Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Former IBF and WBO Super Featherweight and WBO Lightweight champion. 2005 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year. Final pro record is 40-5, 33 KOs.
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 130
DOB: August 25, 1977 (passed away May 7, 2007) In: Columbia, S.C.
Childhood Hero: “Honestly – my stepfather (Ray Woods).”
Hobbies/Interests: “I’ve always been a sports person. Always sports, every sport – tennis I like, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, just any sport.”
Nickname: “Chico.”
Favorite Movies: “Golly, you know what. I love all the gangster movies you can think of.”
Favorite TV Shows: “Don’t watch TV that much. My life is basically a TV show so!”
Musical Tastes: “R&B, I love slow grooves!”
Early Boxing Memory: “My first Nationals I went to. I went to Newark, N.J. with a guy who was director of P.A.L. in Sacramento, a guy who was a police officer, now works for the F.B.I. He took good care of me, I just had a ball with him. I was a silver medalist (at 95 lbs.). I won five fights. I think I fought every day. Lost a decision in the final. But I got a trophy – they gave it to me for the Sportsman of the Tournament. So my first Nationals I got two trophies.”
First Job: “Line cook at Benigans in Amarillo, Texas (age 17).”
First Car: “Red Ford Ranger.”
Favorite Meal: “About everything my wife (Michelle) cooks.”
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Lucky Charms!”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Strawberry. I’m a strawberry fan.”
Pre-Fight Meal: “Day of fight, it varies…pastas, fruit. I love fruit, eat a lot of fruit day of fight. Salad. Try and keep it light and simple.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “A little anxiety, that’s about it. (Do you look at your opponent upon entering the ring?) Absolutely. Basically sending a message…You’re not taking anything from me, livelihood, future.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Golly…making teams. Making U.S. National team in 1993. I beat Frank Carmona, Kenny Friday to make the team. I beat all the top 10 guys that year.”
Most Painful Moment: “My first loss (to Floyd Mayweather). (What did you learn?) Be mentally prepared for anything. Try to keep outside circumstances from affecting your fight.”
Worst Injury: “Torn extensor tendon in my (right) hand. Against John Brown. My very first defense. It was already hurt. But it never got a chance to heal. My first defense was so quick. It tore completely off the bone. I was inactive for four months after.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch: “My favorite boxers…the person I’m fighting, I’ll say. That’s the people I watch all the time. Every day. Constantly. Constantly. You gotta keep your mind on that person.”
Favorite Fights: “Golly, gosh. Mugabi-Hagler – one of my all-time favorites. The Beast and Hagler just went at it. Mugabi was huge, strong. They went to war. Hard shots everywhere. No one gave any ground.”
Favorite Vacation Spot: “I have to say Hawaii is awesome.”
Childhood Dream: “I’m living my childhood dream right now. I always wanted to be an athlete – football or boxing. I’m actually living my childhood dream.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Sense of humor. I love to see a lot of laughs. My dad had an awesome sense of humor. He was just a nut. That’s probably why I like sense of humor so much.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “I was a kid, 11 or 12. I was fighting a kid in Herford, Louisiana. I was fighting a kid who did karate. We were fighting really hard. I was beating his butt pretty good. All the sudden, he jumped in the air and did a karate kick on me. Right on my side. It was amazing. Kicked the crap out of me. My parents were videotaping it. It’s the craziest moment.”
