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09/10/2006 Archived Entry: "Jeff ‘Boom Boom’ Baker & Nick Cook Ready to ‘Rumble’ Sept. 23"
Jeff ‘Boom Boom’ Baker & Nick Cook Ready to ‘Rumble’ Sept. 23
Ruben Galvan & Jaime Alvarado both promise a KO in rubber match!
Story and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Promoter Octavius James (center) lifts up the hands of combatants Cook (left) and Baker
HAMMOND, Ind. – Saturday’s press conference at the Horseshoe Casino had a little something for everyone. In addition to the first-class accommodations, there was drama, comedy and family values to boot!
Speaking through an interpreter, Jaime Alvarado (6-4-2, 4 KO’s) said to his upcoming opponent, Ruben Galvan, “I’m going to knock you out.”
Alvarado (left) and Galvan square off
Ruben Galvan (26-9-2, 9 KO’s), who is a training officer in security at the Horseshoe Casino, responded, “He’s not going to come into my house and insult me like that. Someone will be knocked out, and it’s not going to be me.
“I have a lot of respect for him. The past two times were close. You could have tossed a coin. He won the first one and I won the second. This one’s going to be a knockout!”
Galvan almost gave an object lesson later when, after the conference had adjourned, Alvarado’s interpreter and trainer allegedly baited and insulted him.
Describing the incident, Galvan said, “Anybody can talk. I’ve fought Paez, Spadafora, I’ve fought all these great fighters. None of them knocked me out. [Alvarado’s] a good fighter, don’t get me wrong, but he ain’t knocking me out.
“That’s actually his manager and trainer. He comes over and starts talking trash. I’m trying to be a professional. I’m not a trash talker. I let the fight do the talking. And he comes over and starts talking trash. I just said, ‘You know what, dude? I’m knocking him out. Whatever, say whatever you want.’ Then he says, ‘Well, who you gonna fight? You gonna fight Jaime or you gonna fight your girlfriend?’ And that’s when I got mad and I said, ‘Dude, just get away from me please! Get away from me now.’ And he kept saying stuff. So, he came towards me and I pushed him. I told him, ‘Dude, get out of my face ‘cause I’m going to hit you right now.’
“It kind of got out of hand. He was trying to get to me. I know what he was trying to do. He was trying to get in my head. I kind of felt kind of bad for Jaime, because Jaime didn’t say nothing to me. I have a lot of respect for him. He didn’t do nothing wrong. But the night of the fight, I’m not going to have any respect for him as far as the ring goes.”
By comparison both Baker and Cook were more measured and surprised all with a little dry humor.
Cook (left) and Baker square off for the cameras
Jeff “Boom Boom” Baker (14-2, 7 KO’s) said of Cook, “He’s a good fighter, I’m a good fighter, so I’m sure it’ll be a good fight.”
Asked if he could share anything about his strategy, he said, “No.” [The audience laughed] “I’ll show you fight night.”
Similarly, Nick Cook (14-1-1, 8 KO’s) said of facing his taller opponent, “I don’t want to elaborate on it too much, you know, ‘CAUSE HE'S SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE!” [The audience laughed loudly].
“But we have been working on it with the taller sparring. And, I’ll show you my strategy on fight night.”
Popular middleweight slugger Shay Mobley (14-7-1, 6 KO's), who has struggled with consistency and will fight on the under card, said that his fight "means a lot to me. My grandma just passed away. I'm putting it all on the line now. Now, every fight is my biggest fight."
According to Octavius James, Mobley will face one Bruce Romell from Pittsburg.
Looking in great shape, muscular Derrick "Superman" Findley, along with his opponent, made an appearance.
Johnny Novak and son
Indiana’s very own “Kid One in a Million,” Johnny Novak (18-1, 6 KO’s), who will face Cordell Jackson on the under card, alluded to a proposed match against former lightweight champion Paul Spadafora. He said, “I’m done brawling. From now on, I’m sticking to boxing. I’m looking for southpaws to fight. I’ll leave the brawling to Ruben and Jaime!”
His promoter, Octavius James, confirmed that Spadafora’s people offered Novak a match “several fights ago.” A sharp boxer, Spadafora sports a difficult left-handed style.
Reflecting on the offer, Novak said, “If the money’s right, the time’s right, I’ve got mouths to feed.”
Speaking of kids, taking in the festivities with a smile, popular middleweight Jimmy “The Fighting School Teacher” Holmes (14-0, 7 KO’s) acknowledged that he is no longer teaching the fourth grade, but is now a full-time P.E. teacher.
Any way you slice it, Octavius James/One in a Million and Horseshoe Casino’s joint production of “Rumble” will be anything but a civics lesson. In fact, it promises to be a doozey. Catch it at the Hammond Civic Center on September 23rd.
Shay Mobley, ready to rumble
Derrick "Superman" Findley
Johnny Novak (left) and Jimmy Holmes (center) share a laugh with an
unidentified media person
