Local boxing trainer Butch Sanchez called it “the biggest disappointment of my life.”
The Hoboken native, who trains a stable of Peruvian native boxers who now reside together in North Bergen, was busy selling tickets for a card featuring three of the four North Bergen fighters in Paterson, a card that was supposed to be televised live on Peruvian television.
“I personally sold about $10,000 in tickets,” said Sanchez of the card that was going to feature three up-and-coming undefeated boxers who live in the same North Bergen apartment, namely Jonathan Maicelo, Carlos Zambrano, and Juan Zegarra. “I had all these guys in Hoboken helping me, buying tickets. I had about $2,000 worth of tickets sold to Hudson County Corrections officers, who always support us.”
The card was originally scheduled for July 16, but was postponed for two weeks because the floor at Paterson’s John F. Kennedy High School was redone and would not be completed by that time. It was moved to July 30.
All systems were a go for the card, but last week, Sanchez learned from a sportswriter that the entire card had been scrapped due to financial problems with the Peruvian television network and promoter Don Elbaum.
So after the card was officially canceled, Sanchez spent a lot of his time refunding money for the tickets that were purchased.
“It’s taken everything out of me,” Sanchez said. “It’s taken the wind right out of us. I have to tell you, this hurt more than anything. We wasted three months of training for nothing. And on top of everything, if you don’t fight, you don’t get paid.”
Maicelo was supposed to be the main event of the card. The 27-year-old lightweight is 15-0 as a professional.
“I’m the most disappointed for Maicelo,” Sanchez said. “He wants to be the world champ in the worst way. He took it the worst out of all of them.”
Unfortunately, Maicelo now has to return to Peru in order to secure his working visa.
“It’s terrible,” Sanchez said. “They are like my own kids. I feel so bad for them.”
The fighters’ manager, West New York native Nelson Fernandez, is trying to secure the fighters another card as soon as possible.
“Nelson is telling the kids to keep their heads up, that he’ll find them something else soon,” Sanchez said.
But it’s not going to be easy, especially after having the rugs pulled from under them in such an abrupt fashion.
Sanchez said that he’s still looking for another title fight for the fourth of the North Bergen residents, namely Carlos Tamara, the former IBF light flyweight world champion, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the world…
Now that the National Football League lockout is over, teams are in the process of signing undrafted free agents. One of the first to sign a contract was former St. Peter’s Prep standout Will Hill, who signed with the Washington Redskins and will head to training camp, trying to make the team as a safety.
At press time, it was not known whether former Hoboken and Notre Dame standout receiver Duval Kamara was going to get an invite to a training camp…
The rising star that is Kyle Anderson continued its ascent last week, when the rising St. Anthony senior dominated at the Peach Jam Summer Classic in South Carolina, scoring 27 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing off for seven assists in the tournament’s title game in front of coaches for all of his five final college choices, namely St. John’s, Seton Hall, UCLA, Georgetown and Florida.
Anderson, the Hudson Reporter Player of the Year last season, is now considered the No. 4 overall prospect in the country. He will play in the ESPN RISE Boost Mobile Elite 24 game in Los Angeles Aug. 26-27, featuring the top 24 prospects in the country.
Anderson said that he will make his final college decision known on his 18th birthday, which is Sept. 20…. —Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.