Jonathan Maicelo never once thought his professional boxing career was over when he suffered a loss in April of 2013 to Russian champion Rustam Nugaev via an eighth-round knockout at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.
The 31-year-old North Bergen resident and native of Peru realized he didn’t have the right approach in battling the tough Nugaev.
“I wasn’t smart,” Maicelo said through an interpreter. “I made a lot of mistakes. I do think about it, but I really don’t want to think about it again that I lost. It was an error on my part and I’ve gotten over it. I realized that I could begin again and start all over again. I never thought about quitting at all. There were a lot of other boxers who are better than me who lost and came back better than ever.”
So after the loss, Maicelo came back to North Bergen and was determined to give his career a kick start.
“I was thinking that I could still go on,” Maicelo said. “I’m more focused than ever. I’m more determined.”
Since the loss in April of 2013, Maicelo defeated Alejandro Rodriguez via a 10th round knockout at the now-closed Revel Casino in Atlantic City, then enjoyed an impressive split decision win over Art Hovhannisyan at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington last July on ESPN, a win that impressed respected promoter Gary Shaw tremendously.
Shaw was so impressed with Maicelo’s performance that Shaw gave the local boxer a chance to fight for a world championship.
So this weekend, Maicelo and his crew, headed by trainer and Hoboken native Butch Sanchez, are back at the Chumash Casino to take on Darleys Perez for the World Boxing Association world lightweight title.
Perez, a native of Colombia, holds a 31-1 career record with 20 knockouts. Maicelo is 21-1 with 12 knockouts.
Maicelo has more than a puncher’s chance to return to North Bergen with a world championship.
“I know him enough and watched him fight live in California,” Maicelo said of Perez. “I know he’s a tough fighter, but I’m ready this time. I’m going to become the new champ. I’ve seen him fight live, so I have an advantage.”
The Maicelo-Perez fight was scheduled to be televised live on ESPN2 as part of the network’s Friday Night Fights package. It was slated to be the main event.
“I’ve been waiting for this fight my whole life,” said Maicelo, who trained for the fight sporadically at the new Everlast Gym in Hoboken, run by executive Neil Martin, who has welcomed a host of top fighters into the new gym.
“I’m definitely stronger and smarter than I was two years ago,” Maicelo said. “I’m healthier than any 20-year-old kid.”
Maicelo has been a bit of a matinee idol in his native Peru. He competed on the Peruvian version of “Dancing with the Stars,” has appeared on several Peruvian television shows and owned his own clothing line there.
But for the past year, boxing has been his life – and getting this opportunity to fight for a world championship.
“Right now, I’m focused on boxing,” Maicelo said. “I went on television to get more recognition, but now, everyone recognizes me. I just have to come back home with a belt and go back to Peru with a belt.”
Sanchez has trained four world champions during his career – namely bantamweight champ Hector Acero-Sanchez, welterweight champ Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis, lightflyweight champ Beibis Mendoza and former North Bergen resident Carlos Tamara, who won the WBA world flyweight title five years ago and has since retired and returned to his native Colombia.
Sanchez believes that Maicelo could be No. 5.
“He has learned from his mistakes in his last loss,” Sanchez said. “This is the fight he’s wanted. This is what you look and hope for, the chance to fight for a world championship. He’s looking to shine and he’s as ready as you’re going to get. I believe in Maicelo. He’s in great shape and he’s trained all of his life for this moment. There are no excuses. He’s ready to bring this title back. If he wins, in Peru, they’re going to go nuts.”
Maicelo said that he’s dedicating the fight to the memory of his grandmother, Isabella Calinicia, who died two months ago.
“She’s the one who raised me,” Maicelo said. “I’m doing this for her. I’m very blessed to get this chance. I’m very excited.”
It’s definitely the chance of a lifetime for someone who has dedicated his life to the sport…
Jersey City native Eamonn Matthews was selected to participate in the USA Rugby All-American Camp in Casa Grande Sports Academy in Arizona over the Christmas break. Matthews, who is a senior at Xavier High School in Manhattan, was the only player from New Jersey selected among the 140 participants at the select camp.
A select team from the camp will participate in an invitational tourney in Las Vegas and then other trips to Belgium and England and finally a summer excursion to South America. Matthews should learn if he was selected to those teams in the weeks to come…
As everyone knows, the high school basketball season is well underway. The Snyder boys’ basketball team is 7-0, courtesy of a thrilling 43-42 win over rival Dickinson Tuesday night. Head coach Shelton Gibbs has his team playing excellent basketball, including solid wins over Lincoln, North Bergen, Fort Lee and now Dickinson.
Isaac Neal, who has been a major part of the Tigers’ success over the last two years, is back and leading the way again. Chris Coffee, Tykel Tate and Kani Robinson have all played solidly for the Tigers. We’ll have more about the Tigers in next week’s editions…
Despite the loss to Snyder, Dickinson has a 4-2 record, thanks to the efforts of mighty mite Anthony Florence, all 5-foot-5 of him. Florence is averaging close to 18 points per game in the early going. Dickinson has an impressive win over Morris County champ Mount Olive, as well as Kearny and West Orange thus far…
Weehawken’s McKay LeDuke has picked up where he left off last season. LeDuke, who came out of nowhere last year to help the Indians get on a huge winning streak after his arrival, has collected a double-double in all five of their games this season, averaging 13.2 points and 16 rebounds per game.
In last Tuesday’s win over Saddle Brook, LeDuke had the unimaginable, a quadruple double, scoring 13 points, grabbing 17 rebounds, dishing off for 10 assists and collecting 11 steals. That’s a game of a lifetime…
Hudson Reporter Boys’ H.S. Basketball Top Five: 1. St. Anthony (5-1). 2. Hudson Catholic (6-2). 3. Snyder (7-0). 4. Marist (6-1). 5. Dickinson (4-2)…
Hudson Reporter Girls’ H.S. Basketball Top Five: 1. Secaucus (7-0). 2. Lincoln (4-2). 3. North Bergen (5-2). 4. Marist (4-1). 5. St. Dominic Academy (4-3). – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.