Freddie Norwood hits June 28 at Ameristar
By Glenn McBrady For the St. Louis American
Last month saw the long-awaited return of former two-time world champion Freddie “Lil’ Hagler” Norwood in the co-feature of Rumble Time Promotions’ “Friday Night Fights” card at the Scottrade Center. The former featherweight toyed with his overmatched opponent for the better part of three rounds, showing a telepathic defense and tight combinations before scoring a technical knockout.
Earlier this week I caught up with Norwood as he prepared for his next test on June 28 at the “Battle on the Banks IV” at the Ameristar Casino, and he made it clear that he is completely focused on a return to the summit of his new fighting weight of 130 pounds.
Some of the whitewashed boards that had covered the windows of the boxing gym at 12th & Park Rec Center all winter long had been pried off to allow sunlight in, and even though the air hung heavy over the ring, the atmosphere was far from the simmering Crock-Pot it is sure to become this summer after several consecutive days of temperatures in the 90’s.
Norwood had just started a mitt session with his trainer Ray Oliver inside the ropes. Oliver was up on his toes circling the surface of the patchwork canvas and making his charge come to him. The pop of the gloves was dueling with the thump of a speed bag nearby as the combinations flowed: a stick, and move. Another stick, then a 1, 2 dotted with a raking right hook.
At the conclusion of the second round, Norwood’s nylon top looked like it had been dunked in the tepid, chlorine infused water of the rec center’s indoor swimming pool. Oliver helped pull the sweatshirt over his fighter to reveal a stuffy sleeveless thermal top underneath. Four more rounds followed, filled with more hooks high and low, as well as a particularly pretty lead left, right uppercut set that threatened to dislodge the worn targets from the coach’s hands.
With six, three-minute intervals in the books, I headed towards the far corner of the room to interview Norwood as he batted around a double end bag, and his quotes kept my cramped hand busy as I struggled to keep up with the notes.
I began by asking him about his goals for the next 12 months.
“I’m planning on being champion again,” he said.
“I need about three tune up fights, and after that, anyone at 130 that thinks they can take me, come on. I’m the champ now; I just don’t have a belt. When I was champ, nobody wanted to fight me. (Marco Antonio) Barrera, Prince Naseem (Hamed), they didn’t want to fight me. I never ducked anyone.”
He went on to say, “I came, I saw and I conquered. I won championships in other fighters’ back yards. Don’t sleep on me, because I’m hungrier now than I was at age 21.”
When I asked him about current titlists that get tons of love in the press, such as Juan Manuel Marquez, who Norwood beat for the WBA Featherweight title in 1999, the local product bristled and said, “Yeah, it bothers me,” adding, “but it makes me train harder. When they’re sleeping, I’m running.”
When pressed about what the local fans can expect from him on June 28, he said, “You are going to get a world champion’s performance. I never turned my back on St. Louis. From day one I’ve represented St. Louis, and I’m fixing to be champ again. Don’t give me nothin’, I’m gonna take what I want. (My opponents) can bring their lunch and their supper and it still won’t be enough.”
He left no doubt that the crowd in attendance later this month will see a rejuvenated boxer with one goal in mind: returning to the glory that took him from St. Louis to places such as Japan and Finland before leading him back to the place where it all began.
Gym notes
There were several familiar faces sweating it out in the gym this week preparing for upcoming amateur and pro bouts, including:
Caroline Ogunware, the Washington U. grad student who was getting ready for the Women’s National Golden Gloves Tournament July 10-14 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Joell Godfrey, East St. Louis’ pro heavyweight, who is not only gearing up for a fight at Fitz’s in Tunica, MS on July 14, but also training for USA Track and Field’s Olympic Trials for a spot on the national team.
Chris Tyler, the southpaw welterweight, skipping rope and looking forward to his management team finding him an opponent for later this month.
Mike Wood, the light heavyweight, lugging a medicine ball up and down the rec center’s steps and plotting a return later this summer.
Kevin Engel and Ryan Coyne, the light heavyweight and heavyweight, preparing with the intent of guarding their unblemished records in two weeks.
Although Leon Bobo wasn’t in the house, trainer Harold Petty mentioned that an injury during a sparring session was the reason Bobo had to miss his ESPN date with Clarence “Bones” Adams three weeks ago.
The “Battle on the Banks IV” presented by Rumble Time Promotions will feature Freddie “Lil’ Hagler” Norwood, DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore and six other action-packed bouts on Thursday, June 28 at the Ameristar Casino. Tickets can be purchased at the Ameristar Gift Shop or by logging on to www.TicketsNow.com.
