LOS ANGELES (October 31, 2011) – Undefeated middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (25-0, 19 KOs) breaks his Los Angeles training camp Wednesday to depart for Cancun, not for a vacation but to fight live on HBO for the first time, Saturday night against Scottish southpaw Craig McEwan (19-1, 10 KOs) in Cancun, Mexico.
Quillin-McEwan is the co-feature on a Golden Boy Promotions card headlined by Alfredo Angulo vs. James Kirkland.
“I took off about a week after my last fight and have been training ever since, even after working with Team USA at the Olympic Team training camp in Colorado Springs, during the short time I was back in New York City,” Quillin said. “It’s been a great camp. My old buddy from Brooklyn, Sechew Powell, has been here with me in Los Angeles. We didn’t spar but, almost equally important; we talked a lot of boxing. He told me nothing else matters, to just focus on the biggest fight of my life. He’s been very supportive and it was fantastic having a friend like him around during camp. He kept me up in this atmosphere.
“My mother cooked for me and my manager, John Seip, came out to visit me. Freddie Roach had a lot of input into my training and game plan for this fight. He won’t be in my corner, though, because he’s with Manny Pacquiao getting ready for his fight a week after mine. I’ll be in good hands once again with trainer Eric Brown. I’m only fighting one night without Freddie, just one night, but Freddie, Eric and Brad work as a team for the ‘Chocolate Factory.’ We trust and believe in each other in order to get the maximum out of each workout.”
Quillin’s average week during his six-week training camp included sparring at Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as well as strength-and-conditioning work Tuesday and Thursday with coach Brad Bose at Anatomi in Santa Monica, along with daily runs (no less than 4 miles), including one (5-8 miles) strictly dedicated to hill work.
The 28-year-old Quillin, presently rated No. 7 by the World Boxing Association, sparred with Vanes Mirtirosyan, Ronson Frank, Michael Medina and Malic Basille. “I only sparred with Vanes a little because he was getting ready for his fight this past weekend,” Quillin remarked. “Ronson gave me some good rounds and Basille’s a good lefty. I was doing 12 rounds with 3-4 different guys rotating in and out. In addition to sparring at Wild Card, I also did a lot of pads, heavy bag, and other work there on my technique and strategy for this fight. I’ve been working on a machine that’s like a stair climber but you use your legs and arms. One hundred steps a minute is great for my wind. The Vortex is a torture machine Brad has for punch resistance, 100 punches in 30 seconds, and then 100 punches going side to side. Basically, it’s 90 minutes of straight pain.”
McEwan used to be trained by Roach at Wild Card Gym and that knowledge of his opponent is invaluable to “Kid Chocolate” and his team. “I know McEwan is going to put up a hard, tough fight,” Quillin continued. “I’m mentally prepared to take it up another notch. I know I’ve put in a lot of hard work for this fight and an impressive win against McEwan on HBO will get me closer to my ultimate goal of fighting for a world title fight.
“Freddie knows Craig. They were together for a few years and we have a solid game plan based on what Freddie knows. We sparred a few times. McEwan knows about me and my work ethic, but we know a lot more about him. He’s coming off of his only loss (stopped in 10th round by Andy Lee), so he’s fighting me with something to prove. I’ve always been able to adjust during a fight. I am prepared and will adjust against McEwan, doing whatever it takes to win and do it impressively.”
For more information about Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin go online to www.TheKidChocolate.com or follow him on Twitter @/Kid Chocolate.
Colin Lynes: No Way I’m Coming Back Without The Title
Former International Boxing Organization (IBO) Light Welterweight Champion Colin Lynes has his eyes firmly set on adding yet another Championship belt to his collection, as he challenges British Champion Lee ‘Lights Out’ Purdy for his Lonsdale Belt at the Matchroom Sport promoted mid week event at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Wednesday, 9th November.
During his magnificent thirteen year career Colin held the British, European, IBO Inter-Continental and IBO World Light Welterweight titles before switching to the Welterweight division earlier this year.
Since making the move Colin has only competed twice, the first see him convincingly defeat Bradley Pryce over eight rounds in February.
Four months later Colin entered the excellent Matchroom Sport Prizefighter tournament. His quarterfinal draw see him face fellow TRAD TKO gym mate Bobby Gladman, who he beat by a shut out 30-27 (thrice) before controversially being denied the victory, over eventual tournament winner Yassine El Maachi, after dominating the semifinal.
Following a training session, under the watchful eyes of esteemed coaches Jimmy and Mark Tibbs at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, Colin took the time to talk briefly on the upcoming fight and his training camp. “Yeah, I’m fighting Lee Purdy, the British Champion and what a great fight it’s going to be.
He’s showed his worth, he’s done a job on Craig Watson twice in a row.
After the first time it wasn’t lucky, you think can lightning strike twice and he went and did exactly the same job again. He’s the man to beat at the moment, so I’m well up for it.
It’s a buzzing camp at the TRAD TKO now, Frankie Gavin’s come on board as well, so there’s lots of competition, for who’s going to go for what title and that, it’s good healthy competition and everyone is buzzing camp.
We’ve also got Frankie Buglioni come on board, a great amateur looking like a budding prospect. With the like of Billy Joe (Saunders) just now stepped up to title honours. Of course we’ve got the Mitchell brothers (Kevin and Vinny). Freddie Turner, Billy Morgan and Ben Murphy is defending his Southern Area title as well so it’s really buzzing here.
Leon Williams just won the British title, you could be looking at two British titles here at the TRAD TKO in a matter of three weeks, that’ll be really fantastic for the gym.
Sparring’s been great, been sparring Federico (Tavares), he’s an Italian Light Middleweight here, throws big bombs and comes to fight at every session, yeah it’s really good preparation. We’ve had a couple of other names as well, but I wont say about them because this has been very much a private camp this one.
I’m doing all I can and am preparing absolutely to the best , I’ve come away from my home, something I’ve never done before. I’m just living on my own, just going home for meals and washing my stuff and then I’m out of there staying in a B&B.
I’m doing everything humanly possible, that’s why this is a must win fight, there’s no way than coming out with that title.”
Chief support for the Purdy-Lynes British Welterweight title clash on the 9th November sees Ashley Sexton defend his English Flyweight title, against a yet to be named opponent.
Supporting the two Championship bouts is an undercard chock a block with the most exciting young talents in the country today, including the sensational Light Middleweight prospect Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng, the supremely talented Light Welter Chris Evangelou, the formidable Middleweight John Ryder, rising welterweight star Tyler Goodjohn and making his second pro appearance Upminster Lightweight Ryan Taylor.
Lee ‘Lights Out’ Purdy versus Colin Lynes for the British Welterweight title tops the bill for the Matchroom Sport promoted ‘Battle of Essex’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Wednesday 9th November 2011, as well as live on Skysports.
Tickets, priced £35 (Unreserved) and £60 (Ringside) are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA. For information call 07960 850645.
STOP PRESS: On Thursday 3rd November watch Ed Robinson’s pre-fight interview with Colin Lynes on the Ringside Boxing Show, Skysports 1 at 6pm, repeated at 9pm (SS2) midnight (SS1) and 4am (SS2)
Promoter Cohen OK After Crash Landing in Poland
Promoter Greg Cohen, of Greg Cohen Promotions, is safe after being aboard the Boeing 767 from New Jersey that had to make an emergency landing at Warsaw, Poland’s Frederic Chopin International airport today.
On his way to his fighter, James Toney’s fight against Russia’s Dennis Ledbedev this Friday, Cohen was among the 230 people on board who survived unscathed after trouble with landing gear forced the plane to land on its belly.
Live television covered the entire landing, as sparks flew when the plane hit the runway, which was already covered with flame retardant foam. The LOT airlines jet had previously circled and dumped most of its fuel before the perfect emergency procedure.
“That was crazy,” laughed the virtually unflappable Cohen afterward.
Cohen, who made a living in the private jet industry previously, is now a, thankfully, living commercial for his own former industry.
He will continue on to Moscow, Russia, for Toney’s Friday showdown with World Boxing Association (WBA) #1 cruiserweight contender Denis Ledbedev at the Khodynka Ice Palace.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/world/europe/poland-plane/index.html?hpt=hp_t2