The Cyber Boxing Zone Newswire |
[Previous entry: "Celebrity golf tournament & pro boxing show on Cape Cod"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Historic Fraser Field puts on a different glove"] 07/27/2004 Archived Entry: "Chris Riley Talks about His Fight Tonight on ESPN2's Tuesday Night Fights!" Chris Riley Talks about His Fight Tonight on ESPN2's Tuesday Night Fights!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Some opportunities, you just have to work for. Others just fall in your lap. It’s been said that ‘luck’ is a combination of preparation and opportunity. Either way, Chris Riley is looking to capitalize on a 'lucky' opportunity tonight. Exciting rising Chicago cruiserweight prospect, Chris Riley (2-0-1), has been toiling away at establishing his boxing career. Unexpectedly, he received a call last week to fill in as a last minute substitute on ESPN2’s Tuesday Night Fights. He gladly accepted. Riley talked about his opportunity this past Saturday at a boxing exhibition sponsored by Hitz Boxing Promotions and held at Chicago’s North Avenue Beach this past Saturday.
Juan Ayllon: How are you doing today? Chris Riley: Pretty good, a little tired now that I had a little sparring session. JA: You’ve got a fight this Tuesday on ESPN2’s Tuesday Night Fights. Can you tell us about that? CR: Yeah, it was a last minute fight. I guess I was replacing an opponent. I have no idea what the situation was, but it was a good opportunity. I looked at it as being—when I found out who the fighter was—I had already committed to the fight prior to knowing who the fighter was, but when I found out who the fighter was, I really felt good about taking the opportunity. It’s a guy that fought in the amateurs around the same time that I did and right now he’s ranked 115 in the world at cruiserweight and they’ve got me ranked at 197 in the world, so hopefully, I could make a big jump there. JA: What’s the name of this opponent? CR: Godfrey, Matthew Godfrey (3-0-0, 2 KO’s). He fights out of the same gym as Jason Estrada, our current representative at super heavyweight in the Olympics and this guy’s pretty good. I’ve seen him fight a couple times. I think he’s a southpaw, so I’m definitely going to stay to my left. JA: How’s the training been going lately? CR: Really good since I started a little part time gig working at Crunch Fitness as a boxing instructor. That allows me to utilize their facilities. They have a lot more to offer as far as their equipment. They have a sauna, steam room, which I like to go in once I’m done working out. They’ve got heavy bags there. So, I get paid to work out, basically. JA: How would you describe your style for those who have not seen you yet?
CR: A lot of pressure! I like to just come forward. I don’t like to take any steps back. I just try to put it on the guy. If he can stand the pressure, then mix it up a little bit. I’m not afraid of getting hit. I don’t like getting hit; no boxer likes getting hit. But, I’m not afraid of getting hit. I look at it as part of the game. That’s something to be expected in this sport. You know, you’re gonna take a few punches here and there. But, I look at it as I’m trying to get mine off just like he’s trying to get his off and, hopefully, mine’s doing enough damage to hopefully end the fight. JA: About a half year ago, you fought a guy named Joseph Awinongya (11-7-4), where you got a controversial draw. Have you looked at getting a rematch in the near future? CR: Um, yeah. We spoke on that my last fight. I’ve only had three fights so far. My second fight was against Joseph. My last fight, my third fight, was against that guy from Ohio [Antonio Colbert] and they had problems. I went through two or three opponents changes, so at one point I said, 'Let us bring on Joseph.' And his coach happened to be there, he said, ‘That was what I was saying.’ You know, ‘Let’s cut to the chase and let’s get that fight booked now.’ But, unfortunately, that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime right here in the near future. I definitely look forward to stepping in the ring with him again. JA: Assuming all goes well in this fight, what’s next? CR: Hopefully I’ll fight—I’ll be prepared and ready to fight—on the next Hitz card here in August and get some work out at the Ramada. You know, hopefully things will go well and hopefully I’ll get to fight at that juncture. Who the opponent will be, I have no idea. As it’s usually the case this early in the game, you know, I’m less than 10 fights in, so at this point, they kind of match you up with whoever is available. JA: Who have you been sparring with in the gym? Any big names? CR: Um, Jason Robinson (16-4-0, 10 KO’s) [Editor’s note: Jason knocked out Ezra Sellers in March 2003 and was stopped by James Toney in the seventh round of their fight in August 2002]! I sparred with him last night. We did a good six, seven rounds. It was good work. I kinda hate to do it this close to the fight but, being that I’m an instructor at Crunch and you know my schedule is really hectic as far as work, my real job and everything and guys [sparring partners], our schedules have been off a little bit, I haven’t had a lot of sparring the last month or two. As far as boxing goes, you know, getting in the ring, and moving around, you want to do that as much as you can. That keeps you on your toes, keeps you fresh, keeps you loose, keeps you sharp. And, I didn’t have that opportunity. So, yesterday, I gave my all. I did a hard six, seven rounds with Jason and it was a good time.
JA: Do you have any tips on strategy you’ll be using on Tuesday night?
CR: Keep the pressure on. One bad habit that I have is just throwing one punch, one punch, one punch repeatedly and I’m more methodical that way; I keep pressure and I keep coming forward, but now I’m trying to add a little something else, which is doubling up and tripling up punches, throwing more than one at a time. I like to throw the jab, bring another jab right behind that one and then, if I see an opening—which that will create an opening—hit him with the right. If you catch the guy with the first jab or he blocks the first jab, nine times out of ten, you’ll catch him flush with the second jab. Once you do that, they’ll go into a ‘cover up mode’ or they try to move back and at that point, your momentum is going forward, so there you’ve got the opportunity to drop the right hand. JA: Any other thoughts you’d like to share with us? CR: No, just keep your eyes glued to the TV Tuesday night on ESPN2 and root your boy on! That’s what I’d like to say. Chris Riley fights for Hitz Boxing Promotions. For more information, see http://www.hitzboxing.com Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
|