I first wrote about junior middleweight Deandre “Bull” Latimore in December of 2004 in a column titled “An Old Amateur Goes Pro,” when the 12th & Park product intended to put the finishing touches on an impressive run on his way out the door into the professional ranks.
But he and his trainer Kenny Loehr decided to take a farewell tour through a year’s worth of local and national tournaments, delaying his fight-for-pay debut and gaining more valuable ring experience in the process.
When local fans were finally introduced to the gifted power puncher in 2006, Latimore stayed busy with 11 straight victories that year, with all but one ending by knockout.
Last Wednesday night a national television audience watching ESPN2 got their first look at “Bull” and he made the most of it by upsetting Sechew Powell, the number one mandatory challenger to IBF belt holder Verno Phillips.
I watched the bout with a handful of hardcore boxing fans. Even though commentators Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore stated that they were unimpressed by Latimore’s beefed up Midwest record, as the rounds ticked away it was clear that the St. Louisan didn’t show up at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York to be a stepping stone for a marquee name.
In round one, “Bull” was the boss inside the ring, moving forward and getting Powell’s attention as less than 40 seconds remained with a straight left, right hook, left hook combo against the ropes.
Trainer Buddy McGirt must have had some choice words for Powell after that opening frame, because the southpaw came out in rounds two and three with a stiletto jab and an increased punch output.
A left cross midway through the fifth stunned Latimore, and Powell surged ahead, looking to close the show. “Bull” not only kept his composure, he regrouped and finished strong with a straight left, right uppercut combination that evened the score. That proved to be the turning point, in my opinion, as Powell’s meek body language on his way back to his corner seemed to hint at what would follow.
Latimore would continue to batter his counterpart on every inch of canvas real estate with looping lefts and slashing right hooks directed at Powell’s flanks as the analysts reminded viewers how dismissive the Brooklyn native had been to his opponent in the pre-fight interviews.
A pair of rights upstairs marked the beginning of the end as Latimore trapped his prey in the red corner and kept his hands moving. Powell escaped briefly but drifted back clumsily, painting himself into a neutral corner.
A 1, 2 followed with a pair of unanswered hooks would prompt the referee to intervene as a foggy Powell stood in shock and Latimore leapt triumphantly into the air.
He eventually returned home from the east coast and I met up with him on Monday for an exclusive interview just hours before he boarded a plane to carry him back to his second home in Las Vegas.
Although the televised fight was also broadcast live on the Jumbotron in Times Square and the win propelled him to #15 in the world, we sat undisturbed outside a busy restaurant during the lunch rush, prompting me to wonder how much longer that will last.
He said, “I just had to go in there and execute my plan. He was looking past me, but I wasn’t going for it. They tried to use me as a tune up, and nobody gave me a chance to win.”
I commented on his maturation as a pro. He said, “I decided to take my time. He had me hurt, but I was calm and I got my composure back.”
Regarding the job of cornerman Jerry Leyshock, he said, “It was very important to have Jerry in there. He has inspired me to train hard, get out there and do what I do.”
As far as the immediate future, he said he will take a couple of weeks off and then “wait until my promoter and manager get together.”
He said, “We’re at the top of our game, and we’re trying to get big money fights. I want to be an inspiration for kids in St. Louis. I don’t want to let them down.”
Rumble Time Promotions President & CEO Steve Smith told me he is already in negotiations with many high-profile players and working on a big event involving Latimore and his other contract fighters. He also stressed how much the fans and sponsors who have been there from the beginning have contributed to their success.
Last Wednesday was a milestone on a career path that both the athlete and his handlers know will take them from the Big Apple to their next challenge. One thing is sure: after his performance in the city that doesn’t sleep, the boxing world won’t sleep on “Bull” ever again.
For more pictures from the fight, visit www.stlamerican.com.