Interview by Pattee Mak – December 4, 2011
Bobby Smead of Fall River, Massachusetts has a ton of different roles in the boxing community. He started out as a fan, done his share of boxing in the amateurs and now is starting from scratch to put together a team of boxers, amateurs and professionals, to what he hopes to bring his career to a new level in the boxing game.
Pattee Mak: Hello Bobby!! You are a jack-of-all-trades in the boxing world. Lets start out with your boxing career. Tell me about Smead as a boxer.
Bobby Smead: At a young age I was very dedicated amateur boxer with two Jr Olympic titles in 1992 and 1993. My career was off line. I came back in 1998 and won the Bud [Budweiser] Belt. I served as a sparring partner for Scott Pemberton. I never won the Golden Gloves but I made the finals.
Pattee Mak: Why didn’t you turn pro?
Bobby Smead: I made a lot of bad decisions. I was hooked on alcohol. I was a really bad alcoholic at the time. I would show up to the gym intoxicated for sparring and show up at the fights drunk.
Pattee Mak: How old were you when you were drinking?
Bobby Smead: I was 14 when I started drinking.
Pattee Mak: Are you still drinking?
Bobby Smead: No. It became a real problem for me. I started to loose control of everything. I only casually drink now.
Pattee Mak: Wait didn’t I just make a drink wager with you concerning who would win the Canelo Alvarez vs Kermit Cintron fight. Thank God I won that bet cause I’d hate to be any part of your drinking.
Pattee Mak: Ok back to business. On December 9, 2011 professional boxing will be held in Rhode Island. You are going to be a very busy man that day. Tell me all the roles you’ll be playing?
Bobby Smead: I’m gonna be working for the fourth time in my of my best friend Dustin Reinhold’s (4-1-0) corner as a second. Joseph Rabbotte (11-18-1) I’ll be the 3rd man in the corner. Rabbotte will be the co-main event. Joe reached out to me and wanted me to work with him and I was honored. He has a full load of talent and I watched him get robbed twice.
Pattee Mak: A few months back one of your fighters were brought in to spar with Chad Dawson (31-1-0) to prepare him for his last fight against Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2). Who was your fighter and what are your thought about the outcome and the title not changing hands?
Bobby Smead: Kevin Cobbs (2-0-0). I was very proud of Kevin. I got Kevin in April. He never sparred with a professional fighter before never mind it being Chad Dawson. It was a tremendous opportunity. [Iceman John] Scully called me up and it was a dream come true. I thought Chad was flat out robbed! I thought Bernard missed a couple of punches and Chad did what he had to do to get Bernard off of him and I thought he went overboard.
Pattee Mak: I just love to drop some names. Who are you currently managing and how did it come about?
Bobby Smead: Kevin Cobbs. Right now he’s my top guy. The thing with Kevin and I we became good friends. We met at the Lowell Golden Gloves this year and we exchanged phones numbers and became friendly. He mentioned to me that there is very limited sparring in Vermont and not a ton of amateur Boxing. I had put together a few amateur bouts for Kevin and he joked around with me saying wow at this rate I’ll probably be able to turn pro soon. Then I actually called a good friend of mine, Dr PKO, Teddy Panagiotis. We chatted because he’s a matchmaker looking for an opponent for an upcoming fight against Nick [Nicholas] Lavin (2-2-0) who at the time was 2-0. I didn’t know Nick then. I spoke to Kevin about the fight. It was an ESPN undercard and it would have been the swing bout. I wanted to know if he was interested to fight and he said are you kidding. I assembled a good team for that fight. I called Iceman to see if he would be his trainer and I asked Teddy if he would be the cut man and I feel within less than half a minute I put together one of the best teams in boxing. Kevin won the fight and stopped Nick 1 minute 24 seconds in round 1. Nick was such a gentlemen after the fight that we swapped phone numbers. I hopefully will be working with Chris Aiello of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He’s an upcoming cruiserweight and he’s won the Golden Gloves four times. He puts a lot of pressure on the guys. We call him the “Nightmare” in the gym. He deserves a purple heart in all his fights. He walks every guy over. He’s very competitive.
Pattee Mak: You mentioned that you are also a trainer. Not to sound mean but do people look at you differently because of your weight when you say you’re the trainer? DUDE! YOU ARE OVER 400 POUNDS.
Bobby Smead: Well you and a lot of people remember me when I was in shape and I made a name for myself in the boxing world and a couple of times I’ve been out of shape and I went to the local gyms and I sparred and they said look at the big guy coming. Sometime last year in 2010, I went to a local gym in Fall River and they asked me to spar with this heavyset guy. I was drinking all day and I changed my shoes and it was the easiest sparring session I had in my life. I currently have my daughter’s full time and it’s tough. When I go to the gym all the kids respect me. I currently train my nephew who’s 2-0 in the amateurs and I hold mitts for all the kids in the gym.
Pattee Mak: Where are you currently training?
Bobby Smead: The Fall River Police Athletic League.
Pattee Mak: You have worked different bouts as the corner man. Tell me about some fights that stick out in your mind that you remember the most either good or bad.
Bobby Smead: Oh my first fight when Kevin beat Nick. Granted at the time Nick and I were good friends. I was so excited when he won and I helped train Kevin at that time. The amount of work we did he lost 14 pounds. He was 196 pounds and he got down to 181. He just put it all together in 2 weeks. I’m kinda glad that fight happened cause otherwise I would have never met Nick and his wife Becky. When Dustin [Reinhold] vs. Rameil Shelton was going into that fight he was a nervous wreck. During the fight Dustin was in total control of the fight and he said what’s the matter your punches don’t hurt any more. From that moment on I knew that fight was ours. Also when Chris Aiello won the NE Championship he fought Brian Daniels. He was one of the best fighters in the nation. When Chris left hooked him and his mouthpiece went flying, it was an emotional moment for me. I did a lot of work with him. I used to spar with him while I was drunk. I felt like I also won. It was a great feeling for me.
Pattee Mak: You are also a matchmaker. Which fight were you so proud of after it was all said in done.
Bobby Smead: I wasn’t the official matchmaker for Alex Amparo and Nick [Lavin] fight. I just kinda talked to Nick [Lavin] and called Mr. Cappiello. I felt I had a little bit to do with it. A lot of people were talking about that fight. I would like to in the long run work for a promoter and put together an entire card.
Pattee Mak: Out of all your roles in boxing which one do you like doing the most and least?
Bobby Smead: I love helping and assisting people sparring at the gym. Everyone at the gym calls me for sparring. I love helping people.
Pattee Mak: Who do you compare yourself to in the boxing world?
Bobby Smead: I can’t really say I compare myself to anyone. I started off as a major fan in this sport. I’d like to take a piece of what Ted has and what John Scully has. He’s like a rocket scientist of boxing. I believe him and Teddy are the two smartest people in the boxing game. I had them both work in the corner of fights. To me personally, those two really stand out.
Pattee Mak: Tell me about this goal of yours for next year?
Bobby Smead: A goal of mine for next year is getting my weight down. A lot of people approached me and remembered when I used to train I was a beast. It always dawned on me my good friend Jorge Mendonca who beat a very serious case of cancer has inspired me Pattee to accomplish this dream of winning the 2012 P.A.L. Belt Super Heavyweight Championship in Fall River Massachusetts. It’ll be the last time I ever box competitively! To me this tournament is my world title shot that every kid dreams of when they go to bed at night. I want to do it for something to be remembered for! Something my children and grandchildren will talk about for years and years. I heard a gym owner in Fall River who I’ve worked with in the past has a Super Heavyweight named Paul Baptista who last year in the P.A.L. Belt fought an exciting fight in the tournament. I’d like to extend congrats to Paul and his team and would also extend an invitation to Paul to face me in Fall River P.A.L. Belt. Lets make a legendary fight my brother! For this fight, I will be working with my longtime trainer Libby Medeiros and I will also be working with up and coming trainer Derek Howard who has been a longtime friend and confidant of mine! Derek along with a dear friend David Beasley are keeping me on track with both my in and out of ring agendas. I know a lot of fighters say they’re coming back and start feeling the aches and pains of training and change their mind but as when I look at my daughters’ names tattooed on my arms I won’t quit. I’ll walk through a wall if neccessary to pull this off Pattee. My dear friend Israel Santiago has expressed his belief in me and he is one of the most knowledgeable people in boxing.
Pattee Mak: A little birdie told me you will be putting on a show in June, 2012 in Plymouth, Massachusetts with Israel Santiago. He’s the manager of pro boxer Jonathan Vazquez (4-1-1). What can you tell me about this event?
Bobby Smead: We would like to have Chris Aiello making his 2nd pro fight or his debut along with Dustin Reinhold, Kevin Cobbs and Nick Lavin. I’m not trying to compete with anyone. It’s just a dream of mine. I would like to put Jose “YAYO” Ortiz (4-6-1) on the card also. It wont be your average boxing card. I’m also having amateur fights that night as well. Anyone who would like to get on the card pro or am can contact me.
Pattee Mak: You were trying out for the NBC’s television show “The Biggest Loser”. Why in the world would you want to gain weight to be on that show? I say 6-7 small meals a day for you not 6 truckloads of food. I’m gonna help you achieve your goal. Now tell me about your experience leading up to NOT getting picked to be as a candidate on the show?
Bobby Smead: It was a lot of headaches. Being as big as I am I know I’m not gonna get picked for the Jersey shore. I came so close. The last minute decision I didn’t get picked. I just figure its now time for me to accomplish another dream. A lot of people now tell me I can’t. I’m just gonna take one day and a time and keep reaching for that. If I have to walk through a wall I’d do that to achieve my goal.
Pattee Mak: When you aren’t consumed with boxing, what do you like to do in your spare time:
Bobby Smead: I really enjoy spending time with my two daughters. I’m also a WWE fan. Actually a funny story for ya. I was at a stoplight and John Cena was in the car next to mine and I shouted out the window “Hey John when it rains it pours and you’ll be putting Brock Lesner through the Providence Civic Center Floors”. Well when I watched the show Cena actually used my line. It was funny.
Pattee Mak: Is there anyone you’d like to thank along with way?
Bobby Smead: I’d a like to give a special thanks to my mom Gail and my Dad Danny, aswell as Jorge Mendonca, Derek Howard, Israel Santiago, my beautiful daughters Alexis and Peyton, Kevin Cobbs, Iceman John Scully, Teddy Pangiotis, Nick and Beck Lavin, David Beasley for keeping my head on straight and last but not least Pattee Mak! All for believing in me and you got my word I’ll follow through with this and give it 100%.
Pattee Mak: Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me.
To contact Bobby about his upcoming card in June, 2012 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, some sparring or some help in the boxing game you can contact him directly on facebook under “Bobby Smead”.
For comments, questions or suggestions feel free to comment below or via facebook under 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.
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What a nice article about you Bobby. I am very proud of you. It takes alot to admit to having a problem. Just take one day at a time it works. Remember before you can help anyone you have to be able to help yourself first. I love you so much. Do what you did when Nana died because if she was here she would be worried about your health as well as me. Take good care of yourself. The next day is never promised to us.
How f sad. While his kid is ill u r out Promo him. People need a job or take care of what’s his. Maybe u can be at his corner when his ass goes before child support.
WOW Bobby, I am so impressed and proud, you have come along way kiddo and you should be so proud of yourself for your achievements as well as honesty!!!!! You’re gonna go all the way I can feel it WOO HOO !!!!
Kevin eventually is going to be one of the best in the business. Mark my word!!
BOBBY eventually is going to be one of the best in the business. Mark my word!!
Hey Bobby great interview my man, live the dream.Remember to always keep your hands and your head up! Make it Happen! Don’t forget your family and friends are in your corner! God Bless and stay focused on the prize
Awesome interview Bobby!!!! Wishing you the best of luck, I know you can do it!
Best of luck to you Bobby in all you do! Stay focused& your dreams will come true! We’re proud of you! In the article you said that people had remembered you from when you were training that you “were” a beast..Bobby we’ve seen you hit the bag not too long ago& you still are a beast! Youre always in our thoughts & prayers 🙂
Bobby, I’m very proud of you. Keep doing what your doing and dreams will come true for you…