By Robert Jones
Dorin Spivey
(32-4 23 KO's) is one of the more underrated
lightweights in the world. He has now been on the brink
of big time fights twice, only to lose by split
decisions. Dorin Spivey is being trained by legendary
fighter Pernell "Sweat Pea" Whitaker and had a lot of
kind words to say about him.
Dorin
Spivey was nice enough to take some time out of training
with Whitaker in preparation of his October 7th
fight at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
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Robert Jones: Who were
some of your favorite boxers when you were growing up?
Dorin Spivey: Of course you
have guys like Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Carlos Monzon,
'Sugar' Ray Robinson, and even Rocky Marciano and his
toughness. Guys like Willie Pep, guys like that;
basically you can say all the old greats. They were
some of my favorites. |
RJ: A lot of fighters I've
talked to aren't really fans of boxing. Are you a fan,
or do you just do your business in the ring, and leave
it like that?
DS: I watch it. I look at
different fights to see different fighters. I am
actually a fan of boxing. It's the corruption behind it
I don't like. The sport itself is a great sport. I do
watch it and I like to watch different fighters. I like
to support a lot of the underdogs in fights.
RJ: Who do you think is
the number one-pound for pound fighter today?
DS: Well, you have to say Floyd Mayweather
because what he's accomplished. The
things he's done in the ring…he's an unbelievable
fighter so I have to say he's the best. But then there
is a guy out there by the name of Juan Diaz who a lot of
people don't give a lot of credit and recognition to.
He's got good potential to be a superstar in the sport.
RJ: What do you think of
Emanuel Augustus and would you have any interest in
fighting him?
DS: (Laughs) I'll tell you
what, Emanuel Augustus is a tough guy. He's one of
those types of guys; if you beat him you beat a guy with
a bunch of losses. If you lose, you lost to a guy with
a bunch of losses.
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| Emanuel Augustus is a difficult type
of fighter, and he can upset any fight on any giving
day. He's a real nice guy, too. But that guy, he’s just
a real awkward type of guy to fight. It's really a no
win situation. You'll get respect if you beat him, but
if you lose they'll really bash you about it. That'll
be a fight I'd have to think about before taking. Not
to say I would duck anybody, but Emanuel Augustus is a
difficult type of fighter to fight. |
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RJ: How did you get into
boxing, and what was your amateur experience?
DS: Well, I got into it
because of a guy by the name of Pernell Whitaker. He
was big in this area and once I saw that he won that
gold medal, I wanted to be like him. I knew I couldn’t
be like him because of the skill and technique he had,
but he was the one who inspired me to get into boxing.
Also, when Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns fought
back in 1981, that fight kind of inspired me, but it was
mainly Pernell Whitaker. That paved the way for me to
becoming a fighter.
As far as an amateur
background, I never had any amateur background. I got a
guy to brainwash me to turn me straight pro with no
amateur background. I had to come along slow and build
myself up. That’s why I fought a lot of guys who
weren't the best fighters up there. I had to build
myself up and even those guys had more experience then
me. A lot of those guys had amateur experience. So,
basically, I had to work hard, the old fashion way and
pick up skills as I went along. I've came along way for
a guy with no amateur experience. I can tell you that
much.
RJ: What so far has been
your most memorable moment as a pro?
DS: I would say beating
Michael Stewart when he was undefeated and also having
legendary fighter Pernell Whitaker in my corner. If my
boxing career ended right this day, I wouldn't be the
happiest because I wanted a world title, and to get a
shot at it, but I've accomplished a lot for a guy who
came from nowhere. To beat Mike Stewart, then to have a
guy like Pernell Whitaker working and being in your
corner, that's just amazing to have that. I still have
a lot left. At 33, I'm like a 23 year old. I live a
clean lifestyle and I haven't taking a lot of punishment
and I've got a lot of life left in me and I really do
believe I can win a world title given the opportunity.
RJ: Your friend, and a
boxing promoter, Joe Hensley says you are just as good
as any of the 135 to 140 pounders in the world and that
you just need to catch a break. How do you feel about
what he has to say?
DS: I think it's the truth.
I wouldn't have fought Eleazar Contreras, who is also
another tough guy, and world-class fighter who I think
can win a world title. He's ranked No. 5 in the world.
When I fought Contreras I didn’t know he was ranked five
in the world. We fought him in Vegas, close to his
hometown of Bakersville, California, and lost a split
decision. I thought I won the fight. The first judge
had it 6-2. The second judge had it 5-3 and the third
judge had it 7-1 for him. I don’t know what fight he was
watching.
RJ: Yes, most members of the
press felt you won that fight, and the crowd definitely
did.
DS: I thought I won the
fight. A lot of other people thought I won the fight
and the crowd even thought I won the fight. But, I'm
not going to sit here and complain and take anything
away from Eleazar. He's a great fighter and a great
guy. I wish him the best of luck even though I
definitely thought I won the fight. That proved to me,
even getting cheated on the split decision, it proved to
me that I was at that level. This guy is ranked fifth
in the world, possibly closing in on a title fight. I
wish him the best and if he becomes champion, maybe he
can give me a rematch.
RJ: You're stepping back
into the ring October 7th at the George Mason
University Patriot Center, in Fairfax, VA. Do you have
any idea who you’re opponent will be that night?
DS: We are working on
getting somebody situated. We're working on it now. We
don't have an opponent squared away yet. We'll have one
in the next few weeks or so.
RJ: Is there anything
else you would like to add?
DS: Yeah, I just want to say
this to the boxing world. Everybody knows Pernell
Whitaker as a legendary fighter. Let me tell you, this
guy is unbelievable as a trainer. He's got me slipping
and ducking and doing things I never thought I could
do. The guy is an amazing trainer, a passionate trainer
who cares. He doesn’t want his fighters to get hurt. I
think this guy, in the future, will be a legendary
trainer. He has an extraordinary ability to teach
people and he has a gift. As good as he was as a
fighter; he will be equally good as a trainer. He is
definitely going to have a stable full of champions.
Hopefully, I'll be the first one he starts with.
RJ: Thank you very much
for your time Dorin and good luck to you on October 7th.
DS: Thank you very much for
taking the time to talk to me. Thank you and my fans
that continue to support me.
I would
like to give a special thanks to Joe Hensley for giving
me access to make this interview. Hensley is single
handedly trying to get boxing put on the map in the
state of Virginia and so far he has been doing a great
job. Information about the fight card on October 7th
and Joe Hensley can be seen at
www.MajorLeagueBoxing.com. |
