Interview by Pattee Mak | December 17, 2013
Let’s end the 2013 calendar year out right with some head to head and toe to toe amateur boxing. On this Friday, December 20, 2013 at the Merrick Recreational Center in Washington, D.C. fists will collide on what is going to be an exciting night of boxing. I had the privilege to interview four of the fighters on the card, Malik Jackson, Gary Antonio Russell, Lamont Roach Jr and Patrick Harris all from the D.C. area. They are all PVA’s 2013 USA Boxing National Champions. Two of the amateur fighters on the card, Patrick Harris and Kareem Martin, are leaving their amateur rankings and will be turning pro their next fight. According to Ricky Womack, a portion of the proceeds from this night’s card will help the future kids in boxing from Potomac Valley Association advance to the Silver Gloves Nationals in Kansas City .
Pattee Mak: Tell me a little bit about each of you, your age, your amateur boxing background, your rankings, your weight class, your record and any titles you held.
Jackson: I’m a 2x Junior Olympics champion, a USA National champ and won outstanding fighter in all 3.
Russell: I’m 20 years of age, and a family which is made up of 6 boys including two started boxing at the age of 9, winning amateur titles such as 2 time Silver Gloves, Ringside Worlds, and 2 time National PAL’s. Entering the open division, I had my first open fight in the National Golden Gloves which I lost in the championships. In the open class I am a 2 time National PAL Champion, USA National Champion, and outstanding fighter, National Golden Gloves Champion and outstanding fighter (Golden Boy Award) World Golden Gloves Champ.
Roach: I am 18 years old from DC and currently a freshman at Maryland University College Park. I been boxing for 9 years and the #1 ranked 132 pounder in the US and amongst the top in the world. I won the National JR Golden Gloves twice, National PAL, Ringside World Championship 5times and the 2013 USA Nationals, voted outstanding boxer and National Golden Gloves Champ.
Harris: My name is Patrick Harris and I’ve been boxing for 10 years. I am 19 years old and I am ranked # 1 in the USA. I fight at 141 pounds in the senior men’s division.
Pattee Mak: On the 20th who will be the opponents that each of you are fighting? I believe each of you will be fighting other fighters from the Philadelphia area. Have any of you sparred with them in the past or have met up with them in the ring or watched them fight?
Jackson: I’m not familiar with this fighter but I know he must be pretty tough to fight me. That goes for all of us actually.
Russell: I have no idea of who my opponent is, I have watched several fighters from Philadelphia and I believe I fought 2 of them, however; I stay focus all the time and I train very hard and don’t under estimate any of my opponents at no time.
Roach: I fought and beat the guy I’m fighting and l feel as though I will have something to prove the night of the fight.
Harris: We supposed to be fighting against Philly fighters. Not sure who our opponents are. Never heard of them but it doesn’t matter who it is, I just come to fight.
Pattee Mak: For the ones that know who your opponents will be, what do you know about them and their style of fighting?
Russell: No.
Roach: Yes I know how he fights. Anything he does and tries cannot possibly give him a chance to beat me. I work too hard to fall off. He has to earn my spot.
Pattee Mak: Patrick Harris this will be your last fight before turning pro. Tell me why you are making this your last fight?
Harris: I feel like the time is right. Just ready for that transition.
Pattee Mak: A portion of the proceeds for the event on the 20th is going towards a great cause in assisting amateur boxers from Potomac Valley Association who can’t afford to make it to Silver Gloves Nationals on their own. What advice can you give to your fellow boxers that will be traveling to the Silver Gloves Nationals?
Jackson: My advice to the boxers that are traveling is to try to learn from other fighters and fight hard. Leave it all in the ring.
Russell: Stay hungry and motivated. Fight every fight as if it’s your championship fight and always listen to your corner.
Roach: My advice to them is to work hard and fight till the end. I stress this a lot because the silver gloves separates the OK fighters from the GOOD fighters. I made it to the national silver gloves twice but came up short. Everyone at the nationals will be ready to fight.
Pattee Mak: What are your thoughts on turning pro?
Jackson: That’s something I’ll pursue after the Olympics. It’ll be perfect timing because my experience in fighting other styles will be at a higher level.
Russell: I’m actually looking forward to turning pro however; as a fighter and my dad being my trainer/coach he knows best. There are things that we have to still critic and he will know when I’m ready to make that transaction. I trust my dad’s judgment 100%.
Roach: Pro is pro and amateur is amateur, it’s a whole different ball game and some don’t understand but I do and I’ll prove it soon.
Pattee Mak: What is next for the three of you?
Jackson: The USA Nationals and Golden Gloves both start in the beginning of 2014.
Russell: Stay humble, stay active, motivated, hungry and continue to win.
Roach: Stay in the gym, work hard, get better, you never know who’s watching you. You might get a call.
Pattee Mak: Who is your favorite fighter?
Jackson: Pernell Whitaker and Gary Russell (pro).
Russell: I had a few fighters that I like but I can say my favorite fighter is my brother Gary Russell Jr. I’m in the gym with him so I see it all. He has all of the fighters I like strong points and none of their weakness. He is the best I seen and everyone else will see it too if they don’t already see it.
Roach: I really don’t have a favorite but I do like triple G, a monster. Also Nonito, Mikey Garcia and Danny Garcia.
Harris: My favorite fighters are Guillermo Rigondeaux, Sugar Ray Robinson, Pernell Whitaker, Lamont and Anthony Peterson.
Pattee Mak: Thank you each and every one of you for answering my questions via email. All bouts and fighters are subject to change. Tickets are $10.00 in advance and are currently on sale. Good luck to all of you.
For questions and/or comments, please see below or contact me via twitter @PatteeMak or facebook Pattee Mak.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
