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07/24/2007 Archived Entry: "Donovan George Promises Knock Out of Shay Mobley!"
Donovan George Promises Knock Out of Shay Mobley!
By Juan C. Ayllon
CHICAGO—He’s effervescent. He’s undefeated. And, at 14-0-1 and 12 knockouts, he can both box and punch.
On August 4th, super middleweight prospect Donovan “Da Bomb” George will face fellow Chicagoan Shay Mobley at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on the undercard of the David Diaz-Erik Morales World Boxing Council Lightweight Title Championship.
George’s opponent, Mobley no doubt has some skills, fast hands, and a decent punch at 16-8-1 with seven knockouts. However, with five of his losses coming by way of knockout, he has a stigma of running hot and cold and, against George, faces a formidable challenge.
That’s not to say that Mobley doesn’t have a shot at winning this bout. According to ring announcer Joe York, Indiana middleweight Jimmy “The Fighting School Teacher” Holmes—who along with Mobley, fights for One in a Million Boxing—confided that the hardest he’d been hit in sparring wasn’t by his undefeated stable mate Michael “The Midnight Stalker” Walker, but by Shay Mobley. Another prominent boxer from Chicago suggested that the way the fight goes depends largely on which Shay Mobley shows up. If he’s in top form and motivated, it may truly be a war to remember. If not, it will probably be an early night for Mobley.
Donovan George and Mike Michael—who serves as Chief Advisor for Cestus Management, which manages George—both claim that it doesn’t matter which version shows up; bottom line, Mobley is going down hard. Incensed at recent statements made by Mobley on the Internet, they were pretty pointed about what he had to say about Mobley in an exclusive interview. As far as they’re concerned, Donovan George is on a mission toward a title and their resolve has only been strengthened by their recent affiliation with promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
Here’s what they had to say.
Donovan George: I just got out of training. I feel awesome. I’m counting down the days. I can’t wait.
I’m not trying to get too much into it, but he took a shot at me on the Internet. Whatever he wants to say about me, he’s just a stepping stone. We’ll get through him; I’ll knock him out.
Shay has been around the block. He’s got experience, he’s been around the block, but every time he tries to step it up, he gets beat.
I plan on taking him apart. He’s a journeyman fighter. Don’t get me wrong: He’ll test people. I’ll pass with flying colors.
On training for this bout:
DG: We definitely stepped up the intensity (in training). It’s my first eight rounder, although I don’t think it’ll go eight rounds. You still have to train as if it’s a 12 round fight. I’ve been running six miles everyday, had good—great—sparring, and working on explosiveness. It’ll be a coming out party. There’ll be lots of fans and lots of people at our fight.
I’ve been running with explosive intensity. The heat’s awesome—the heat in the gym…everything came together!
On what’s next after his bout versus Mobley:
DG: I don’t want to look past Shay. I’m training hard. I can’t tell what’s next. It depends on how I look versus Shane. We’ll see how I do in there. It’s not about whether I win or lose; it’s how good I look in there.
Mike Michael: We’re going to talk with Top Rank and see how we do. We would like to fight for a North American belt in the next 8- 10 months with any of the top organizations that are reputable. Once we get the first belt then there just keep coming.
On August 4th, this MINOR OBSTACLE called Shay Mobley will be erased—like an eraser of a pencil erasing something—we’re going to rub him out! How a fighter like Shay Mobley can compare himself to Donovan is mind-boggling. Shay will be erased on August 4th!
DG: We didn’t want to make this a bad-blooded affair. My father and I are good-hearted people. However, when he went there, Shay really lit a fire in me. He motivated me. I want to thank him for the extra motivation. It’s making training 45 minutes longer every day! I’m going to knock out Shay. Afterwards, if he wants, I’ll shake his hand. But, when the bell rings, I’ll be “strictly business” in there. I’ll take his head off his body.
MM: There’ll only be one victor. And whether Mobley trains 50,000 hours or 50,000 years, it won’t matter. Donovan will knock him out and look sensational doing it.
We wanted to keep things amicable and show respect and we did. He is the one that made us to take the gloves off. So now, we’re going bare knuckle.
Don’s going to be a world champion. This MINOR OBSTACLE is not going to stop this train!
So, lock the doors, run for cover, and—
DG: Don’t blink.
MM: Don’t blink! I like how you came up with that, Don!
DG: Yeah, it’s funny, I just open my mouth and things come out like that!
MM: We’re going to give the fans what they want: Blood on his gloves!
DG: Blood on my gloves!
MM: No disrespect, Shay, but you’re not going to win this fight.
