|
And Bear could have done 1500 pushups, but only
did 1000 because he had a cold, said Richardson at
the time.
However, Dargan is probably the most talented of
all the fighters in his family, and unfortunately
it looks like he may be the only future
professional champion among them. Brother Mike
seems to be semi-retired with a 1-1-1 record, and
it is very possible that Rock and Tiger, 15-0 and
3-0 in the pros, will never fight again after a
serious car accident this past June landed the
twins in intensive care with critical injuries.
But then again, this is a family of fighters and
doctors said Coach Richardson might never walk and
talk normal again after suffering a massive stroke
in early 2007. He recovered in amazingly quick
time, and has not slowed down his activities as a
trainer at all. Who is to say that Rock and Tiger
won’t also recover enough to continue their
careers in boxing?
Tiger is out of hospital, but Rock reportedly
remains hospitalized and is looking at a long road
back to normal life.
Uncle Naazim gave Karl the “Dynamite” nickname
when he was only six years old, and the
experienced trainer saw something special in the
young pugilist. Dargan proved him right as he went
on to win the United States Amateur Championships
in 2004 and 2005 and competed in the 2005 World
Championships.
After winning gold at the Pan American games in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dargan turned pro in 2007
on the undercard of current UBO World Middleweight
Champion Bronco McKart’s rematch with Enrique
Ornelas at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Since then Dargan (9-0, 4 KOs) has impressed fans
and insiders, and countless rounds of sparring
with future hall-of-famer Sugar Shane, the former
Lightweight, Welterweight and Super Welterweight
World Champion, as well as soaking up advise from
The Executioner, has surely made a positive impact
on his progress.
In fact, despite the August 13 bout only being
Dargan’s tenth paid fight in a little over three
and half years, Richardson has called his nephew
“the future of the lightweight division”, and
believes it won’t be long before he is ready to
fight for a world title.
“I feel that if things go as planned this year
with the plans we have laid for him, if Karl stays
focused, then we can see him challenging for the
title by next year. By the end of next year he
should be challenging for a world title”,
Richardson recently told one website.
The first big step on the way is winning the UBO
Inter-Continental title against the upset minded
Juan Suazo (8-4-3, 5 KOs), who is coming off his
best results, a draw against prospect Gabriel
Tolmajyan in June and a clear victory over rugged
veteran Ramon Montana in July.
Suazo also holds a draw with then reigning WBC
CABOFE titlist Pedro Navarette, and he knows what
it takes to win as the underdog.
But, unlike his opponent on Saturday, he won’t
have an entire Concrete Jungle Tribe cheering him
on!
***
Top Rank Boxing and Peltz Boxing Promotions
presents Karl Dargan vs. Juan Suazo for the vacant
UBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title on August
13 at the Grand Ballroom at Bally's Atlantic City.
Six additional fights complete the card. First
fight will begin at 7.30 p.m.
Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the
offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922)
and all Ticketmaster outlets (800-736-1420). They
also can be purchased online at
www.peltzboxing.com and
www.Ticketmaster.com.
|
PRINT
