05.04.07 – By John Way: This Friday, light welterweight contender Damian Fuller kicks off a whirlwind comeback campaign of three fights in only five weeks. Plagued by managerial problems, Fuller’s budding career stalled after a hard fought draw with John Brown on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights in July, 2005. Damian has only had two fights since then, notching inconsequential wins over weak opposition. At twenty-nine, the biological clock is clearly ticking for the slick southpaw fighting out of Flint Michigan. This revelation is at the root of Fuller’s approaching surge in ring activity, which he hopes will culminate in a series of hard-earned paydays, and, more importantly, a title shot..
Not a knockout artist by any stretch of the imagination, Fuller does hits hard enough to earn the respect of his opponents, particularly with the right hook. His chin is a proven liability, his stamina has fallen short in the past, and, as he showed against Brown and Lovemore N’Dou, he can be intimidated by durable foes. His greatest asset is his combination punching. Stringing his shots together with creativity, his attack is inventive and artistic. To get back into contention, Fuller will have to take advantage of his physical advantages, without exposing his weak chin. It wouldn’t hurt if he continued this trend of activity.First up this Friday is Jairo Ramirez in San Diego. Hardcore boxing fans will remember Ramirez for his courageous effort against Kid Diamond last year. Unfortunately, courage is the only thing he can claim for his cause, lacking the requisite ring smarts and durability to trouble Fuller.
Eight days later Team Fuller travels to Carter Lake Indiana to square off against .500 level fighter John Roby in a scheduled eight rounder. Fragile and outgunned, it’s doubtful that Roby will make Fuller work for his money Fuller’s spring sprint towards the world championship concludes with a date against Dean White in Fairfax Virginia. White is tough operator who always comes to fight, packing some decent pop in his left hand, with a better than decent work rate, making him the toughest fight Fuller’s been in almost two years.
More importantly, White will be reenergize by his recent strong performance against pampered prospect Verquan Kimbrough. Though he came out on the wrong end of a major decision affair, he matched the more talented man punch for punch all the way before coming on strong in the final round. Like Kimbrough, Fuller is a fighter whose performance is dictated by the ebb and flow of his emotions, leaving the distinct possibility for an upset on May 12. If he can get past his new gauntlet of fights before summer, Damian Fuller will be in the running for possible summer showdowns against fellow fringe contenders like Victoriano Sosa and Ben Tackie, or possibly against a rising star like Shamone Alvarez. Comments or questions are welcome below.