By Peter Mark Heintzelman, Photos by Peter Mark Heintzelman:How often do you see a fighter who remains undefeated over six years into their boxing career? With opposition the likes of Al Seeger, Cruz Carbajal, Gary Stark, Jr., and Adam Carrera? With a promoter, the likes of Richie Cappiello, who doesn’t mind putting his fighters in harm’s way, with the type of difficult competition that his Boston fandom has come to expect. No wonder boxing is alive and well in Boston.
ESPN2 sees all that as well, featuring Mike “Machine” Oliver in this week’s national television spotlight, on ESPN2’s “Wednesday Night Fights,” at The Roxy.
As the 28 year old southpaw Oliver, hailing from Hartford, Connecticut seeks his twenty-second consecutive win in the national limelight, a seasoned 34 old Columbian, Reynaldo Lopez, has plans of his own, coming north from his current Miami, Florida residence, to be the spoiler..
Also a southpaw, Lopez, now 28-5-2, 19 KO’s , has a pedigree of opponents, a who’s who in the super bantamweight division, on his record as well, including Daniel Ponce de Leon, Christian Mijares, and Dimitri Kirilov. With a boxing career twice the length of Oliver, Lopez had previously won the WBA Fedelatin super flyweight title and the Columbian and WBA Fedecentro super flyweight title. He has also fought for the IBF Super Flyweight Title Eliminator, and the interim WBC super flyweight title. He’s not coming to Boston to lose, but to put himself back into the super bantamweight hierarchy , in this, his twelfth year of lacing up the professional’s glove.
As Mike “Machine” Oliver readies for the tough and rugged Columbian, he took a few minutes to reflect on his Wednesday night bout with EastSideBoxing:
EastSideBoxing: Mike Oliver, how are you feeling for your upcoming fight with Reynaldo Lopez, and where and with whom have you been sparring in preparation for this fight?
Oliver: I feel real good. I’ve been sparring with different people, mostly in Manchester, Connecticut and in Silver City, Connecticut.
EastSideBoxing: Both you and Lopez are southpaws, is that a problem or an advantage for you?
Oliver: I don’t see that as a problem. I checked out his record on BoxRec.com. It reminds me of Roy Jones, Jr. and Trinidad’s fight.
EastSideBoxing: What kind of game plan do you expect from the Columbian on Wednesday night?
Oliver: Just a regular game plan. My game plan is to start out boxing him, do what I gotta do to win.
EastSideBoxing: Does the fact that your fight is going to be broadcast live on ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights, add any pressure on you in this fight? What are your expectations as to what you will show the nation on Wednesday?
Oliver: No it don’t. I’ve fought on ESPN2 a whole bunch of time, and there is no pressure on me. I intend to show the same thing I showed to Cruz Carbajal. I want to show the IBF, and Steve Molitor, that I can fight. I really want to fight him. He’s scared!
EastSideBoxing: Richie Cappiello has given you a lot of opportunities fighting under his banner. How is your relationship with Capp, and what does the future hold in your contractual relations with Richie?
Oliver: My relationship is real good. To be honest, I’m his best fighters. He gets me the good fights, and that’s what counts. He does a good job.
EastSideBoxing: What other fighters in the super bantamweight division do you find exciting to watch, and who else would you like to fight?
Oliver: I recognize Fernando Beltron, but the main one I want to fight is Steve Molitor (current IBF Super Bantamweight Champion). That’s who I really want. I want nobody else but him!
EastSideBoxing: Mike, what got you into boxing to begin with?
Oliver: I grew up in the project and everything. I went to the gym, and started to fight, and I stayed with it.
EastSideBoxing: You’ve been out of action since your November 8, 2007 with your unanimous decision win over Al Seeger at Mohegan Sun, when you wrapped the vacant IBO super bantamweight title belt around your waist. Were you injured in that fight, and do you have any injuries coming into your fight this Wednesday night?
Oliver: No, I have no injuries. When I fought Seeger, the doctor was so stupid, thinking I was hurt. I was suspended for 30 days, although I felt real good, and I was still training.
EastSideBoxing: What is your prediction as to the outcome of your ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fight event against Reynaldo Lopez?
Oliver: I predict that I will win. He’s kind of old, and I’ll do what I gotta do. I look at it like it was a Roy Jones, Jr. versus Felix Trinidad type of fight. My main thing, is to go in there, and do what I gotta do!
EastSideBoxing: Mike Oliver, is there anything else you want to say to your fans at EastSideBoxing.com?
Oliver: Sure, yea, watch the fight, and Steve Monitor, if you are watching, look at this! I’m calling you out, and I want to fight you!
The evening’s co-feature bout will pit Philadelphia’s Aaron Torres (16-6, 6 KO’s), of The Contender: Season 2 fame, against Miami, Florida’s Antoine “The Truth” Smith (9-1, 5 KO’s). Torres, Undefeated Eddie “Thunder” Caminero (3-0-0), of Lawrence, MA, v. William “Bam Bam” Armstead (2-5-0, 1 KO), of Columbus, Ohio are matched up for four rounds at welterweight. A much-requested rematch on the undercard pit junior welterweight from Lowell, MA, Sean Eklund (5-2, 1 KO) v. Worcester, MA’s Jose Velazquez (0-2-0). Worcester, MA’s Edwin Rosado (1-3-0) makes his comeback again Emmanuel Roses (0-2), for four rounds, in the light welterweight division. Featherweights, Frank Trader, of Philadelphia, PA, makes his pro debut against Luis Rosario (4-12-0, 2 KO’s), of Springfield, MA.
The Roxy, one of the most exciting boxing venues in the Northeast, is located at 279 Tremont Street, Boston. Ticket prices for the Wednesday, May 7th fights, are $75.00 ringside, and $40 general admission. Call 508-586-2277 for tickets – MasterCard and Visa accepted. All fights and fighters subject to change. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door. Get your tickets early for this one; its bound to be another sell out for Cappiello! For more information, see www.cappielloboxing.com . Doors open at 5:30 pm and the first bell rings at 7pm.