J'Leon Love interview

Happy New Year BOXINGHEADS! I always tell you how I love the sport of boxing. Also how I recognize today's champions but as you know I always have my ear to the streets looking for the next champ. I recently have come across middleweight prospect J'Leon Love. Love is a  9-0 (6KO)prospect from Dearborn Heights, Michigan promoted by Lou Dibella and his company DBE(Dibella Entertainment).  I got a chance to see Love in action last year while attending the Super Six Froch vs Johnson semi finals in Atlantic City, NJ.  Love won a unanimous decision in a four round bout against Lamar Harris from St Louis on the under card.  My guy Joe Calix of "THE JOE CALIX SHOW" on Halestormsports.com told me to look out for J'Leon he said I think this guy Love is on deck. Joe was right, J'Leon was real impressive looking strong and though had his opponent hurt at times didn't loose composure so he wouldn't punch himself out like most prospects make the mistake of. Love finished out 2011 with two more wins and is set to open up 2012 on the season opener of ESPN's Friday Night Fights series this week. I sat down with J'Leon Love this is what he had 2 say.  

Me: Happy New Year J'Leon hows it going?

Love: "Happy New Year to you. Nothing much man I just recently moved to Las Vegas so just moving from Detroit to Las Vegas their two different places you definitely see the change but its beautiful here the mountains, the people, the buildings, the lights everything is beautiful I'm just enjoying it and training".

ME: Cool so how long have you been boxing and how did you get into the sport of boxing?

Love: "Ah man Ive been boxing for over 8 years now and growing up in Detroit and all the places I grew up and lived, I've  always been a fighter. You know fighting with my brother fighting with neighborhood kids and stuff like that so its something that came like picking up a pencil it was just easy  to do. My family members my dad my cousin took me down to Detroit  Kronk boxing gym and that's where it all started I walked in and fell in love with the sport since then".

ME: So your signed to Lou Dibella. What I like about Lou is that he's a big boxing fan or as I say "BOXINGHEAD" Ive been to plenty of fights, boxing cards that Lou isn't even the promoter he's just there because he's a fan of the sport. Tell me how's that relationship and how is it to be promoted by Lou Dibella?

Love: "Lou is great a awesome guy you know what i mean, outside of boxing Lou is a great guy I had a chance to hang out with Lou here in Vegas at the WBC convetion. Its a great thing to have a promoter and friend outside of boxing. I also have a awesome adviser Greg Leon who works with me being on a good team with them I feel I have that support that background I need my team the perfect team".

Me: Your opening up this Friday January 6 2012 on the season opener of Espn's Friday Night Fights a card in Key West Florida, 2011 was a bad year for undefeated prospects on ESPN. You had guys like Mike Dallas, David Lemieux, and Fernando Guerrero just to name a few that were upset. How does J'Leon Love prevent that from happening to him in 2012?

Love: "That's definitely staying hungry I'm not satisfied until I make it to the top and even when you make it to the top your job gets harder you know what I mean. So I keep god first that's the first thing I do because with god in my life I feel I'm unstoppable. Besides that training hard, I feel like the way I'm going ,the way I'm moving, the team that I have behind me, the support, the fans I'm hungry  there is nothing that can stop me. Whoever the opponent is in any of my fights, I feel like they shouldn't be there. Their in my way to becoming successful to becoming world champion pound for pound and they must  be eliminated that's what separates me from other fighters.

Me: Also some of these new guys coming up these days get carried away. They start getting 10-0,11-0,14-0 and their head starts blowing up they start getting that Floyd Mayweather swag. I met you back in June of last year and you seemed like a real humble dude. How do you separate yourself from all that lime light and stay focused but at the same time stay humble?

Love: "Ah man like I said its all god and the way I was raised, the way my mother raised me. It doesn't matter what you got how much money you got, how many people that love you your no better than the next man your only a man. I'm just excited to have fans or someone to welcome me as they are happy to meet me. There's so much love I'm getting from the sport that I'm just soaking it all in. And I don't want to be better than the next man I want someone to always be able to walk up to me and ask me any question or tweet me and say what up J, that's why I'm this way".

Me: You mentioned the move from Las Vegas hows that transition been like moving from Michigan?

Love: "Right now its helping me a little bit because Michigan is freezing cold right now. Its harder to make weight and things like that, here the weather is warmer. And people sometimes say moving to Las Vegas you can get caught up in casinos and stuff like that. Good thing for me I don't even know how to gamble(laughs) so that's something I wont even get caught up in. I'm training,  this is a beautiful place running these good mountains getting this good sparring so the transition hasn't been that bad only thing is I miss my family and friends".

Me: So was it to stay focused or a business move?

Love: "Well I always wanted to move to a warmer climate I hate the winter so me and my fiance came to visit and just agreed lets move to Vegas so we went for it".

Me: You recently got a Chance to work with Antonio Margarito in his camp for the Miguel Cotto fight how was that for you?

Love: "It was great the whole camp was awesome I sparred with Antonio Margarito, Jesus Soto Karass and trained besides Brandon Rios. The environment was great those guys definitely work hard. And watching guys like that, that have made it to that level it gives you  that fire to keep that flame

burning, because you know what you have to do to make it.

Me: Your 9-0(6KO) what can we expect in 2012? You fought  four times last year are you going to try to stay busy?

Love: I'm a leave that up to my promoter Lou Dibella and my adviser Greg Leon. 2012 is going to be good for us I'm with the right team the right people if a title shot is there hey I'm cool with that. I don't want to move to fast or to slow that's why I leave it up to those guys.

Me: Anything you want to tell your fans?

Love: "All the Boxingheads I appreciate you hit me up on twitter @2012Jlove I'm a cool guy I show all my fans love. January 6 will be a good night of boxing tune in ESPN 2 I appreciate the love and support thank you".

 Well there you have it Boxingheads make sure to leave your comments both positive and negative. Thank you for the support.

Mr Prez,

@NUBLUEYANKEE

Cotto vs Margarito Faceoff

   December 3 2011 Miguel Cotto vs Margarito 2 is scheduled at New York's Madison Square Garden. I say schedule because after recent rumors hit the Internet about Margarito not being licensed in NY yet,  many think the fight will be off.  Now a business man like Bob Arum in my opinion wouldn't even sign the fight if he knew there would be a problem with a license. Margarito is scheduled to go in front of NYSAC November 18 for a hearing on his license. Only time will tell but when you thought you already had an idea of how much this fight means to both fighters, HBO does a Faceoff. Faceoff a show where Max Kelleman is a mediator during an interview with both fighters face to face sitting at a table. This edition of faceoff arguably is the best one thus far, second to maybe Haye vs Klitschko. Well soon as I saw it I had to share with my BOXINGHEADS. Ive posted the video link below. ENJOY!

Mr Prez,
NUBLUEYANKEE

Pacquiao vs Marquez 3

   We are two days away from a trilogy in boxing but yet it hardly feels like it.  Just two days away from Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez 3 taking place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The first fight ending in a controversial draw.  The second ending in a close split decision which Pacquiao came out victorious, although many debate that Marquez won. Now part three "The Trilogy". 
    When you here trilogy you think of Barerra vs Morales, Ali vs Frazier and my favorite Ward vs Gatti.  The type of fights that even if you think you know who will win, you still have to watch because you know both fighters are willing to die in the ring that night just for bragging rights. So if this is the case why is there a lack of buzz for this fight. I mean this fight has been promoted on stations where in the past usually doesn't advertise boxing. Is it because there is no bad guy this time around on HBO's hit series 24/7. Perhaps its the fact that we should be watching Pacquiao vs Mayweather 1. Lets be honest lately it hasn't been the suspense up to the fight. Its been the controversy after the fight, I'm referring to Mayweather vs Ortiz and then Hopkins vs Dawson. With two of the classiest warriors  in the sport its safe to say we are in for a hell of a fight. After that appetizer we got last week with Angulo vs Kirkland. One can only hope the main course Pacquiao vs Marquez will be like a juicy fillet Mignon. The best dinner you ever had, or in this case the best Trilogy you've ever watched.
    Check out the fight trailer video posted below. Again thanks for all your support. Live Laugh Love and Boxing.


Mr Prez,
NUBLUEYANKEE

 
 

Juan Manue Lopez vs Mike Oliver

   On Saturday Juan Manuel Lopez made his return to the ring vs Mike Oliver. The Puerto Rican star "JuanMa" as most call him, won by tko in the second round. Lopez return is just 6 months after his lost to Orlando Salido. In April Lopez lost his WBO title after Salido stopped him by tko in the 8th round of the fight. Prior to the Salido, the fight was schedule as a tune up for a possible showdown vs the cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa sometime in 2012. Salido rained on Lopez parade now he is trying to avenge his lost. Though he won by tko victory on Saturday let's face it Oliver was no Salido. Let's just hope it was a confidence builder for the young fighter Lopez, because he will need it to get a rematch win vs Salido.
    I posted the the Lopez fight from Saturday below or those of you who missed it. Keep your comments coming thanks.

Mr Prez,
@NUBLUEYANKEE

10 YEARS AGO

    Just two weeks ago we remembered our fallen brothers and sisters that we lost during the attacks at WTC(The World Trade center) on September 11, 2001. Its crazy how its been 10 years since it happened and I think about it almost everyday. Being from New Jersey New York area you have a different perspective when it comes to 9-11. It seems like anyone you talk to from this area was affected directly in a way. Myself for example I use to work at the WTC just one year before that tragic day. I also had family of friends sadly pass away. A few of my friends even helped in the rescues as they were firefighters.  I thought it was the end of the world, I didn't know what to think. I remember all you would see on TV were replays of the planes crashing over and over.  With this tragic lost I found a new found love. 
  I've been a boxing fan since I could remember. Although I'm only 30 I remember watching fights on ABC,CBS,and during my early teens Tuesday Night Fights on USA network. Its funny I remember the time when Buster Douglas vs Mike Tyson took place the winner of the fight was going to be a special guest referee on what was called then WWF(now WWE) World Wrestling Federation, for the Hulk Hogan vs Randy "Macho Man" Savage match. I was excited to see Tyson in wrestling but we know how that story went. Now that's way back, look it up I bet you can find it(LOL). So fast forward to September 11, 2001 which wasn't suppose to be the week that America would suffer a great lost. It was the week where Bernard Hopkins would(from a die hard Tito fan). To be exact the date was September 15th that was when Bernard "The Executioner"Hopkins would face my hero Felix "Tito" Trinidad at New York's Madison Square Garden. I remember being pumped up because I had tickets to this fight and it was the biggest fight I would be attending in my short life I was 19. The fight was rescheduled for 2 weeks later which brings us to September 29, 2001. That was 10 years ago today. Its a day like 9-11 that I will never forget. A day that I probably fell in love with boxing. I mean I've always had a crush on it but that day I fell in love. You have to remember this time in history where AMERICAS morale was at a all time low we were in mourning, yet the sport of boxing gave me hope. I remember being at MSG and the crowd booing Hopkins and then later screaming Tito Tito Tito! Seeing Trinidad's camp walking to the ring wearing official police and firemen hats ,helmets. Then the singing of the national anthem you could here a pin drop fall amongst the sold out crowd. When the fight began I swear you could barely hear the person siting next to you. That's how electric it was. Trinidad was on a high pedestal coming into the fight. But Hopkins, will and desire to win was just to much for Trinidad. He out sized Trinidad and out boxed him although Trinidad gave it his all. The crowd was anti Hopkins with the fight taking place at MSG with the crowd full of nuyoricans, at the end of the fight the crowd couldn't resist in the chants USA USA USA! How could you not fall in love with boxing after being witness to that. The good guy and the bad guy came together to perform when a whole nation was down. They can honestly make a movie behind it and I'm sure someday they will. Bernard Hopkins himself tweeted earlier today "9-29-01 10yrs ago".
   This was just something I wanted to share with my Boxingheads. Just so you can get a idea i posted 2 videos below. The 1st one is the Trinidad ring walk during the fight and 2nd the highlights of the fight. Hope you enjoy. Been super busy so hopefully I can continue giving you blogs. Again  feel free to leave your comments both positive and negative. Follow me on twitter at @NUBLUEYANKEE don't forget to use the hash tag #Boxingheads. Subscribe!!! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!!!

Mr Prez,
@NUBLUEYANKEE

 

BOXING IS BACK!

   For those of you who read our blog our last post was Cotto vs Mayorga. In that post we went over the Top Rank show titled relentless.  The fight turned out to be real entertaining and more competitive than most thought.  Even though I'm not a huge fan of Mayorga's trash talking I will say he earned his money on saturday.  Mayorga stood toe to toe with Cotto and tried to get him off his game plan by taunting and talking to Cotto as the fight went on.  He even backed himself in to a corner and challenge Cotto to come in to take free shots on Mayorga.  He came in shape for once and actually looked like a professional boxer.  Though he came up short when Cotto stopped him by tko in the 12th. Undercard wasn't to bad with a great performance by Pawel Wolak from New Jersey, who defeated former champion Yuri Foreman.
   On another card on an Hbo's series called boxing after dark fireworks erupted when recently proclaimed king of boxing Sergio Martinez took on Sergei Dzinziruk.  Once again Martinez proved why he belongs at the top of the division as one of the p4p fighters in the world.  With a exciting shutout of Dzinziruk Martinez dropped him 5 times total while finally finishing the fight by tko in the 8th stopping Dzinziruk.  My favorite fight of the night came on the same card when Andy Lee took on Craig McEwan. Now this is what boxing is all about. Lee the favorite was short in his corner because his head trainer Emanuel Steward was in vegas in Cotto's corner.  It seemed to bother him though he later denied it.  Lee was pretty much in a one side fight with McEwan controlling the early rounds.  But then the magic happened what makes a warrior that animal instinct came out and Lee realized he was never going to win unless he dug deep and came out swinging.  He came back by knocking out McEwan in the 10th. Now this is a must see fight if you haven't already. Due to copyright infringement i cannot post the fight nor would I because I don't roll like that.(lol) But I recommend that you check your on demand and watch this fight immediately. Just so you get an idea i will post a youtube of the end of the fight round 10.  Tell a friend to tell a friend this a fight that will make you a fan and once again confirm why boxing is the greatest.
    

Mr Prez,
NUBLUEYANKEE

                                                                               

Cotto vs Mayorga

   Relentless is the event BoxingHeads have been discussing last few weeks.  Relentless  title for this Saturday's Top Rank Boxing's PPV event.  On one side you have Miguel Cotto (35-2) vs Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga (29-7-1).  Its funny because this was one of those fights people have been protesting mainly because of it being on ppv.  The other reason Cotto's most recent performances that  the average fan doesn't want to pay for it.  Since losing his first fight to Antonio Margarito Cotto is 3-1 . Winning by tko against Michael Jennings, getting a split decision by going the distance with Joshua Clottey, losing by tko to Manny Pacquiao, and winning by tko against Yuri Foreman. After the Pacquiao fight Cotto made the move to hire Emanuel Steward as head trainer.  Which is now I believe the move Cotto needed  in his corner if he wants to continue to be top of his division.  We didn't see too much of Steward's work in the Yuri fight mainly because of Yuri suffered a leg injury which forced him not to fight a fight he was capable of lets be honest.  But the Yuri fight was also at 154lbs which all though Cotto in most fights will be the smaller fighter, takes a better punch at this weight only time will tell.  I think most BoxingHeads agree this fight can either end early by a Mayorga KO or end late by a Cotto KO.  I actually think Cotto will come out with a chip on his shoulder and make a statement and will tko Mayorga inside five rounds but hey that's just me.  Mayorga's trash talking has continued as most of his fights do.  I actually like it because as his record shows he talks trash and then gets knocked out.  I believe if this fight sells any ppv it will be mainly because of Mayorga's trash talking.  I know this is the ppv main event but I was actually rooting for a fighter in the undercard. 
   A fighter by the name of Christy "The Coal Miners Daughter" Martin. Christy is (49-5) with 37ko's and 3 draws.  As you know i watch all boxing including women's boxing.  Christy was going for her 50th win.  After recently suffering stab wounds and being shot by her husband i think just to compete again is a win in itself.  But after recovering Christy sufferd rib injurys and will not fight.  I'm really rooting for Christy i hope she gets that 50th win and can retire in the near future. 
   Before I forget if your going to  order Cotto vs Mayorga dont forget to set your dvr's to HBO's Boxing After Dark series  for Sergio Martinez vs Serhiy Dzinziruk.  This actually can turn out to be fight of the night with Dzinziruk being 37-0 with 23 by KO watch out for fire works in this one.  Martinez will try to continue to prove why he is considered one of the pound for pound kings in the sport.
   I want to thank everyone for their continued support. As always you can follow us on twitter for all your latest boxing news and discussions.

Mr Prez,
@NUBLUEYANKEE