By Joseph Herron: The life of a prizefighter is one of discipline, determination, and great sacrifice. The hurt business can be so brutal and so demanding, that fighters often lose sight of its original intent: sports entertainment.
Although prizefighting is indeed entertainment, any fighter or trainer will tell you that you can play football or basketball…but you can’t play boxing. It’s serious business.
As a result, fight fans, critics, pundits, journalists, promoters, and boxers alike are all guilty of placing too much emphasis on a single mediocre performance or a lone blemish on a fighter’s resume.
This unmerited scrutiny often results in safety first stalemates and less than aesthetically pleasing performances on nationally televised fight cards.
One fighter from the “City by the Bay” realizes that he is in the entertainment industry and plans to put on a show in Austin, TX, tonight.
Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield feels that he has the fight style to please his critics and the fans in attendance.
“Fighters can’t simply be concerned with just getting the ‘w’,” claims Mayfield. “You have to win looking good. Fans don’t want to see a fighter just throw two punches per round then run around the ring while being afraid to engage.”
“In this business, and it is a business, you have to be more,” proclaims the thirty year old fighter. “A fighter must be entertaining if he plans to make it in boxing.”
The San Francisco resident also feels strongly about fighting the best opposition available.
“Fans are tired of seeing mismatches and one sided fights,” observes Mayfield. “I feel that in order for boxing to thrive, the best should always fight the best. That’s why I’m fighting a tough opponent for my first fight in over a year.”
Karim will be facing the always crafty Steve “2 Pound” Forbes during his return bout on Friday Night Fights on ESPN 2 tonight in Austin, TX.
“If you look at my resume, out of the 14 professional fights, I fought and defeated 5 previously undefeated fighters,” points out Karim Mayfield. “I may be viewed as the underdog going into some of my fights, but I always have my arm raised at the end of the fight.”
Mayfield, who brings an impressive 13-0-1 record with 8 knock-outs into the fight tonight, feels that he has what it takes to compete with the elite in boxing. He claims to speak from experience.
“When I was in Pacquiao’s camp as a sparring partner, I took it to the champ,” proudly claims Mayfield. “When his trainer Freddie Roach put a bounty on his head and offered us a thousand extra dollars if we knocked his fighter down, I gave him everything I had during camp.”
“I was unloading on the Pac-man,” professes the welterweight fighter. “The way I saw it, Freddie Roach issued a challenge and I accepted, so I tried to really take his head off. I have to feed my family too.”
Although his last bout was over a year ago, the undefeated welterweight prospect feels that he is more than prepared to face veteran Steve Forbes.
“I haven’t taken the kind of punishment Forbes has taken in his last few fights,” states Mayfield. “I feel like I’ve been preserved over my lay-off.”
“I am also the type of fighter who stays in shape 365 days out of the year,” claims the San Francisco boxer. “I train to be ready for any opportunity that could come up, and for this fight I’ve trained with the pound for pound best.”
The 30 year old pugilist also feels that the bigger the stage, the better he looks.
“A big crowd does nothing but excites me,” proclaims Mayfield. “It makes me want to work harder to put on a more memorable show. I was at the MGM Grand on the night Pacquiao fought Mosley and I can easily perform in front of a crowd like that.”
“My sparring sessions with Pacquiao were better than that fight,” claims Mayfield.
“I can fight with the best and I am ready to prove it right now,” declares the “Hard Hitta”. “I am truly convinced that I can defeat anyone on any given night and all I need is the opportunity.”
“I am more than just a boxer, I’m an entertainer. I am an exciting fighter and I’m ready to take on the best in boxing.”
“The rest of my career begins with a decisive victory and an entertaining performance against Steve Forbes!!”
Watch Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield fight “2 Pound” Steve Forbes on Friday Night Fights live from Austin, TX at the Frank Irwin Center on ESPN 2.
Presented by Prize Fight Promotions, the show starts at 9 PM EST.