By Peter Mark Heintzelman, Photos by Peter Mark Heintzelman: Friday night at Twin River Event Center, in Lincoln, Rhode Island, will be the next time I see Hank Lundy fight.
Last I saw 24 year old, light welterweight Philadelphian boxer, “Hammerin” Henry Lundy (10-0-1, 6 KO‘s) , was ringside at The Twin River Event Center, Rhode Island, on April 4, 2008, wearing his civilians, as his intended opponent fell out. In black jeans, white shirt, and a semi-dejected look on his brow – another side of the boxing world, -“nothing’s easy in boxing.” Jimmy personally ushered “Hank” into the front rows of the evening’s show where Jason Estrada defeated Lance Whitaker. The Southpaw didn’t want the front row. He wanted the other side of the ropes. Where he earns a living. That night, he was only a spectator – his time would come to fight again..
First time I saw Lundy, was at his pro debut , on CES Boxing’s Joey Spina v. Jay Pina main eventer held on a summer July 7, 2006, at the Cape Cod Melody Tenant, Hyannis. I recall his right hook, at 2:28 of the first round, that sent Cleveland’s Steve Thomas down, and out.
And thus commenced Lundy’s undefeated professional career. A career worth following. A personality worthy of his family name.
The last fight I saw Lundy live, was earlier this year, on the ESPN2 coverage of Cornelius Bundrage and Kassim Ouma’s main eventer at the Seneca Allegheny Casino, in Salamanca, New York. He experienced his first draw, against a game Darnell Jiles, Jr.
Eleven fights later, Lundy, now 10-0-1, 6 KO’s, puts the gloves on again, seeking his eleventh win against Estaban Almaraz (7-0-0, 4KO’s), of Killeen, Texas. His fight is a featured bout on the Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ card on Friday, May 23, 2008, at the Twin River Event Center, in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
The 2005 National Golden Gloves Silver Medalist, Lundy, has not sat on his laurels. He is living, breathing, enthusiastic, focused, and ready. Did I say enthusiastic? His last scheduled fight, he watched from the other side of the ropes. Now it’s his time to fight again. And he can’t wait!
Henry “Hank” Lundy took time this week, compliments of Artie DePihno, of CES Boxing, to speak with EastSideBoxing, about his upcoming fight this Friday:
EastSideBoxing: So Henry, are you looking forward to your fight on Friday against Estaban Almaraz, and what do you know about your opponent, besides the fact that he’s undefeated, like yourself?
Lundy: I know he is a tough opponent, and he’s from the Army, and he will be a tough opponent, and will be in good condition. So, my goal is to stick to my game plan, and break him down. But, we also know he’s going to be coming in , in excellent shape.
EastSideBoxing: Who were you supposed to be fighting on Burchfield’s last card on April 4th, and why did that fight fall out?
Lundy: I forget who it was, but I guess he probably heard a little bit about me, or saw my previous fight on ESPN, and I guess he saw that, and got the jitterbugs!
EastSideBoxing: As you come into this fight, where have you been training, and with whom?
Lundy: I’ve been training with good friends of mine that came up from the amateurs with me, and now they turned pro, and they also had fight coming up too. Darrell Jones, who has his June pro debut, and Julius Carly Robinson, and a couple of other guys in the gym.
EastSideBoxing: How do you describe your own fight style: a boxer or a puncher, and does being a southpaw seem to you, to give you any advantages over your adversaries?
Lundy: My style, I’m basically a boxer- puncher. But I don’t go in there looking for the big kill, unless the opportunity presents itself. But otherwise, I like to break my opponent down, and let him walk into my shots.
EastSideBoxing: What do you know about Almaraz’ style, and what do you anticipate his game plan to be against you?
Lundy: Well, being that he’s from the Army, I’m looking forward to him bringing pressure. But, I expect to bring the most pressure. So, I’m looking forward to showing him my pressure, and then, moving on!
EastSideBoxing: And, what’s your game plan against Almaraz?
Lundy: I’m going to put on pressure, pressure to the body. Chop the body, and the head will fall.
EastSideBoxing: Both you and your opponent are undefeated! Somebody’s “O” has got to go, and who will remain undefeated after the final bell rings, you are Almaraz?
Lundy: I will remain undefeated!
EastSideBoxing: Last I saw you fight, we were at Salamanca, New York, on the undercard of Cornelius Bundrage and Kassim Ouma. You were fighting Darnell Jiles, Jr., which ended up a draw after four rounds. Was he your toughest opponent to date, and did you agree with the judges’ decision that night?
Lundy: I was making a step up, after fighting a lot of journeymen. Let me tell you about journeymen: You have to be the man, because they come to fight! One guy had fought Mayweather. He was a tough opponent. But I beat him! You can’t always go by the record with a journeyman, because they come to fight. So, Jiles was a good step up for me. Our six rounder got rescheduled to four rounds, and if I had one more round, I would have had him. And being in his home town, I stole the show. We still stayed in there.
EastSideBoxing: Hank, what got you into boxing to begin with?
Lundy: After high school, I was a former football star. And my Aunt, – me and my sister graduated the same year, and the money for school wasn’t looking so good, so my sister go to college, and I went into the gym to fight. I got ranked number 7 in my weight class in my first year , and the next year, I was rated number 5 in the world, in my weight class.
EastSideBoxing: How did you get the fight name, “Hammerin” Hank Lundy?
Lundy: Ok, its quite funny. One guy, Willie Gibbs, the Gladiator, who fights in my gym, called me “The Beast.” And my coach said I had heart in the ring, I’m like a different person in the ring, and I had the heart of a heavyweight. So my coach, Reney Howard, and then my Coach, Charles Remy and Randy Murphy put the name “Hammerin Hank” together, because I threw a lot of punches together! And we took over Philadelphia!
EastSideBoxing: Who’s working your corner on fight night?
Lundy: Munsy and Charles Remy
EastSideBoxing: Any other comments you have for your fans at EastSideBoxing.com?
Lundy: They can see , this time around, I am looking forward to fighting my last fighter from last time again. Just one more round, and he was gone. I’m here to show ESPN and the World, that we are knocking at the door, and if they are willing to take a fight with “The Hammer,” then so be it! We coming to put on a show, and doing what we have to be, to be a world champion!
The main event of the evening pits cruiserweights, “Awesome” Aaron Williams (17-0-1, 12 KO’s) against tough Colombian knock-out artist, Jose Luis “Pantera” Herrera (15-4, 15 KO’s. Providence heavyweight and 2004 U.S. Olympian, rising heavyweight prospect Jason “Big Six” Estrada (12-1, 2 KOs, fights Philadelphia KO artist Derek “The One Man Riot” Bryant (20-4-1, 17 KOs) in the 8-round co-feature. Also on the undercard, light heavyweight “Irish” Joey McCreedy (7-2, 5 KOs) seeks revenge against “Hurricane” Henry Mayes (7-5-1, 4 KOs), who beat McCreedy in a close decision on April 4, in a 6-rounder. Unbeaten, crowd-pleasing super middleweight, Angel Camacho, Jr. (9-0, 4 KOs), Lynn (MA) flyweight Isander Beauchamp (5-0, 2 KOs), and Italian-American favorite, Providence middleweight Richard “Bobo The Bull” Starnino (8-3-1, 1 KO), are scheduled to fight opponents who are signing contracts as this article is being written.
“Ring Warriors” is being dedicated to all fallen veterans as well military troops serving the United States all over the world. Team CES members from the past and present – former 5-time world champion Vinny Paz, 3-time world champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt, world cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, Manny Lopes, among others, will meet fans and sign autographs between 6-7 pm.
“Ring Warriors,” tickets are priced at $25.00, $35.00, $50.00, (Bronze), $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) , and may be purchased by calling Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., at 401-724-2253/2254, going on line at www.cesboxing.com, or www.twinriver.com, or Twin River Events Center at 877-82RIVER. All fights and fighters are subject to change. Twin River has waived its 18 year old plus rule, for Rumble at the River, but any one under 18 years of age must be accompanied at all times by and adult, and must enter through the West entrance. Twin River Events Center is located at 100 Twin River Road, in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Doors open at 6pm, and the first bell rings at 7pm.