Brick City Boxing

Interview By Danny Serratelli

Sharon Gaines is heading to Germany to fight for the WIBF Inter-Continental Bantamweight Championship against Alesia Graf on Tuesday November 15th. Graf is 11-1 with 5 KO's and her only loss came to the talented Alecia Ashley by split decision just two months after Ashley stopped Elena Reid in round 7. Prior to her fight with Ashley, Reid had never been stopped in her career. It was only Reid's second career loss, and her 1st loss in her last 20 fights in a time span of almost 5 years.

Gaines is 9-4 with 3 KO's, but she has been improving steadily and is currently on a hot streak. Since coming up to New Jersey to fight on a KEA boxing show in April of this year, Gaines is 4-0, with 3 KO's. In that first trip to NJ, Gaines showed tremendous heart in lasting the distance with the dangerous Cindy Serrano, 12-0, 7 KO's. Although Gaines dropped a unanimous decision to the undefeated Serrano, she gained the respect of all the New Jersey fans in attendance that night. Promoter Andre Kut was particularly impressed with the gutsy effort and heart she showed in rising from the canvas more then once as well as having some moments of her own in lasting the distance.

Since the Serrano fight Gaines has teamed up with Kut and popular trainer/cutman Lenny DeJesus and has not looked back. After leaving the Serrano fight barely over .500 at 5-4 with no KO's, Gaines is now 9-4, with 3 big knockouts. Under Kut and DeJesus's tutelage Gaines has fought twice near her hometown in Missouri and twice in New Jersey on KEA shows, going 4-0 with 3 KO's over the last 6 months.

I caught up with Sharon before she flew to Germany to ask her about her first shot at a title:

DS: Hi Sharon, how are you and how was training for this fight?

SG: I'm great! I just finished a training camp with Coach Lenny de Jesus in New York. We had the opportunity to work at many gyms throughout the Bronx where I sparred with a lot of different fighters. My sparring partners ranged from 215lb men down to 130lb guys, all amateur or pro fighters. It was a great opportunity and just the tune up I needed for this upcoming fight in Germany.

DS: Are you ready to go to Germany and fight your first 10 rounder?

SG: Although it is a big step up in rounds--10 rounds, (I have only gone 6 before) I definitely feel ready and in condition. It is always hard to go to another country and fight the "hometown" girl, but Lenny and Andre (Kut, promoter) feel I am prepared and we are READY!

DS: What do you know, if anything, about your opponent, Alesia Graf?

SG: Alesia Graf is a tall girl and her reach is longer than mine, but I am planning to establish my jab anyway. That is something Coach Lenny and I have worked on, jabbing and setting up body shots.

DS: Graf will be a step up as far as competition goes, between the step up and going 10 rounds how do you feel going in?

SG: I am so ready for this step up in competition. It is a great opportunity for me and I plan to come home with the Bantamweight Division's WIBF Intercontinental Title Belt. It is also exciting for me to fight in my weight class! I have always been able to make 118lbs, but rarely get any reasonable offers to fight at that weight, so I end up fighting 125-130-pounders. Finally, a chance to show my skills in the bantamweight division!

DS: Any final words to your fans and readers?

SG: I appreciate all the support and good luck wishes that have come my way. Please continue to keep me in your prayers and thoughts as I travel over seas. This is a big step up for me, but I am ready to go to Germany and give everything I have, and I plan to bring the belt back to the USA!

DS: Well, Sharon, I know you have a plane to catch. Good Luck!

SG: Thanks Dan…you are the best. The fight will be available to watch in the USA on the internet, so look into that so you can check me out. The fights are being held at the Hohenstaufenhalle, Göppingen, in Germany, and promoted by Spotlight Boxing GmbH. Please let the readers know that they can also check me out and learn more about me on my website www.sharongaines.com, and that I am also one of the featured boxers on a site I'm sure they will enjoy www.roundcardmodels.com so check that out as well! Thanks Again!

By Danny Serratelli, ringside

John Duddy fought last night on Cedric Kushner Promotions show at the Manhattan Center in NYC, and raised his record to 13-0, 12 KO's. Although titled, "The Homecoming" this was actually Duddy's 9th professional fight in New York. Personally, this was my first time at one of Duddy's fights, but I definitely walked away wanting to see more of the aggressive and talented Irishman. The pro Duddy Irish crowd was exciting in itself and John made sure the people got what they paid for with an excellent performance.

Duddy fought Canadian, Byron Mackie, who on paper looked like a rugged challenger. He came in with a record of 25-11, with 8 KO's and was only stopped twice in his 12 year career. After entering the ring to the sound of bagpipes, Duddy was all business once the opening bell rang. Duddy was aggressive from the start and dropped Mackie in the 1st round, 3rd round and then twice in the 4th before referee Wayne Kelly called a hault to the bout at 1:32 of the 4th round.

Mackie to his credit was game, but seemingly outgunned. After the knockdown in the 1 st Mackie got up and fired back, but appeared to lack the power to keep Duddy off of him. Duddy while aggressive, took his time and broke Mackie down for the remaining 3 rounds until the stoppage. The undefeated 26-year old is obviously very marketable, but he appears to have the good to go with the marketability.

We will surely see his level of opposition rise, but it should be noted that unlike many other young, marketable fighters moving up the ranks Duddy hasn't fought the regular "starter opponents" most people in his position would be fighting. While his last three fights were against experienced veterans, Duddy has also beaten 4 undefeated fighters, most notable Lenord Pierre, who was 16-0, with 13 KO's when they fought. Duddy had half the number of fights Pierre had when he stopped him at 1:23 of round number 1 earlier this year.

Also on the card, Taklani Ndlovu of South Africa scored a unanimous 12-round decision to capture the IBO junior featherweight title from Armando Guerrero. The score cards read 117-111, 119-109, and 116-112. There were no knockdowns in the fight. Ndlovu improved to 24-3, 15 KO's, while Guerrero fell to 20-5-6, 11 KO's .

UnderCard:

Jorge Teron TKO3 Terrence Thomas

Teron, 8-0, 6 KO's scored a third-round stoppage over Thomas, 3-6-1 in this rematch that ended with the same result.

James Moore KO3 Manjie Conteh

Moore raises his record to 4-0, 2 KO's with a knockout victory at 2:34 of the 3rd round over Conteh 5-6, 3 KO's

Richard Gutierrez KO4 Edison Aguirre

Gutierrez, billed as a protégé of Roberto Duran, knocked out Aguirre, 11-4-1, 2 KO's in four rounds to move his pro record to 20-0, 12 KO's.

Angelo Acevedo D4 Joe Rosa

Acevedo, 0-2-1, and first-timer Joe Rosa fought to a unanimous draw in a four-round junior lightweight bout.