Interview by Pattee Mak – August 3, 2015]
Mike “The Machine Gun” Oliver (26-5-1, 8 ko’s) better known as Mike-Mike in the boxing community, is a popular, well known fighter out of Hartford, Connecticut. Oliver is scheduled to fight on August 16, 2015 at Foxwoods Resort and Casino against Rocco “So Cal Kid” Santomauro (12-0-0, 1 Ko) from Las Vegas for the finale of the reality TV show “Knockout II” shown on NUVO TV, Wednesdays at 10:00 pm EST. On the show Oliver is being trained by someone he’s very familiar with, “Iceman” John Scully. Oliver along with two other fighters are on #TeamScully. All of the play by play, in’s and out of the action/drama/craziness leading up to this bout and others have been televised on the reality TV show. If you are into boxing you should definitely check it out. I had a chance to briefly chat with Oliver in between him doing his roadwork along with his manager and former pro boxer, Lee “El Tigre” Ortega (5-2-0, 2 Ko’s).
Pattee Mak: I know you are extremely busy training for your upcoming fight against Rocco Santomauro on the 16th.. Did you get to spar or watch Rocco Santomauro train during the time you spent with him? What are your thoughts of him as a fighter?
Mike-Mike: I don’t care about Rocco, I’m just doing me.
Pattee Mak: Come the 16th what’s going to happen when you step in the ring against him?
Mike-Mike: I’m just going to go in there and do my job what I’m supposed to do and get the job done right.
Pattee Mak: All in all what was your experience of the show?
Mike-Mike: It was boring. Too much bullshit. I want action.
Pattee Mak: Straight to the point… I like that. Lee, I have a question for you. You have known Oliver for quite some time, what are your thoughts on this match up with him and Rocco?
Ortega: Mike is going to give him a boxing lesson.
Pattee Mak: Sounds like school will be in session. Do you feel that Oliver has more experience and ring time than Rocco?
Ortega: Yes Oliver has more experience than him. He has over 300 amateur bouts.
Pattee Mak: So after the reality show what do you have planned for Oliver?
Ortega: I have been speaking with the UBO USA Commissioner and putting together a possible title match for a vacant title up for grabs. The logistics have not been put together as to where or whom the opponent will be. At this point that is all I can say. But I anticipate on keeping my fighter ready for whatever comes our way.
Pattee Mak: Thanks so much for this interview. I will see the both of you on the 16th.
Mike-Mike/Ortega: Thank you.
Tickets can be purchased directly from his manager’s facebook page, Lee ElTigre Ortega of Team LeesTribe Management, LLC, (860) 461-4558 or directly from Foxwoods at http://www.foxwoods.com/knockout/.
(All fights and fighters subject to change) Other bouts include Roy Jones, Jr. vs. William Bailey. In addition, also on hand will be the other two trainers Floyd Mayweather Sr. and “Sugar” Shane Mosley working the corners.
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Hashtag: #TeamScully and #TLTM
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.
