By James Slater: Falling to 35-8(26) after his brave but punishing 5th-round TKO loss to the unbeaten, much younger and much taller Tyson Fury, New York’s Vinny Maddalone now has to decide what he does next. Having been stopped for the fifth time in his exciting, blood and guts pro career, the 38-year-old would be excused for opting to walk away and fight no more. But that’s just not Vinny’s style. And as he says, fighting is all he knows.
Maddalone has made up his mind: he will fight on for at least another year.
Here is what the immensely brave and tough Queens warrior had to say last night U.K time:
James Slater: Thanks for talking to ESB, Vinny. Commiserations on the loss to Tyson Fury last weekend.
Vinny Maddalone: It’s okay, James. It was just one of those things; I tip my hat to Fury. He was the better man on the night and he had a great game-plan. I was really surprised he boxed and moved so much. I thought he’d stand and we’d slug it out.
J.S: And that’s what you wanted, wasn’t it, Vinny?
V.M: Without a doubt. I’m disappointed, I wish I could’ve done better. I was looking for the one shot, the overhand right. But he moves real well for such a big guy.
J.S: And he had a lot of height on you, at 6’9” to your 6’2”?
V.M: He sure did. You know, I’d rather fight a guy who stands and fights it out with me, not a guy who moves.
J.S: You are going to carry on then, Vinny?
V.M: Without a doubt – I gotta carry on! I can’t go out like that. I feel I have another year left. I know my body. I’ll have a month or two off and then I’ll get back in the gym and look to get back in October or November. I’ll sit down with Joe [DeGuardia] and we’ll wait for the phone to ring for the next fight. You know, this is what I do – it’s all I know.
J.S: Who would you like to fight, maybe after you’ve had a return win?
V.M: I’d love a fight with Chris Arreola. He’s a guy I respect and he stands right there and he fights. That’s what it’s all about – two guys right in front of each other!
J.S: Have you heard anything, that Arreola is looking at a fight with you, before his talked of shot at Wladimir Klitschko?
V.M: No, I’ve not heard anything, I’d just love that fight, no doubt! We’ll see in the next few weeks who will be next for me.
J.S: So how good is Fury? You’ve been in with Mormeck, Minto, Adamek, Holyfield, Boystov – how do you rate Fury’s power?
V.M: First of all, he’s a gentleman. I spoke with him and his wife in the back room after the fight. I gave him words of encouragement, telling him that it’s all up to him, that he’s got to train and live the life. But he has great potential and he could be a future champion. Like I say, he moves real well for a big guy, he uses angles in there. It’s hard to compare his power; he definitely has some pop but he’s not the hardest [punching] guy I’ve faced. He puts his combinations together well, and he throws hooks and uppercuts. He’s still young and his prime as far as power goes might not come until he’s in his late twenties or maybe even his early 30s.
J.S: He never had you down and you never wanted to quit, for which the fans cheered you, Vinny!
V.M: Oh, no (laughs), quitting is always the last thing on my mind. I just kept on trying to get close and land the one punch.
J.S: The ref called it when you were bleeding, from the cut on your cheek, but you told him you’d have carried on……
V.M: Of course, I don’t start to fight until I start to bleed!
J.S: That’s a great line, Vinny. Reminds me of Iran Barkley, when after he’d fought Tommy Hearns he said he “didn’t have time to bleed!”
V.M: (laughs) Yeah, I wanted to be like the great Jake LaMotta, and say “you never got me down!” But I worked real hard for the fight, it was a real opportunity for me. Now I’ve just gotta get back and just work harder!
J.S: Thanks so much for your time, Vinny. I want to see you go out a winner.
V.M: Thanks, James.