Matt Vanda/Andy Kolle Courtesy Walters Photography, all rights reserved

Its only days away, the showdown between Minnesota’s middleweight champ Andy “Kaos” Kolle and Matt Vanda April 2 at Hinckley Grand Casino. There have been several big MN vs MN showdowns, but few live up to the hype. Vanda/Kolle 1 did more than live up to the hype, it was a fan friendly war in the ring with Kaos coming away with the win and in his words “a great time.”  I have yet to talk to anybody who was not entertained by the first installment of the fight. Kolle/Vanda 2 should be all that and more. Vanda has much to prove after Manfredo as well as just needing another good win to stay in the mix nationally. Kolle has much more to lose in this fight; he already has a win against Vanda, he is the Minnesota middleweight champ, he is coming off of three impressive KO’s.  But the bottom line is this, Kolle/Vanda 2 has all the makings for the biggest event of the year. Neither Kolle or Vanda are going to back down from anybody and that includes each other. No matter who you are pulling for, this fight should please. Below is a recent conversation we had with Andy “Kaos” Kolle.

M….After having that huge victory over Bonsante and following it up with another great KO of Shuler, was it hard watching guys like Vanda and Truax having all those fights in 2009?

Kolle….Yes, very hard. Especially after winning that fight against Bonsante, we really wanted to ride that out, and were hoping to be able to do that nationally, unfortunately that’s not how it worked out. It is what it is.

M…. Why do you think it has been difficult to get some national fights?

Kolle…. I’m the type of fighter right now that without that big money backing, its high risk low reward for them to fight somebody who has been knocking people out.

M…. Do you see any big fights coming to the twin ports in the near future?

Kolle….I honestly don’t know about that, that’s Chucks business. Too much political stuff that I don’t get in to.

M….A lot of guys seem to be very hands-on as far as career path and active in helping to pick out who they fight next, how involved are you in that process or do you let Chuck Horton do most of that?

Kolle….I will let him know if there is somebody Id like to fight. But just like with Bonsante and Vanda, Chuck will bring up the name and I will say yes.

M….One of the really cool things I have been able to see over the last year and a half is the growth in skill and physicality of some of Minnesota’s boxers. You are one those who really has grown both physically and mentally. Can you share some of what you have been doing?

Andy "Kaos" Kolle, Courtesy SnapLocally.com

Kolle….

I take this job very seriously, its my life. I wake up in the morning and I have a workout routine I go through. Its different every day, Kettle Bells, Tire slams, unconventional kinds of stuff, and then I go to the gym for a few hours in the afternoon and do my running at night, running the hills of Duluth. Over the last year and a half I have really taken my mind out of everything else and concentrated on boxing. Ever since that Paul Williams fight I have wanted to come back and make a statement in a major way.

M….Do you workout everyday of the week? Are there any days you take off?

Kolle….Sundays, 4 days a week strength, 5 days a week boxing, 6 days a week running and Sunday I don’t do anything. I think rest is also very important.

M….Your last fight against Pat Coleman was at First Ave in MPLS, how did it feel to have such crowd support in the twin cities?

Kolle….It felt awesome. It was a smaller show, club show, but it was awesome knowing I had the whole crowd that was backing me, not just the crowd thats been following me for years but new people as well. It felt good.

M….Most people were quite impressed with you in your last fight against Coleman. Did you feel any ring rust getting in there?

Kolle….No, I didn’t feel any ring rust at all. I stay active even when I don’t have a fight, I’m always working out and sparring.

M….How did it feel fighting Coleman? To me it almost seemed like he was willing to just stand in his shell and maybe just get through the night?

Kolle….He seemed like he was just trying to survive. He had a good guard and would get in his shell, that’s why I had to do a few things different and get him to open up.

M….Coleman’s corner kept yelling for him to through the right. Is that something you heard, were you trying to draw him in?

Kolle….Thats just basic boxing 101 from a trainer that didn’t have any idea what he should do. That’s the first thing to tell a right-handed fighter who is fighting a southpaw.

M….154, that is a weight we had talked about a year ago, is it just really hard to find fights there right now?

Kolle….Also when we talked about that I told you unless its a Minnesota fight, then I will defend at 160. Last summer I was ready to fight at 154 but my opponent came in way over. I still weighed in at 155.

M….So the plan is to stay at 154 for national fights?

Kolle….That’s what I want. I feel that is the size for me on the national level. Those guys are big, even look at the size Pat Coleman was in my last fight.

M….Matt Vanda, what comes to mind?

Kolle….He is the type of fighter that fans like to see. He has proven himself and he has that fan base for a good reason, he gives them what they want. Even on the national level, he’s been beaten, but he always shows up.

M….There are those who see this as a high risk low reward type fight. Why this fight and why now?

Kolle….After our last fight, I told him I would give him another. He has earned that rematch with what he has done since then. I gave him my word.

M….Does the fact that Vanda lost almost every round to Manfredo make this fight hard from the standpoint of what you have to do to make it worth it?

Kolle….No, Ive just got to beat him and it really doesn’t matter how you do it. Styles make fights and Manfredo has a different style than I do and John Duddy has a different style than I do and so on. My goal is to win every round I fight, but I don’t have to, I just need to win more rounds than him. I would like to take him out, but my goal is to win.

M….Speaking of some of those guys Vanda has had the good fortune to get in the ring with, Manfredo, Duddy, Chaves Jr., Would you like the chance to get in there with them and how different would the outcomes be?

Kolle….I would love to get in the ring with Duddy or Chaves. They have talked about fighting at 154 and I would love to do it. We had an offer for Duddy but his team decided they didnt want it.

M….Given that the names we mentioned were unable to take Matt out, does that give you added motivation for the KO and do you think that would get you more national exposure?

Kolle….It would maybe open eyes but probably close some checkbooks.

M….There are those who think you are trying to avoid Caleb Truax, I don’t think either of you are avoiding the other, but what are your thoughts?

Kolle….There is no part of me avoiding Caleb Truax, I would fight that kid anytime and anywhere. Now he’s fighting Phil. I am ready for you Caleb anytime you want it.

M….So its just been that there has not been a date, contract, money or any details ever hammered out?

Kolle….To be honest I dont know all the ins and outs. All I know is after the Target Center show I came in the ring and asked for Matt and Caleb. Matt came to the table first. Caleb had a cut I think. Im not saying Caleb’s scared. We both have managers and guys that take care of our fights. I am ready to fight him any time.

M….Andy Kolle vs Matt Vanda to many people is the biggest fight out there in Minnesota, how do you see it?

Andy "Kaos" Kolle, Courtesy Walters Photography

Kolle….

I do believe it is the biggest fight in Minnesota right now, I have the belt for Minnesota and he brings one of the biggest challenges. You know going to a Vanda fight you will get your money’s worth and you know I am going to bring it every time too. Two guys who are not afraid to throw punches, you wont see lulls in action like you do in some others.

M…. As a guy who likes to go after it himself, is it extra exciting to fight a guy like Vanda who you know will bring it?

Kolle….That first fight with Vanda was the most fun I have ever had in the ring, just going at it, throwing all caution to the wind, that was a blast. That probably wasn’t the way I should have fought him, but it was my first big fight and I wanted everyone to know I am right here too. That’s another reason I wanted that rematch because that first one was a blast.

M….I have watched your first fight with Vanda many times, and every time I have you winning on points pretty clearly, but there are some Vanda fans who just don’t see it that way. How do you feel about that victory?

Kolle….The fans that say he won that fight are the same ones who feel he won the Garr fight. They are good fans and they are sticking up for their boy, but I won that fight. When I watch it I think I maybe lost two rounds, one being the round Igot knocked down.

M….There has been much talk about the one knock down from your fight with Vanda, tell us about it.

Kolle….. It was the first time I had been down so I took my time getting back up. I’ve seen fighters to eager to get off the mat only to get hit again. I took my time and dominated the rest of that round and fight.

M….Matt Vanda has had big wins against Phil Williams, Ted Muller, and Tocker Pudwill in the last 12 months. Do you think Vanda is better today than the guy you fought a couple years ago?

Kolle….Yeah, that is another reason for the rematch. He has gotten better and earned it. That’s what I want, I want a challenge. I have gotten better since our fight, I don’t want the same Vanda I fought two years ago, I want the challenge of a better Vanda.

M….What makes Vanda better today?

Kolle….I think he is a lot stronger and more comfortable in the ring. He is more of a polished pro now.

M….Most people who have fought Vanda talk about how tough he is to get down. Does that play on your mind at all, make you want to take him out that much more?

Kolle….Everybody wants to be the first guy to put somebody down. That’s not really my thoughts on this fight, get the win and move on.

M….How many fights would you like to have this year? Or are you more to the point of just wanting quality fights?

Kolle….I’d rather have quality fights than number of fights. 5 fights in a year is a pretty stacked schedule for someone who is fighting 10 rounders all the time.

M….After Vanda, would you like to continue to clean up the state or would you like to begin to again test the national waters?

Kolle….I have big dreams. I would like to fight outside of Minnesota and help establish this thing our boxing has going here. If your from New York or California you don’t want to be the best in your state, you want to compete with the best from all over.

M….So you are more than ready to go on another promoters card from New York or Vegas as long as it is a well matched opportunity?

Kolle….Like I said, I would love to fight guys like Duddy or Chaves Jr.

M….Any thoughts on Phil Williams vs Caleb Truax?

Kolle….I don’t really know, I think its going to be who gets to who first. I don’t know that it will go the distance. I am pulling for Truax to win it.

M….You have already said you would fight Truax, what about Williams if he were to win?

Kolle….Absolutely, if Williams can come in and make 160. That’s the same with Truax, its 160lbs.

M….What are your thoughts on Gary Eyer vs Brad Patraw?

Kolle….Im excited for that fight. Gary goes for it every time, and from what I have seen of Brad, he isn’t afraid of throwing punches either. That should be a fun one while it lasts, but I don’t expect it to make the distance.

M….The battle of your buddies, Tyler Hultin vs Tim Taggard. I know you’re friends with both guys, but how do you see this fight?

Kolle….That’s a tough fight for me, Tyler has been my boy for a long time and Timmy has become a friend of mine, he lived with me for a while. The only thing I can say about that fight is you are not going to want to blink. It will be all out while it lasts.

Jason Litzau (26,2) vs Rocky Juarez (28,5) check out theamericanboys.com for more info

Click here to see article at metromag.com

Get your tickets now, there are fewer than 100 left for April 2 at Hinckley Grand Casino.

Eyer/Patraw, April 2 at Hinckley Grand Casino on the undercard of Kolle/Vanda. Gary “Stone Cold” Eyer has been on many a boxing fans minds since his last fight December 4 2009. His fight with Levi Cortes was voted by most to be Minnesota fight of year. Those in Duluth have always known how much heart and toughness the man who comes to the ring to “do you really want to hurt me” has. Eyer’s fight with Cortes proved that to many beyond Duluth. I asked Eyer about his April 2nd opponent, “Bad” Brad Patraw and his answer was that he thought Patraw a brave, slick, skilled boxer. He also added that he hoped he was too brave for his own good. Below is our conversation.

Gary "Stone Cold" Eyer, Courtesy SnapLocally.com

M….You made a real splash with your last fight, most people had Eyer/Cortes as fight of the year in Minnesota for 2009. Looking back at that fight, what are your thoughts now?

Eyer….That was a tougher fight then I was expecting, Levi can fight and when he fights again I’d like to be there to watch it. I’m a fan of his, I like his style I’m glad I won and I learned a lot from that fight, I needed that fight it made me a better boxer.

 
M….How has training camp been going?

 
Eyer….It’s been the best camp, I hope it pays off with a win.

M….You weighed in at right around 132 for your last fight, how hard is making 126?

Eyer….It’s not fun, it’s just a little more hard work, but I feel good. I’m right where I want to be and I have high hopes of making 122 and 120 in the feature. Ill know if I can make those weights after this fight.

M….Do you plan to spend most of your time in the 120’s?

Eyer….I hope to be in the 120s for a long time, it’s kinda nice being the bigger guy in the fight and as I get the chance to fight longer fights, 8 rounds 10 rounds making the 126 and lower should be easier to do.  I feel being as small as I can get is my best chance at making a nice boxing career for myself.

 
M….There had been talk of a showdown between you and Jeremy McLaurin, is that a fight you would like?

Eyer…. Ill fight Jeremy as long as I get the right number of rounds and the right $ for the fight. It would be a risky fight but for sure a good one.  I’d like to see him fight Boxley or Levi.

M….Have you spent any time watching his fights?

Eyer…. I’ve seen a few of his fights. I like the match up with him, it should go a few rounds at least, so we both will learn things from this fight, getting the much needed rounds of experience.

 
M….I have heard you mention Patraw before as somebody you would like to fight, how excited are you to get it?

Eyer…..I’m pretty pumped. This is the one fight I really feel like I can win and he can fight. So I’m in a fight that I think I can win on the biggest card of the year and we both wanna steal the show and have fight of the night and possible fight of the year.

 
M….Many fans think this could be another real barn burner for you, how do you see this fight?

Eyer….I think its gonna be a skillful fight. The better boxer is going to win by out boxing the other guy with some good exchanges that should get the crowd going nuts.

 
M….You help coach Horton’s gym amateurs, do you have any predictions for their upcoming Golden Gloves tournament?

 
Eyer….It’s Al Sands year. Jarred Guerrero can punch, it was awesome to see what he did in his last fight, and Mark Pogorelskin is getting better and better he has the best chin out of all the guys. he will do well.

 
M….Have there been any talks of out of state fights in your near future?

Eyer….Yeah I cant wait for them. Ill be ready.

 
M….Andy “Kaos” Kolle VS Matt Vanda, what comes to mind?

Eyer…. The best fight I have ever seen in person and they are going to repeat it.

 
M….Why should people get out to this event?

Eyer…. It’s gonna be one of the best cards of the year with a good chance of being number 1 in the end.

Tyler Hultin

Tyler “The Hitman” Hultin is set to face the always tough Tim Taggart Aril 2 at Hinckley Grand Casino. Hultin will be stepping into Taggarts backyard to take on a former Horton fighter. I was lucky enough to be able to watch a little of Hutlin sparring with Andy “Kaos” Kolle as well as working the mitts with Chuck Horton. He has some power! Like many who were able to watch Hultin at Bridge Battle’s one and two, I was instantly a fan. Hultin has that Fergus/Duluth/ Horton’s gym sort of feel, tough, scrappy, and unafraid. Tyler Hultin took some time to answer a few questions from The League below.

M….We haven’t caught up with you since your pro debut and victory, How did it feel to get that first fight and win last May?

Hultin….It’s hard to express that kind of feelings in words! I felt on top of the world and was ready for more!

 
M…..You also had a highly entertaining public workout with Scott Ball last June, do you have any thoughts from that sparring session?

Hultin….I think that was a broad turning point when I realized I’m at a different level. I went in there feeling like I was in a real fight like I always do! I understand more that any wrong thing you do in the ring can cause a turning point, also it makes me want to have a real fight with Ball down the road!

 
M….You will be fighting Tim Taggart April 2, how much do you know about him?

Hultin….Tim and I clashed Heads back in Amateurs, many years ago.. also I had watched him many years after that when we were in different weight classes. I know the pro level is a whole new world and he has progressed, but so have I and I know when it comes down to conditioning I rank myself High!
 

M…..Do you think the fact that he used to workout out of Horton’s gym may help him in any way in preparing to fight you?

Hultin….I Don’t think that will benefit him very much. Ive learned very much with working with Horton’s gym, but I am my own person and when it comes down to it I know what I have to do to win!
 

M….You had a pretty vocal crowd for your first pro fight, do you think they are going to follow you to Hinckley?
 

Hultin….Yes I Did! And yes they will be! What you saw in Duluth, you can multiply that by 10 and thats what kind of support we have from our small town of Fergus Falls!!

 M…. How much time have you spent training in Duluth over the past year?

Tyler Hultin

Hultin….

Every chance I had Free time I was up there training.. taking everything I learned and brought it back to my coaches. Furthering my potential and my coaches!
 

M….How much impact do you think being able to spar with Minnesota’s number one middle has on your game?
 

Hultin….Koas!! I couldn’t ask for better! Its made me a better fighter by far! Its great to know I can help him out with his up coming fights, as he does for me every time! Sparring with him has made me a much smarter fighter and much more accurate, cuz when your fighting kolle you never want to be hit….. ever!! 
 

M….Do you have any plans to relocate to Duluth to be closer to your team?

Hultin….Yes,i do. I feel with the type of training I get at camp, if I could get that all the time I feel I could also get my name out there and be on the top for Minnesota’s fighters!
 

M….Has it been difficult waiting for almost a year to get your second fight as a pro? Do you think it has made you even hungrier to get back in the ring?
 

Hultin….Hungry is an Understatement….. it has been like a steady anticipation just waiting for my next chance.. everyone will notice that when I step into the ring come April 2nd.!!
 

M….What should fans expect to see when you and Tim Taggart meet in the ring?

Hultin….FIREWORKS!! Taggart is going to try to make it end as fast as he can, but I have different Plans!
 

M….How many fights do you hope to have this year?
 

Hultin….I’m hoping for 5 fights this year! The more the merrier!! Ready to make a stand.
 

M….Do you feel you will continue to battle at this weight?

Hultin…. The more I learn about the pros the more I know that being a middle weight wont benefit me in the long run… 154 is where I want to be at! Couple more at middle weight and then were going down!
 

M…. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
 

Hultin….I want to Thank everybody for all the support and not forgetting about me! I’m back and ready!! Thanks again Todd!!

Javontae Starks Forced to Pull out of April 2 Bout, Aims for May Return

For Immediate Release

Minneapolis, MN- Minnesota’s top junior middleweight prospect and former national champion Javontae Starks(3-0 3 ko’s) suffered the first setback of his career this month when he was forced to pull out of his bout with Bobby Kliewer(10-9 6 ko’s) on April 2.

                Starks suffered a back injury while training alongside stablemate and former amateur elite Jamal James,who will make his pro debut April 2. Although disappointed with the cancellation Starks plans to return to the ring in May, and remains open whatever fight that is brought to the table, including Kliewer.

“I’ve fought the best in the world I’ve trained with the best and been recognized as the best, I’m not afraid of any fight” Starks noted.

                Starks insists the injury will not remain a problem for much longer, and feels he could have fought, but the risk was just too great at this stage of his career.

“I feel like I could have fought and won, but it’s how I want to win that’s important this early in my career”

                Starks and his team aim to return to training during the first week of April, and hope to take to the ring as soon as possible, a date in late May the most likely scenario.

                Javontae Starks is expected to be on hand April 2 to support close friend Jamal James, and Midwest Sports Council stablemate Jeremy McLaurin in their bouts. The card is headlined by the long awaited rematch between Matt Vanda and Andy Kolle for the Minnesota State Middleweight title. Tickets are available at grandcasinomn.com.

            Starks trains at the Circle of Discipline Gym in Minneapolis alongside fellow celebrated amateur Jamal James. Under the direction of trainer Sankara Frazier Starks aims to put his home state of Minnesota on the boxing map. After capturing National and regional titles in the amateur ranks, he made his professional debut in late 2009.

With an undeniable will, and professional level skills Starks aims to become a beacon of hope for Minnesota fight fans.

"Bad" Brad Patraw

“Bad” Brad Patraw (6,1) VS Gary “Stone Cold” Eyer (7,0,1) has generated a ton of talk among boxing fans. These two will meet on the same night as Kolle/Vanda and add to an already stacked night of fights. Anyone who has watched these two battle over the last couple of years knows this should be a fun one. Eyer has spent his time in the 130’s and Patraw in the 120’s and their fight is set at 126 lbs. This will be the lowest weight Eyer has fought at and for Patraw its a little bit heavier than he would like to campaign. So the weight does not seem to hold an advantage for either fighter. In talking with both boxers, I get the feeling they know this is going to be an explosion of action. Below “Bad” Brad Patraw was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

M…. What have you been up to since your last fight back in October?

Patraw…. Not to much, just taking care of my son who was born Jan 3rd 2010.

 
 
M…. Do you have any comments from your state title fight with Antwan Robertson?

 
Patraw….I don’t really have nothing to say about my last fight other then the 2nd knock down shouldn’t have been one .. even with it I think it should have been a draw.

 
M…. After Antwans last fight he offered you a rematch. Do you see that taking place this year?

Patraw…. No, I am thinking Ill never get it .I was hoping it would have been April 2nd.

 
M…. Gary “Stone Cold” Eyer, what comes to mind?

Patraw…. A tough mother $%#@%.

"Bad" Brad Patraw, left, courtesy SnapLocally.com

 
M…. Have you and Eyer ever fought before in the ams?

Patraw….No, we never fought.

M…. Has Eyer been on your radar as a possible opponent, or was this fight kind of a surprise to you?

Patraw…. It was a big surprise to me.

 
M…. From watching both you and Eyer fight, this has all the makings for a huge action packed brawl, how do you see it?

Patraw…. I think it could be cause I’m not scared to mix it up at all and he is not either. So Ill leave it at that and you can see April 2nd

 
M…. Have you been able to see many of Eyers fights? Were you able to see Eyer/Cortez?

 
Patraw…. No, I did see a little of his pro debut .. and I did see it.

 
M…. You had mentioned to me in the past that you would like to take your show on the road, is that still something you are looking to do in the near future?

Patraw….Yes I do want to get on a card out of state and I have been talking to a matchmaker from NY.

 
M…. Is 126 the weight you feel most comfortable at? Are there any other weights you would like to try?

Patraw…. I took it at 126 cause I don’t think I was going to have a choice. It was like I take this fight or I’m not fighting. I would like to stay at 122.

M…. Do you have any predictions for Kolle/Vanda?

Patraw…. I like them both, I know Vanda better and I think he will pull it off.

M…. Is there anything you would like to add?

Patraw…. I would Like to say after this fight I hope I get better recognition around here . I want to thank my family ,my friends and my fans for sticking by me , also my new sponsor for backing me, Shakers Vodka ,thanks.

Here are two prior interviews of Patraw.

8-11-09 Brad Patraw

10-18-09 Brad Patraw

Kamya VS Mihtar is on the undercard of Arthur Abraham VS Andre Dirrell tonight on Showtime.

Robert Kamya, Courtesy SnapLocally.com

It was announced today that Joey will be fighting Al Cole in May of this year in Nelson Mandela Stadium for a 12 round WBF heavyweight title.   This will be ICE’s biggest fight to date and certainly draw the largest crowd he has ever fought in front of.  Mohammed Kayongo, the African Assassin, will also be joining ICE fighting professionally for the first time in his homeland.  He is the #1 rated welterweight in Uganda.  The fight will be promoted throughout Africa and will be offered on  gofightlive.tv .  Nelson Mandela himself was invited along with many heads of state from surrounding African countries.  Flight/hotel packages will be available soon and will be posted.

Coming in May-2010

THE AFRICAN MELTDOWN

Minnesota ICE vs ICE Cole

Nelson Mandela Memorial Stadium, Kampala, Uganda

Gym Profile – Lorenzi’s Boxing in Duluth, Minnesota

By: Laura Zink

It’s not just me. It’s us. It’s who’s here that makes this gym.

Joe Lorenzi

Joe Lorenzi and Kazakhstan's Timur Kudailbergenov

Upstairs from the Pioneer Bank on Central Avenue in West Duluth, Joe Lorenzi is giving some smart advice to two hard-hitting 155 pound amateur boxers as they spar in the ring at Lorenzi’s Boxing.

“Keep your hands up.”

The two young men, Duluth’s Pete Dahl and Kazakhstan’s Timur Kudaibergenov work their way around each other and collide at intervals, unleashing shots with a considerable amount of sting. Dahl throws a double jab, right hand which moves Kudaibergenov back momentarily. But when Dahl tries to jab his way in again, Kudaibergenov tosses a right over Dahl’s jab and throws a big left hand, clocking Dahl squarely on the chin.

“He can hit!” Dahl exclaims.

“C’mon hands up,” Lorenzi instructs calmly from ringside, “Why are you talking to me? If he can hit, keep your hands up.”

At the front of the room behind the ring sits Phil Angell, former Toughman competitor and father of another one of Lorenzi’s amateur boxers, 13 year old Drew Angell.

“When I heard that Joe had a gym out here, I wanted to be here,” Phil commented as he watched his son hit the heavybag. “I really like Joe’s style. I have trained with him and seen him fight as a professional. Joe moves really well and doesn’t get hit a lot, but he’s a power puncher, too. So, of course, being a father, I’d rather see my son not taking as much punishment. I was a bruiser myself. Just going in and swinging as hard as I can. But Joe, he teaches a lot of slipping, as well as power punching, and I like that.”

Back at ringside, it’s the end of the round. Kudaibergenov exits the ring and goes over to the mirror to scan his face for signs of damage. Back in the ring, Dahl waits during the rest period as his second sparring partner for the day, experienced amateur kickboxer, Adam McDermid, enters the ring.

“Dang bro,” Dahl says to Kudaibergenov before the round starts, “You hit as hard as hell.”

“You both got heavy hands,” curly haired McDermid says smiling over his mouthguard. “It was fun to watch you guys box each other.”

Dahl and McDermid slap gloves and smile at each other. But once the bell rings, the two fighters go at it, while Lorenzi watching at ringside, reminds them to “Keep your hands up.”

McDermid knows this lesson about good defense particularly well, in part due to how he met Joe Lorenzi.

“We met fighting actually,” McDermid said after practice that day. “Prior to Joe running the gym, there was another guy running a gym in a similar location. Joe came in and worked out with us. When I was working out one day, I got some sparring in. Joe beat me up, and I said, ‘Hey, you are pretty good with your hands.’ Just kind of started to work out after that. And then he purchased the gym and started doing his own show, and I moved to Duluth. I was pretty happy to get some hand work in.”

For the fighters who train at Lorenzi’s Boxing, their personal evolutions as fighters take place in the setting of a much larger evolution – that of the gym itself. For Lorenzi, the character of his gym is largely determined by the fighters who train there.

“I don’t want a gang,” Lorenzi explained. “I don’t want showboating. I don’t want to be the center of attention. I want this gym to be about who is here, and who wants to be here. I want this to be a fighter’s gym, but I want it also to be a gym where you can have good fighters here, but you can come in and talk to them because they are good people. They are not going to ignore you just because you don’t know the sport yet. We have some people that will take you under their wing and talk to you.”

Lorenzi’s community-oriented attitude toward his gym is founded, in part, on his boxing beginnings. For Lorenzi, his initial boxing experiences were forged in a gym which had a similar familial sense. Back when he was just 15 years old and new to Duluth, some fighters from Twin Ports Boxing invited him to the gym to show them what he could do.

“In high school, I would get in fights and I wasn’t really the best student,” Lorenzi explained about his first experiences in Duluth. “I was getting into trouble. These kids were asking me where I was from. And I would always tell them Chicago because that was where I came from. But, I lied and told them that I was doing boxing down there. I didn’t really have many friends up here, and I figured that that would be a good way to make friends…but it obviously wasn’t. [Laughs] These guys from Twin Ports Boxing asked me to come down to the gym and show them what I knew. [Laughs] Like a dummy, I went down there, and pretty much got my butt kicked. Obviously, the cat was out of the bag that I didn’t know what I was doing, which actually was fine. I was only 15 years old way back then.”

But even though that first day at Twin Ports Boxing was difficult, Lorenzi kept going back. There was something about boxing that drew him in. But at Twin Ports, you had to learn that love of boxing the hard way – through constant sparring.

“Back then, they used to weed out people who didn’t really want to be there by, I feel like, sparring them,” Lorenzi explained. “Okay, a lot of people would want to be a fighter, so they would come to the gym and they would get beat up. And they would find out really quick who wanted to be a fighter because they would come back, or they just wouldn’t show up anymore. And I would say that probably for about two years, I would honestly get beat up by all of my sparring partners before really getting a chance to earn their respect…hitting them back decently or that sort of stuff. I was learning along the way and was coming into my own a little bit, but it took about 2 years for me.”

His sparring partners, fighters like Wayne Putnam, Paul Pazinski, Tim McShane, and Danny Radloff, made any fighter who stepped into Twin Ports Boxing learn the hard way. But Lorenzi, who stayed on and kept fighting under these trial-by-fire circumstances, eventually found that staying determined at the gym and earning the respect of the other fighters forged significant bonds between the tried and true – these fighters came to support each other in boxing and became something like a family. And it was this attribute of his training at Twin Ports more than any other that Lorenzi maintains at his new gym.

Joe Lorenzi

“I think that Aaron Resberg was one of the most influential trainers there at that point,” Lorenzi commented. “But then a lot of it also came from the fighters themselves. After awhile the guys would take you under their wing and let you know if you were doing something right or doing something wrong. I learned a lot from them. And obviously you just learn a lot from just sparring in general, and then just seeing how hard these guys are working out. If you want to be there, it makes you really push yourself to be like them.”

Through his training at Twin Ports, he not only benefited from the guidance of the other fighters, but from the trainers like Jesus Roses, Aaron Resberg, and even occasionally, some fighters from Duluth whose family’s boxing history stretches all the way back to the 1940’s – the American Indian fighting family, the LeGardes.

“The LeGardes were in and out of the gym a lot,” Lorenzi remembered. “They were giving pointers. They would come down and every once and awhile stop in and just give pointers. I didn’t even really know who they were in the beginning, but I noticed that all of the coaches were very respectful and looked up to them. Obviously, they must have been fighters. They gave different pointers and helpful tips. All the coaches would say, ‘This guy knows what he is talking about.’”

It was also through this gym that Lorenzi got to know a family member from another one of Minnesota’s large fighting families. While training at Twin Ports Boxing years later, Lorenzi became acquainted with Todd Rodriguez from the Rodriguez family of fighters.

“I’ve been around for awhile,” Rodriguez explained. “I am from the Rodriguez fighting family. My brother is Raphael, he fought Sugar Ray in 1978. I have a current professional nephew Corey Rodriguez. My brother Kenny was champion in 1955. There is Kenny, Rudy, Bobby, and Raphael. Those are all of my four brothers that turned pro. And then there is me and Johnny, that is Corey’s dad. We all stayed amateurs.”

“I have been training for 25 years though,” Rodriguez continued. “I coached at Twin Ports Boxing two years ago. I coached in Minneapolis at two gyms there. I’ve been a coach for 25 years. I have coached for Cass Lake Boxing Club, White Earth Nation Boxing Club, Upper Midwest American Indian Center Boxing Club, and Phyllis Wheatley. But I like working with kids. I’ve seen a lot of champions in my day, so I just like giving back. This is my way of giving back by showing kids the correct way to box.”

Todd Rodriguez

Rodriguez, who actually learned how to box from another legendary family in Minnesota’s American Indian boxing tradition, the Buckanaga brothers, joined on as a trainer at Lorenzi’s because he liked the facility, but also because he works well with Joe.

“I am from Minneapolis,” Rodriguez explained about his boxing beginnings. “The Buckanagas were coaches in Minneapolis. They trained at the Upper Midwest American Indian Center. It was UMAIC. And Chuck Buckanaga, Marvin Clark, who has passed away, and Curtis Buckanaga were coaches there. And I started there in 1975. I weighed 38 pounds and I was 11 years old. [Laughs]”

“But yeah, Chuck Buckanaga started me and Curtis his brother. I’d have to give a lot of credit to Chuck. He was the one who taught me the basic boxing. And then you kind of learn from other coaches as you go on. Like they will pick up something from me and then they will pick up something from Joe. With those coaches and their experience is where you get your class and your savvy, or whatever you want to call it…that’s where it comes from.”

Another thing that Rodriguez likes about Lorenzi’s Gym is the variety in training strategies. Fighters don’t just spar here. Instead they focus on the many aspects of training which will develop them into more complete fighters.

“I like this gym. It’s a lot more calisthenics. It’s got a lot of discipline here vs some of the Northern teams where you kind of come in you do your rope, you do your shadowboxing, you and then you are done. Here, you are here for 2 or 3 hours and you work really hard, getting in shape and training. So I like that. Plus there are more fighters. Nicer gym. Two of the northern teams that I coached were like makeshift gyms. You are boxing in like a Veteran’s Memorial building. This is more conventional. This is a lot bigger. It’s got three gyms here. The main gym, the weight room, and the bag room.”

And it was Rodriguez’s affinity for Lorenzi’s Gym which caused him to bring another fighter into the fold, Duluth’s 155 pound hard-hitting amateur, Pete Dahl.

“I’ve been hearing good stuff about this gym,” Dahl explained. “Todd Rodriguez came over here, and I trust Todd. He has been in my corner almost every fight. I get along with him great. He said come over here. We got some good fighters here, good trainers, and Joe is doing a good job. You know, it is a nice gym. Just come over here and give it a try. So I did and I thought, ‘Yeah, I am staying here for sure.’”

Pete Dahl

“Twin Ports was a very small gym,” Dahl explained about his previous boxing experiences. “It’s only open 4 days a week. It’s only open 2 hours a day. It’s like get in there and spar and you will learn everything from sparring. And a lot of people don’t agree with that. A lot of people learn that you have got to learn the technical stuff on the mitts. You have to get yourself in the best cardio shape possible, which is what this gym, you know, mainly hits on. Also, I have known Joe. I had been sparring with him for many years before he’d been a trainer and stuff like that. I’d see him around. He went to the same school as me. He was in my brother’s classes at Denfeld.”

“When I was 13 or 14 and I was a freshman, I remember Joe was a junior or senior,” Dahl remembered. “And he was a boxer back then. I used to look up to him. I wanted to be like that. [Laughs] It’s kind of weird that he is training me know. But he knows me really well. Just from all the boxers growing up, I mean, you fall in love with the sport. I think it’s the best sport in the world honestly. It demands more physically and mentally from you more than any other sport. It’s an all around fun sport.”

As Dahl pointed out, many of the young people who grew up in West Duluth have grown up around fighters. West Duluth, in particular, does have a very deep boxing tradition. Perhaps it is only fitting that the location of Lorenzi’s Boxing in West Duluth is in a block radius of two locations which both supported professional boxing back in two of Duluth’s historic professional boxing heydays. Just across the street from Lorenzi’s Boxing is the Rustic bar, whose previous late owner, John Noruk, promoted professional boxing matches in the 1980’s and 1990’s which featured local fighters like John and Denny LeGarde and Billy Englund. And just down the street from Lorenzi’s is the Kom On Inn, a bar which sold tickets to promoter Sammy Gallop’s professional boxing cards in the 1950’s. It was there that one could buy tickets to boxing cards with local fighters like Jerry and Tom LeGarde, Ray and Jim Perrault Sr., Bucky McDonald, and Don Jasper. And as boxing in Duluth continues to change and evolve, so too does Lorenzi’s Gym, an evolution which works to stay true to Duluth’s long-standing boxing tradition.

“I’d like to have a core group here again so that when they come they have that camaraderie almost that family sense,” Lorenzi explained. “I am a business but I don’t like the business feel to it. I want people to come and to have more of a family feel, like these are my friends…and hopefully, eventually, close friends. Honor and integrity is very important. I want people to be able to learn how to fight, but I don’t want a huge fighter’s mentality coming in here. I want people to come in here to learn boxing for self respect.”

It is perhaps for this reason that the fighters who train at Lorenzi’s Boxing chose to train there. For Kazakhstan national and UMD student Timur Kudaibergenov, it is not just the facility, but the attention he gets from Lorenzi which keeps him training solely at this gym.

“Really good environment here and a good coach, good coach,” Kudaibergenov explained. “He gives me good tips and looks into my technique and shows me my mistakes and fixes my loopholes in my technique.”

And for Adam McDermid, the smiling, happy-go-lucky kickboxer who learned how to box from Lorenzi, his desire to compete in new sports is being ignited.

“I can’t wait to compete in boxing,” McDermid said. “There is a good atmosphere, and I like what Joe has to offer me specifically because I am an outside fighter where I like to use my kicks a lot, but I didn’t have any hand work. Joe is really good with the slipping and the moving, bobbing and weaving and staying inside and just staying in that uncomfortable zone where you are in punching distance. And I have never fought there. I’ve been to dozens upon dozens of gyms, and it is hard to find something that you want and that you can get use out of.”

And for former Toughman, Phil Angell, he is invested in how this gym has influenced his son. Heck, he’s even willing to take the extra trip from Cloquet just to get his son to this gym.

“The atmosphere here is so good,” Angell commented. “My son is a pretty shy guy, and coming here he’s just opening up more. The guys ask him about his school and his school has gotten better. I know a lot of that is discipline with boxing, but it is also a great attribute to the coaches. They check on them. They see how things are going with school, and they care about the kids, and I really appreciate that. It’s an extra trip. I work in Duluth, go home to Cloquet to pick up my son, and come back to Duluth. It’s an extra trip, but it is worth it because I really appreciate what Joe is doing for him. I work at the government service center in Duluth, and I drive home to Cloquet and grab Drew, then come back here.”

And Duluth’s Pete Dahl, who grew up in a boxing neighborhood and has found his new home at Lorenzi’s Boxing, his experience at Lorenzi’s Boxing has led him to ever-bigger aspirations for his own boxing.

“I am definitely comfortable with everybody on every level here,” Dahl commented. “There is nothing but good people here. I am comfortable enough that if I could get the experience in and get the skill up, I would be willing to turn pro out of this gym if I can get there. That is how confident I am. But I am 26, so if I don’t turn pro quick…I’d like to win some Golden Glove Tournament first before I do that. But that is kind of a dream of mine.”

So for all of the fighters, the trainers, and the fitness enthusiasts who train at Lorenzi’s Boxing, each and every participant as a part in developing the overall culture at the gym. And even though he likes to stay out of the spot-light so he can focus on his fighters, the foundation of the gym and its clear sense of community is rooted in Lorenzi’s ability to gain knowledge from the lessons he has learned and share his experience with sincerity to all who come to train at his gym.

“My idea is taking what I have learned from boxing, not just the technique part of it, but the hard work, dedication, respect, and just kind of have it overall for the people who want to come to Lorenzi’s Boxing,” Lorenzi explained about his goals for his gym. “It is going to be an overall fitness kind of a place. It is here for those who want to be here.”

Lorenzi’s Boxing is located at 331 North Central Avenue in Duluth, Minnesota

Joe Lorenzi would like to thank Twin Ports Martial Arts and Jim “Jumbo” Peterson for giving him the opportunity for giving him the opportunity to have his gym in this great new location.

Aspiring fighters, amateur boxing matchmakers, and interested trainers can contact Joe Lorenzi at 218-393-0524 or online at www.lorenzisboxing.com

Joe Lorenzi is a professional boxer who has 6 professional fights and 70 amateur fights.