of champions and contenders in the future.
ESB: Any predictions for Maskaev-Rahman?
MM: You know what, that’s a good fight, and I’m going to take Rahman just because I think that he learned from the last time and that he’ll do much better this time.
ESB: Any final thoughts Mike?
MM: I appreciate everybody’s support and I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to showcase what I have. I want to continue to show my improvement fight by fight, and that will lead me to the heavyweight championship of the world someday.
ESB: Thanks Mike
MM: Thank you very much.
Final Note: I was very impressed with both Mike and his trainer Gus. Both are genuinely nice guys who seem totally obsessed with succeeding in the future. After having spoken with Mike, I am very much looking forward to seeing his next fight.
Comments or questions may be sent to: geoffmckay@monarch.net