Hot prospects Angel Torres & Chad Dawson on rise

05.09 - They are pro boxing's newest "Odd Couple."

One is Puerto Rican-American, the other African-American.

Despite having different parents and backgrounds, they are brothers, as close as any male siblings of the same blood.

Angel "Gee Roc" Torres and "Bad" Chad Dawson are also two of the best prospects in boxing.

They live together in a Manchester, Connecticut house owned by their manager, Lou Mayo, who in many ways is their surrogate father. Torres, a 13-2 featherweight, and 13-0 middleweight Dawson workout together every day and often spar each other. They go to the movies and eat together, even double date.

"The three of us are very close," Mayo explained their unusual relationship. "There are no bad habits. They go running at 5:30, work (at Mayo's mason company, Gee Roc) until about 3:30, and train at night. If they have sparring, we videotape it for motivation. The game plan for Angel is two eight round fights and then by the first of the year, a 10-round main event or co-feature. He won't work for two months when he's in training for 10-rounders. I want him concentrating 100-percent on boxing."

Torres, 24, was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He moved with his family to Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, where he first learned how to box. He represented Puerto Rico in many international amateur boxing tournaments, including the International Golden Gloves and Junior Championships in 1995. Angel won a Silver Medal at the Romana Cup in the Dominican Republic, as well as a Silver Medal at the World Junior Championships in Cuba, and a Bronze Medal at the International Championships in Columbia.

Torres moved to Willimantic, Connecticut in 1999 and he immediately joined the Windham Boxing Club. He fought against the Russian Team at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, won the 1999 Connecticut State Championship, and was a Silver Medallist at the Regionals in Utica, New York.

A relative unknown when he turned pro in February of 2001, the multi-talented featherweight streaked to four straight wins, defeating tough African, Walusimbi Kzito, and natural lightweight Terron Glasgow, both by first-round knockout. He also scored decision victories against experienced veterans Juan Disla and Leroy Price.

Torres than hit rough times, struggling with undefeated fellow prospect Daniel Maldonado, and eventually dropping a close, but unanimous decision. Angel than lost another decision, this time to a tough power puncher from the Dominican Republic, Pasqual Rouse, who has wins against prospects Scotty Buck and Luis Marichal. He also went the distance with former Olympian Zahir Raheem and eight rounds against top-rated contender, Daniel Seda.

Angel has since turned his career around, teaming-up with Mayo and New York City-based head trainer Shawn Raysor, who now also handles Dawson. He has won nine fights in a row, including a revenge match against Rouse (DEC6). Torres rocked former New England amateur champion Jose Ayala, flooring him three times in a first-round TKO this past January.

Next, Angel pitched a "shutout," winning all eight rounds in his first attempt at that distance, against noted tough guy Greg Piper (6-2, 2 KOs), of Portland (OR), at Foxwoods. Torres displayed his entire repertoire, sharply landing a variety of punches from all angles, while avoiding most of his opponent's punches. A six-round unanimous decision against Terrell Hargrove and electrifying 12-second KO of 7-3 Gabriel Krizan followed for this classic boxer-puncher.

"I want a rematch with Malonado," Angel said. "He's been running from me. I love watching tapes of Marvin Hagler, especially the way he changed his style, adjusting to his opponent. I've learned you just cannot just be a puncher or a boxer. You need to adjust."

Dawson is known as "Bad" Chad because he's so good. His nickname is for thoughts that go through the mind of his opponents after he puts them to sleep with his powerful KO punches.

Born in South Carolina and raised in New Haven (CT), Chad started boxing at the tender age of 11 and had more than 70 amateur fights and won many championships. As a Junior Olympian, Dawson was a three-time State Champion, two-time Regional Champion and National Runner-Up. He repeated those feats in the Silver Gloves, in addition to capturing the highly regarded Ohio State Fair Championship.

As he progressed in the amateurs, Dawson added to his growing resume, including top honors in the 2000 Golden Gloves championship in Holyoke (MA), en route to victory in the U.S. National Under-19 Championship. He went on to capture a Bronze Medal in the World Under-19 Championships as the lone U.S. medallist. Based on his latter performance, Dawson was named the USA Boxing Athlete of the Month for November 2000. In his last 10 amateur fights, only two went the decision, as his natural power became more of an imposing factor.

The 6' 3" Dawson, despite being only 21 years old, has already developed a reputation as a pro for his devastating punching power. His natural strength, size and southpaw stance combine to make Chad one of the "Baddest" and most feared fighters around. He reminds some of a left-handed Tommy Hearns.

Undefeated as a pro in 13 fights with nine knockouts, Dawson's most impressive win had been a first-round knockout of Antonio Baker, who went the distance with U.S. Olympian and Silver medallist Jermain Taylor. That was until he made his junior middleweight debut March 21 2003, after campaigning as a super middleweight, when Chad survived a first-round "flash" knockdown and came back to stop (10-2, 7 KOs) Willie Lee, of Gulfport (MS), at 2:38 of the third round. Dawson floored Lee with a straight left less than a minute into the third round, eventually trapping his opponent in a corner, where he pounded Lee into submission. Ringside doctors were in the ring before the referee could start a count.

"Bad" Chad's last fight was August 1, in which, he recorded an impressive fourth-round TKO of veteran Brett Lally.

"I'm ready for anybody they put in front of me," Dawson said. "I want Jermain Taylor. I feel we're on the same level, but he's gotten all of the exposure because he was an Olympian. I want that exposure, so he's the guy I have to take out."

"I enjoy watching Roy Jones, Jr. fight and tapes of Marvin Hagler," Chad said. "Jones I like so much because of the way he uses the hook to the body. Angel and I teach each other in the gym. We learn from each other and will go the whole 10 yards for each other. When my times comes it'll come. I'm not rushing it. I have to do what's best. Every fight is the next step towards by goal of becoming a world champion."

"Angel and Chad are two of the most exciting young fighters around and they'll fight anybody," their promoter, CES president Jimmy Burchfield, remarked. "They have the ability and are willing to make sacrifices in order to become world champions. We're going to give them every vehicle and opportunity to become world champions. I'm very proud to have them on Team CES. I'm especially pleased by the way they focus 100-percent on training without any distractions at camp while preparing for fights. Angel Torres and Chad Dawson represent our future."

Mayo tutored Torres, who already is an accomplished mason, and Angel is teaching Chad the trade. "They're good for boxing," Mayo remarked. "In and out of the ring, wherever we go, they're on public display. When they're on a job, Angel and Chad enjoy talking to people, and they're changing the way people think about boxers. They're such good kids.

"In a year and one-half, Angel is already designing unbelievable sidewalks. He just has a knack for it, along with the same enthusiasm he has for boxing. Angel is the leader of our team. He has a tremendous work ethic that rubs off on anybody else training with him. He's a real diamond in the rough."

As Angel and Chad both say, the only thing better than one or the other becoming world champion would be both of them wearing title belts at the same time. Hey, what do expect, they're brothers?