Recently, The Nantucket Travel Examiner announced his third candidacy for a professional Boxing title in The Kid Shoeshine goes for the Ice & Diamonds series. His weight loss has trimmed him down to a ready 199 pounds, he has gotten back into the 1,200 calorie work out range, and in his first match he scored well against a super heavyweight contender in the opening seconds. He is on track to be ready for June 1st and an all out attempt at becoming a boxing champion.
While the author is doing research for some other articles he will publish unauthorized material using quotes from chance encounters he had with professional boxers while he was a young amateur. These stories are true and this writer’s favorites of all the ones that he has. He does love the sport of boxing and wouldn't do it like that by lying about his experiences.
These meetings are probably what make me tick to this day. I hope to meet one of those profiled in battle and win the WBC light heavyweight title from him as he promised as a young amateur that, “When and if I am ready I will come for you.”
The four articles will include quotes from Heavyweight Great and the long time author first choice to become heavyweight champ, Ray Austin, Current WBC Light Heavyweight Champ Bernard Hopkins, and Olympic Gold Medalist, Merciless Ray Mercer.
Ray Austin, who nickname is, "The Rain Man is a giant man whose heavy bag work scared the author to point of pale sickness and a week off. He turned out all right after I ran from the gym to get him water on a Friday afternoon and concluded our meeting after a brief conflict over talking privileges by telling this examiner he was, “Courteous,” and a “Crazy ^&*(^%^&*%”.”
Bernard Hopkins, who when the author was lucky enough to meet the upbeat champion said that just “Last week had seen Joe Frazier’s old @$$, sweeping the floors,” Circa 1996. B-Hop is really funny all around good guy who was nice to a young guy who wasn’t in a great circumstance. He is also a cold-blooded competitor, one of the best ever, and less guilty sort of person than people make him out to be. This examiner was in trouble at Joe Frazier’s Gym after our meeting as he reportedly almost made B-Hop laugh himself to death after a joke that cannot be published on Examiner.com.
Merciless Ray Mercer, who this writer inadvertently mistaked for a law enforcement official who was there to chastise or arrest him gave the young amateur a break from the heavy bag so he could chat with him. Ray Mercer said that his first attempt at becoming an MMA fighter was, "a little bit of a mistake,” shortly before he knocked out Tommy Morrison. Ray is also a good guy who wouldn’t shake my hand because he was sure he was, “Going to end up having to hurt me.” He enjoys fame in both MMA and boxing today.
It will be a good addition to the series and hopefully interviews with some more professionals will follow. It’s on with it after a good start and a sprained ankle for the Nantucket Travel Examiner.
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