13.01.04 – Interview by Ike Enwereuzor: www.Jacboxing.com – Heavyweight contender Mitch Rose, the man to handle Super Heavyweight King of the 4 rounders Eric “Butterbean” Esch in his first profesional loss, began his boxing career in December 1995 at Madison Square Garden, New York City by second round TKO. Mitch Rose had later fought fighters like Gerald Nobles and Monte Barrett. Rose began his Pro career June 1991 after winning the New York Golden Gloves. This is what Rose had to say….
Ike: Could tell our readers about your first amateur fight in New York?
I had no amateur experience before I entered for New York Golden Gloves. My first fight was in the Bronx. I fought a tough Spanish guy. The fight was a competitive bout. I was young and I demonstrated a lot of skills and tactics in that showcase. I grew up in Brooklyn , New York in a rough neigbhood, do or die, and this made me a rough guy too. The first fight was my hardest fight of my life and I was training at Bed Stuy Boxing gym then with people like Riddick Bowe and all those guys.
Ike: What’s your impression of Riddick Bowe?
I grew up with “Big Daddy” Riddick Bowe in Brooklyn. Bowe was my main man, he was a cool guy. We all struggled together but he was the fortunate one. He’s the one that did what he had to do to become successful in Boxing. We used to crack jokes together and he was the guy that always imitated Mohammed Ali. You know with that vision in mind he took it to another level, man. He was almost reincarnated as Ali. Look at how close he was to Ali. His spirit was like Ali, I could do whatever I want to do. He used this spirit to become a very rich man. He always believed he will make it big in Boxing so I give him a lot of credit for his accomplishments.. I knew he was going to make it, as he won four Golden Gloves titles.
Ike: Please, tell us about your fight with Butterbean?
My fight with Butterbean was a great experience for me. It was a big event at Madison Square Garden. I was on the De La Hoya-Leija undercard. The fight was supposed to be a 8 rounder, but then they changed it to 4 rounder. They had big plans for Butterbean before my fight with him. He was undefeated then, so I had to upset all their plans, and no one wanted to fight me after that. All the fights after that were given to me on a last minute notice. They expected Butterbean to win the fight, but unfortunately I knocked him out in round two. Promoter Bob Arum promoted that fight. Before my fight with Butterbean, they sent some guys to come to my house, and they offered me money to take a dive for Butterbean but I refused the offer. I wanted to knock that guy out. I asked for a rematch with him, but they didn’t want a piece of me. Now, the Mosley-De La Hoya II thing, Arum also promoted it and look at the alligations now. I know somebody is about to be exposed. When they found out what kind of fighter and the abilities I had, they tried to bribe me. Boxing needs to be cleaned up. They are saying that the judges already knew who was going to win the Mosley-De La Hoya II fight, even before the bell rang. This has been going on for too long now. It’s time to clean this game up. Daily News here in New York wrote stories on my saga with Mike Tyson few years ago, and now they called me to speak about the night when I fought Butterbean and what really happened. I didn’t want their money, I just wanted to knock him out and I did it.
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