11.11.06 – Mike “Mike-Mike” Oliver, the recently crowned USBA 122 pound champion, has officially ‘called out’ unbeaten Irish star Bernard Dunne (21-0) today through his promoter, Rich Capiello. Oliver, now 17-0 with 7 stoppages, won the USBA crown just two weeks ago with an dominating unanimous decision over NABF champion Adam “El Torito” Carerra (18-1) of Cathedral City, California at the Mohegan Sun Casino.. Carerra, a former world amateur champion in the junior division, came into the fight predicting a victory over Oliver by knockout but it was Oliver who repeatedly landed the telling blows throughout the 12 round bout.
Earlier this year Oliver also scored an electrifying ninth round stoppage for the USBO title over Guatemala’s former international amateur star, the once-beaten Castulo Gonzalez.
The Hartford, Connecticut based southpaw, who some boxing insiders claim has “the fastest hands in all of boxing,” is guided by up and coming trainer, and former world title challenger, “Iceman” John Scully and is promoted by Rich Capiello of Capiello Promotions based in Brockton, Massachusetts. Oliver turned pro in 2001.
As an amateur boxer Oliver competed in over 300 matched, winning dozens of championships along the way and facing off with some of the top rated amateurs in the United States including boxers like 2000 Olympian Clarence Vinson, three time National Golden Gloves Champion Rashiem Jefferson, USA Pan Am Games representative Aaron Garcia, current undefeated (30-0) lightweight Jose Aguiniga, and Pennsylvania’s Carney Bowman. Oliver qualified for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials where he defeated Bowman and lost to eventual champion Vinson. Oliver represented the United States several times in International competition and also won several top level championships including the prestigious Ohio State Fair Invitational.
Dunne is seen by Oliver as one of the most prolific super bantamweights in the world right now, probably the best prospect besides himself, and Mike-Mike wouldn’t hesitate in taking a fight with him as a way to catapult himself into a world title fight should he win. He doesn’t need to do this the way his career is going right now but he is more than willing to take the risk in exchange for the exposure and recognition that the win will bring him. He respects Dunne but doesn’t believe the Irishman has the overall skills or power to hold him back.
Said Oliver “I have been at this boxing so long, ever since I was two years old I have been in the gym, and I think that a win over Dunne could move me up quicker than a win over any other guy outside of the champions could. I’ve been fighting my whole life and I had over 300 amateur and pro fights. I’m ready for this and then that will let everybody else know I’m ready to fight for the world title. Scully has taught me a lot of things and has me doing things that I’m supposed to be doing to get to that next level and it all showed through in my fight with Carrera because there was a lot of people that thought Carrera was going to beat me. But when I am on top of my game I don’t think many guys can handle me, especially not a basic slugger like Dunne is.”