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10/18/2007 Archived Entry: "Jaime Sandoval: ‘You’re in for a treat this Friday night!"
Jaime Sandoval: ‘You’re in for a treat this Friday night!’
Photo and interview by Juan C. Ayllon
Jaime Sandoval (left) and Jesus Chavez
CHICAGO—Jaime “Superfly” Sandoval, 26, is the younger brother of former World Boxing Council Super Featherweight and Lightweight champion Jesus “El Matador” Chavez. Like his older brother, he hopes to hold a world title some day.
Standing over six feet tall to his brother's 5' 5", Jaime is tall and lanky, while Jesus is built more like the proverbial fireplug. Still, there's a facial resemblance and both share a proclivity to slug it out in the trenches.
“He motivates me,” says Sandoval of his older brother. “He keeps me on my toes.”
At 14-2 with 12 knockouts, Sandoval may have to be on his toes, indeed, when he faces Juan Carlos Martinez at Cicero Stadium this Friday.
In a rugged war last July, Martinez took undefeated knockout artist Wilton Hilario, then 8-0 with 7 knockouts, to an eight round draw. Martinez’s record now remains at a deceptive 8-4 with 5 knockouts.
The youngest of three children—with older brother Jesus and a sister before him, Sandoval participated in high school wrestling, ultimately graduating from Calvin Park High School in 2000.
However, he was never far removed from boxing. “I’ve always been on the boxing scene, too, because of my brother,” said Sandoval. “So that kept me in training and staying in shape. But, I never thought I’d be doing it as a profession.”
Little did he know the sport of boxing would grew on him over time.
“I got older, I got into it a little more—just got that little bug, all of a sudden, and stuck with it.”
Taking a few minutes late in the evening, Sandoval granted me an exclusive telephone interview just days before his fight.
JUAN AYLLON: How do you feel about your upcoming fight with Martinez?
JAIME SANDOVAL: I feel good! I feel good and ready.
JA: What can you tell us about Martinez?
JS: I know he’s a little guy, a little fighter—about 5’ 7”, 5’ 8”. [He’s] a tough kid [who] keeps coming forward, [and] throws a lot of punches.
JA: Tell us about your preparations.
JS: Well, I’ve been training with shorter guys to help me work on my distance…and it was good to get in there with the shorter guys and slug it out. Then, I have that as well. I’ve been training to box the guy out, so. Try to move around, keep him at my distance.
JA: Have you been sparring with your brother?
JS: No, no, my brother’s down in Texas right now. He’s down on his own training right now.
JA: What are your goals right now, as far as boxing goals?
JS: Just to win this fight Friday night—that’s the goal right now. My main focus is Juan Carlos right now.
JA: And if everything goes well?
JS: If everything goes well, after this, I’ll hopefully rematch with Johnnie Edwards.
JA: Which was a majority decision loss back in May. Can you tell us a little bit on what happened there?
JS: Just, uh, that it was a pretty, really close fight. I thought it could have just as easily been a draw. There’s no animosity there. That was just—he’s an experienced fighter, you know. He’s been around a lot in the amateurs. He’s been around the world. So, I gained a lot from that fight.
JA: What can you tell us about your amateur experience?
JS: I didn’t have much of an amateur experience. I had about 30 fights, if that. I won the [Chicago] Golden Gloves back in ’02. But, that was about as much amateur experience as I got.
JA: Tell us what your goals are, beyond a rematch with Edwards.
JS: Hopefully fight for a world title one of these days, you know? I guess everybody’s dream who’s in this sport is to fight for a world title.
JA: On a more personal note, are you married or single?
JS: I have a girlfriend. Mmm-hmmm. Yeah. So, I say I’m single. [He chuckles.]
JA: Being the younger brother of Jesus Chavez, are there any feelings of jealousy? Do you have any competitiveness with your brother?
JS: No, not at all—no jealousy. I mean, you know, he’s worked hard to bring that. There’s no jealousy, no anger, no. I’m proud of what he’s accomplished, so there’s no jealousy there. He motivates me, he keeps me on my toes, you know, he keeps me going forward.
JA: Any thoughts for the fight fan out there?
JS: Just come down and support the boxing scene and they’ll be in for a treat this Friday! I think it’s going to go all eight rounds [in an] action-packed fight!
