By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro: At long last the highly anticipated showdown between Dagenham’s ‘Mighty’ Kevin Mitchell and Manchester’s John Murray will finally take place this weekend, albeit in Liverpool and not the ExCel in London which was to originally host this career defining fight.
As I am sure most of you are aware the fight was supposed to have taken place this past Saturday, but due to Kevin being unwell for a few days recently the bout was hastily rescheduled and added to the Ricky Burns versus Nicky Cook World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Title fight card.
Since my return from America I have spent quite a bit of time with Kevin while he has been training at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town. I was there throughout his training camp for the ill fated Katsidis fight and of course I’ve been there for Kevin’s camp for the John Murray bout.
Even though the training and sparring sessions have all been behind closed doors, thanks to Kevin’s coaches Jimmy and Mark Tibbs trusting me I have been lucky enough to have been at the TRAD TKO for every single session.
I don’t want to give too much away about just how well Kevin’s training has gone, but will just say I’m not normally a betting man but I’m seriously thinking of popping down to Paddy Powers and putting a few bob on our Kev.
Anyway before I do say too much about the camp, and get myself in trouble with Jimmy and Mark or gym owner Johnny Eames, it was after his final sparring session that Kevin and I sat down to chat about this weekend’s fight.
Rio – Your fight with John Murray has been put back to this weekend, why was that and how has that affected you and your preparation?
Kevin – I had a virus and had to be out of the gym for a couple of days, I didn’t want to make any mistakes like I did last time so spoke with Frank (Warren) as I wanted to get the virus out of the way.
A couple of days later the virus was gone and I felt good enough to get back in the gym.
I was straight back in training and sparring, I walked through twelve rounds easy and felt strong and sharp so the fight was back on again for a week later, but in Liverpool.
I feel bad for the other kids that were on the show, especially Billy Joe (Saunders) as he’d been here training alongside me. Same with Billy Morgan and Eddie Hussein, these kids have been down here training every day now they’re stuck without a fight. I’m Gutted for them that they didn’t get to be on the show.
I’m also gutted for the fans that I’m not fighting in London now. They’re a great crowd and I’m sure some will come up to Liverpool.
Rio – It’s now an away fight, and not that far from John Murray’s home, does that make any difference to you?
Kevin – I’ve been everywhere, I’ve been to Italy, Russia, I’ve been to America. I’ve been all over the world boxing so Liverpool’s not going to be a problem for me.
I know it’s an away fight now but I’ve been up there a few times and know a lot of people up there, the Smith brothers and all the people I met when was at the Murray camp.
I’ve got a lot of good friends up there and know that when I step out on the stage there’ll be plenty of people there supporting me.
Rio – This is one of the few genuine 50/50 fights to take place this year – the winner of it is likely to be the one that wants it most – so just how much does Kevin Mitchell want it?
Kevin – If I’d won the last fight, like I should have done, this fight would have been looked at as a mismatch and shouldn’t be happening as Kevin’s beaten Katsidis up, but I got beat and everyone’s saying it’s a 50/50 fight.
Look at Murray and his last fight. In my eyes it’s more like a 90/10 fight in my favour.
He’s a good fighter, he’s good at what he does domestically. He’s fought names, but not at the top of their game, they’ve all been past it. You know like John Thaxton. Thaxton was a brilliant fighter in his day but not when John Murray fought him.
He’s never been in with a top class fighter, I took Carl Johanneson when he was at his best and beat him, it was a hard fight and he got well beaten up by me, and I was just a young kid.
I’m now a twenty six year old man and this is a big fight for me. I’ve been training for this now for over two months and I’m not losing this fight.
Rio – You just mentioned training, to me you have looked totally different in camp, to what you did in camp for the Katsidis fight, you look sharper and more focused, everything. But how do you think it’s been going?
Kevin – Well you have been here for both camps to be fair. You’ve seen me train at both camps.
For the Katsidis camp I was useless in here, I was crap, turn up with no head on my shoulders as if I was in a dream land, I was crap. This camp I’m flying, everyone can see it. I’m sparring brilliant against them, everything’s gone brilliant.
These camps aren’t easy, they’re hard, but I enjoy them. I’m just looking forward to getting in there and smash him to bits.
Rio – That’s really good to hear, so you feel ready for the showdown with John Murray this weekend.
Kevin – Yeah perfectly, the last fight I wasn’t relaxed, I was nervous. When you’re prepared for something, you’ve got a job to do, you’ve got to be prepared you’ve not got to worry that something will go wrong.
When you are fully prepared, like I was for the Prescott fight you know that he has got no way out of that ring before the twelve rounds are done, unless I knock him out.
I will tell him (John Murray) the same thing it’s a twelve round fight and the only way you’ll get out early is when I knock you out.
There’s only two ways he’ll fight this fight, come out and stick it on me and get beat up or come out and try and lure me into a fight, by boxing and trying to counter punch me. Personally I think he’ll come out and box for two or three rounds and try and counter me which suits me as he’s going to get beat up and knocked out, he’ll be smashed to bits.
I had three rounds in the Katsidis fight before he took me out, for the first two rounds I played with him, if you see his face after, his was battered mine wasn’t and I didn’t get hold of him really so you can imagine what I am going to do in twelve hard rounds to John Murray when I’m prepared.
Rio – So the Kevin Mitchell we’ll see on Saturday will be more like the one from the Prescott fight?
Kevin – Most certainly I’m just going to box for the whole fight. You’re going to see one hundred percent boxing, boxing and boxing. Lots of switching, mix and match it, box and fight, fight and box and some countering. You’ll see a world class performance from me on the 16th July.
Rio – For the winner of this fight it looks like it will lead to a full World title shot. Does that add any additional pressure?
Kevin – No, not at all, I really want that World title shot. I’m going to win this and get that title shot, I can’t wait.
Rio – Not that long ago it was said that the winner on Saturday will face Ricky Burns for the title, is that still the case?
Kevin – Well I think that was something to hype it up a bit, Ricky fights at Super Featherweight. Maybe I’m wrong I don’t know, when I win this fight maybe he’ll step up I don’t know.
We’ve done a few rounds sparring here at the TRAD TKO Gym, he’s tough and he’s fit. Good spars, the first was a good even spar, the second spar was a bit tight, it was a good hard twelve rounds, which goes to show how fit he was.
He’s a brilliant talent, I’m a big fan of Ricky Burns, he’s done it the hard way and come out on top.
Rio – OK, so when you win this fight who do you think the opponent is likely to be?
Kevin – Brandon Rios and Frank (Warren) did say another name but I can’t remember who it was. I’m not fussed I’m happy and grafting hard.
I’m going to win this fight and then beat Brandon Rios or whoever for the title that’s for sure.
Rio – Just want to go off subject for my last question and ask what were your thoughts on the Klitschko-Haye fight?
Kevin – I didn’t think David seemed right at all, he strolled a bit. He was outsized, I don’t think he was outclassed, it was a size matter.
I’d like to have seen Dave go in there and have a punch up rather than look for the knockout. Dave lost on points so that’s the way it is on the way he done things.
You’ve got to respect the guy he went in there and with a World Class Heavyweight and stayed the twelve rounds.
I’d like to see him come back, drop down a weight. I sent him a message last week and said if ever he wants to call me and have a chat or get away from all the crap. I know what it’s like to get beat when everyone is expecting you to win.
I really do hope that he comes back from this as he’s a world class fighter.
Rio – Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me yet again and good luck on Saturday.
Kevin – My pleasure as always.
Kevin Mitchell versus John Murray, for the WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title will feature on Ricky Burns’ defense of his WBO World Super Feathweight crown against Nicky Cook at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Saturday 16th July 2011.
Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com
Coyle vs. Cotena on 8/12
County Mayo’s Henry “The Western Warrior” Coyle returns home next month when he challenges for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Light Middleweight title against Italy’s Elio Cotena at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Friday, August 12th.
The Chicago based Geesala native will headline a bill which also features Dublin’s undefeated Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland and a host of local talent on the undercard including an Irish title tilt for unbeaten Westport native Finbarr Eade and an eagerly anticipated all Mayo duel between John Waldron and Michael Sweeney.
Coyle says he’s determined to make it a night to remember for his home fans and a night to forget for Cotena. “I’ve been part of a couple of big nights of boxing already here in Castlebar on the undercard to Bernard Dunne and Andy Murray so it’s great now to headline a bill at home and in a world title fight.
“The Royal Theatre is a fantastic venue and it’s brought some of the worlds biggest entertainers to Mayo and hopefully this will be a night for the people of Mayo to savour as well. I’ve been training hard in Chicago because I was hoping that something big like this would come up.
“My last fight was in May but after that it was straight back in the gym. I’ve had to break training camp to come back home for the press conference but it will be straight back to business again in Chicago when I get back and then the countdown will really be on to fight night.”
The tagline for the event is “The Night the West will be won” but Cotena is promising to spoil the party by taking the WBF title back to Italy and it’s hard to argue with his bloodlines. His grandfather, also Elio Cotena represented Italy at the 1968 Olympics before going on to win the European Featherweight title as a professional and his grandson is determined to emulate his namesake’s success.
“He’s got fighting pedigree in his blood so you have to respect that and his achievements to date,” admitted Coyle. “He recently won the IBF Mediterranean title up at Middleweight and I’ve watched that fight but I will let my trainer, Sam Colonna and my Dad study it in a bit more detail and I’m sure they will come up with the right game plan for the fight to make sure that the WBF title gets a new home in Mayo.”
Father and manager Gerry is hopeful that next months bout could be the start of some big nights of boxing in Mayo. “This will be a huge night for Geesala and Mayo,” said Coyle Senior. “We’re very confident that it will sell out quickly. The interest already has been phenomenal and the support we’ve had locally has been unbelievable. The fight will be on the same weekend as the Geesala Festival and there will be a huge crowd of people home for that from the US and the UK and they have always been great supporters of Henry right from his amateur days. There is a terrific undercard as well with some of the best in the west in action so hopefully it will be a famous night for Mayo and the first of many more.
“We are determined to build on this and we have already had talks with some of the big name world champions from the US and they have indicated that they would come to Ireland to fight Henry so that’s what we’re looking at for down the road. That’s all for the future though, the only thing Henry is looking at now is winning that WBF world title against Cotena and that will open the doors to even bigger fights and bigger nights.”
Another man looking ahead to bigger fights and bigger nights is unbeaten Dublin featherweight Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland who will be bidding to extend his perfect record to 24 and 0 in Castlebar with an international opponent expected to be confirmed shortly. The Tallaght native is fresh from wining the WBF Featherweight title in Dublin last month with an impressive shutout points win over Frenchman Philippe Frenois.
“I was delighted with my performance against Frenois and it was great to get 12 rounds in the bag against a good, tough opponent,” said Hyland. “He had only been beaten before by some good names but I found it quite comfortable in there against him and he admitted to me afterward that I hurt him with both hands and said that in the end he was just happy to last the distance so I took that as a nice compliment. I know I belong at European and World level and that’s what I want to prove from here on in.”
A second Mayo man getting a title opportunity on the undercard will be Westport’s Finbarr “The Rock” Eade who takes on Mickey Coveney in an Irish Super Featherweight title fight. Eade is unbeaten in six pro fights but will be taking on by far his toughest challenge to date when he takes on London based southpaw, Coveney.
“It will be a big step up for me but I’ve nothing to lose and it’s a huge opportunity to get to fight for an Irish title so close to home,” said Eade. “Coveney is an excellent fighter, he’s not a typical southpaw, he’s short and aggressive and likes to stand there and have a fight so I’m sure it should make for a great fight. He put in a great effort against Patrick Hyland when he challenged for the featherweight title but he’s been up at super featherweight since then so maybe he feels more comfortable there. My goal this year was to get an Irish title fight so I’m delighted now that my chance has come and I know I’ll have great support on the night.”
Another clash featuring plenty of local interest on the undercard will be an all Mayo affair with Michael Sweeney and John Waldron meeting in an eagerly awaited Light Heavyweight bout. Both are coming off Irish title defeats with Sweeney having lost out on a close points decision for the Irish Cruiserweight title in March while Waldron was stopped by Ciaran Healy in the first defence of his Irish Light Heavyweight title in Castlebar last November.
“This is a fight that’s been talked about in Mayo for years now,” said Sweeney “It was supposed to happen a few times in the amateurs and then when we went professional but for whatever reason it’s never actually happened so I’m delighted it’s happening now. It’s a fight I’ve always wanted and it’s a great fight for Mayo and the West in general because although we’re both Mayo men originally I’m based in Galway and John lives in Roscommon now so I’m sure there will a huge interest across Connaught in the fight.”
The winner will force themselves to the head of a queue for a shot at the Irish Light Heavyweight title and Waldron is determined that Sweeney will prove a stepping stone en route to regaining his old belt. “I’m desperate to make up for my last performance in Castlebar, everyone that knows me knows that wasn’t the real me in the ring that night.
“If I’m honest I took the fight lightly and I ended up losing the weight too quickly on the last week and it left me drained in the ring. Winning the Irish title maybe made me a little complacent but that’s gone now and if Michael Sweeney thinks he’s getting in the ring with the same John Waldron who lost the Irish title then he’s in for a big shock. Once I win this fight then I want to get Healy back in the ring and reverse that result and get the Irish title back.”
Tickets for next months event priced from €30, €40, €70 and €100 are on sale from the Royal Theatre Box Office on 0818 719 300, Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300 and the boxers on the bill.
Linenfelser, 22, already a 5+ year pro boxer
CHICAGO (July 11, 2011) – Junior middleweight prospect “Bazooka” Joe Linenfelser (9-1-1, 6 KOs), a 22-year-old boxer from Rockford, Illinois who lived a few years in Florida before returning home, has already been fighting professionally for nearly six years.
When he made his pro debut October 8, 2005, stopping 181-fight veteran Donnie Penelton in the opening round of their fight in Iowa, Joe was only 17 years old, the youngest pro boxer in the United States at that time, and a high school senior in Port Richey, Florida.
Most states require professional boxers to be 18. Iowa, however, licensed Linenfelser at 17 but only after he received special permission, which included a review of his grades and a letter from a teacher, an evaluation in terms of possessing exceptional boxing ability for his age, and undergoing an interview with Iowa Athletic Commissioner Dave Neil to convince authorities that Joe’s decision to turn pro was his own.
“I was going to the gym and the only guys there for me to spar with were pro heavyweights or pros,” Joe explained. “They took it easy on me because I was so young, but I was able to hang with them and decided to turn pro when I turned 17. I just love boxing. I tried to get away from it a few times because I had to make money working. It’s tough putting in a tough 40 hours of work and then go train at night, but boxing sucked me back in. For about 5-6 months, I was the youngest professional boxer in the United States.”
Joe first got the boxing itch when he was only 6 ½, while watching his father Jeff workout. “I bought Joe a pair of Sugar Ray Leonard boxing gloves when he was four,” explained Jeff, who manages his son’s career. “Right away, I knew he was a boxer by the way he threw an overhand right. The other little kids would get hit, cry and stop. Joe always took a good punch and, when he threw that overhand right….all done! He started learning how to box at 6 ½ and had his first amateur fight when he was nine. Joe (36-12 amateur career record) won a few Illinois State championships and reached the final of the Florida Silver Mittens. But Joe didn’t learn the art of boxing in the amateurs, gaining invaluable experience from gym workouts with pros like Pat Coleman.
“Joe’s always had heavy hands. He may not look fast, sort of like watching Kelly Pavlik, but he can really hit. Punching power is about timing, not speed, and Joe has an incredible sense of timing. When he gets moving, he goes one way and throws in motion; his opponent is gone. He played football and wrestled in school. He finished third in the state in wrestling and set a junior high record for interceptions, but I knew from the start that he was a boxer. Joe was a national 140-pound kick-boxing champion when he was 15, but he wasn’t challenged enough and stuck with boxing.”
Jeff has coached his son up to this point, but he just reached an agreement with “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother, Dicky Eklund, to start training “Bazooka” Joe.
In October of 2008, Linenfelser registered his signature victory to date against former NABA & NBA champion “Fearless” Fernando Hernandez, who Joe had previously defeated in a kickboxing fight. Linenfelser put Hernandez to sleep in the fifth round and then into retirement right after their fight in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Next up for “Bazooka Joe” was an eight-round throw-down with 1996 Cuban Olympian Ivan Leden (12-8-1), in Milwaukee, that Linenfelser won by decision.
Linenfelser was inactive the for 14 ½ months (2010-2011) due to an injury suffered in the ring, until his triumphant ring return this past April against Jeremy Marts in Chicago. Linenfelser dropped Marts twice from body shots in the final round en route to a win by unanimous, six-round decision.
“I started fights cautiously for the first few rounds,” Joe described his style of fighting. “I don’t like to miss. I feel one missed punch counts as getting hit with 10. I time my punches and, when I hit them, they’re out. I have a little possum in me. I do a lot of baiting and breakdown my opponents with hard body punches. The last two years I’ve worked hard on body punching with my dad. Fights often come down to body punches landed, when they start holding their elbows down to protect the body, and then it’s time to go upstairs to finish ‘em off.”
Linenfelser’s nickname, “Bazooka Joe,’ was this father’s idea. Jeff went so far as to ask The Topps Company, Inc. for permission to avoid any trademark infringement. “Joe’s was a kid who liked to chew bubblegum,” Jeff explained. “Nobody had ever used that name, which had been around for a hundred years, and Joe does hit like a bazooka – it just kind of fit.”
“Bazooka” Joe Linenfelser is promoted by Bobby Hitz’ Hitz Boxing Entertainment, managed by his father Jeff Linenfelser, and now co-trained by “Irish” Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund.