Archive for the ‘Boxing’ Category

Alejandro “Popo” Salinas is someone that Jack Loew has been hyping for two years.  Salinas lived up to the hype a little when he captured the prestigious PAL Championship.  The tournament win has a nice reward in the sense that when 2012 rolls around, Popo is automatically the top-rated amateur for the Open Division in the country at his weight class.  He wants to compete for the United States in the Olympics, and the 16-year old has some big footsteps to follow in Kelly Pavlik and Dannie Williams, both PAL Champions, both Loew students of the game.

“The last time I had a fighter win this tournament”, reflected Loew, “he went on to become the middleweight champion of the world.  That ought to tell you how prestigious the tournament is.”

To win the tournament, young Salinas defeated fighters from Florida, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania.  Salinas will now headline the November 23rd Bob Roth Boxing Show at St. Lucy’s in Campbell.  Loew will promote the amateur card which is named after the great Bob Roth who Loew says ‘loved boxing like nobody I have ever met’.

Salinas is still a little timid around a camera or a microphone because the exposure to the public is relatively new.  However, in the ring, he looks like a polished veteran.  Loew even called him ‘a thirty year-old man’ because of the snap on his punches and the ring presence he exhibits at such a young age.

“It is to my advantage to spar against older fighters”, said Salinas.  “You learn a lot while you are in there with a fighter who is experienced.  Winning the tournament was great because all of the fighters I faced were really well-trained and ready.  Now, I have to get more serious with my training and win a few fights to get to the Olympics.”

“I want to graduate from school”, commented Salinas.  “I don’t want to be one of those guys in the background who never graduated.  I will not go to college until after I try my hand at the pro level.”

Salinas also talked about things he does when he has time.  Much to my surprise, video games and television did not crack the top 10.  He said he would much rather play baseball or do something outside.  As I expanded on his baseball knowledge, he won me over some more by telling me that his favorite player of all-times is Roberto Clemente.

“I do some crazy workouts with my spare time.  I respect a lot of students and most of them do not even know I am a boxer, I like to stay quiet.  I never start trouble with anyone because they might go out of their way to make my life harder if they learn I am a boxer.  I want to stay straight, compete in the Olympics, go pro, and then let God do what he has to do.”

Wait until you see this kid.  He is special, and that isn’t hype, that’s fact.

Tickets and details for the Bob Roth Show can be obtained by contacting Jack Loew at 330-501-5713. There are a couple of reserved tables left and St. Lucy’s is a nice venue with no bad seating.  Being the night before Thanksgiving, Loew will expect a good crowd with nobody allowed to use the, ‘I have to work tomorrow’ excuse.  It’s annually a great show, Salinas is the icing on the cake this year.

Chris Hazimihalis is now under the watchful eye of Emanuel Steward.  The lightweight prospect from Campbell, Ohio holds a 7-0 record with six knockouts and will be fighting on November 23rd in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Hazimihalis has been working with Steward in Detroit since September to prepare for his upcoming fight.  Steward is in the Boxing Hall of Fame for his work as a trainer and his recent attraction to Hazimihalis was coincidental.

“Chris KO’d a local Detroit fighter on a show in July and he caught my eye and I knew I wanted to work with him,” said Steward. “He has good power and speed that makes for a great future ahead of him.”

Promoter Mike Acri also recognizes the potential that Hazimihalis has shown.  “Chris has been getting great sparring and is in tremendous shape as he prepares for his November 23rd fight.”

Steward will be a valuable asset to the career development of the undefeated Hazimihalis.  His wisdom and eye for potential are recognized worldwide and the Hazimihalis has to be overjoyed with the news.

More on Hazimihalis in the very near future.

As I sat at a Perkins Restaurant with Jake Giuriceo and his manager, Joe Corvino, the different phases and a progression of expectations were pretty well outlined to me by both men.  As your career as a boxer grows, the rounds you fight increases.  As you train and master skills, you work hard to develop new tactics to remain unpredictable.  Giuriceo has a unique mindset, very much against the typical athletic stereotype.  He is pretty quiet, but talks when you get him going a little.  He has very strong beliefs and holds sacred his religious values – a rare mix.

Paneech: I said earlier that the mix of boxing and religion could seem barbaric to some, which you quoted a passage in the Bible to counter with.  Do your Christian acquaintances come to the fights?

Giuriceo: Oh yeah.  They are very supportive and a lot of them do come to the fights.  My pastor comes to the fights.  We group up in the locker room and pray before the fight.  I can’t say that everybody from my church comes because I am not that close with everyone that goes, but there are quite a few people from that avenue who support me when I fight.  As far as praying with people that I work out with goes, there are a few guys at the gym – Dunner, Big Shawn – we talk a lot.

Paneech: Do you feel like you could be an ambassador to spread the message you believe so strongly in?

Giuriceo:  I believe that God called me to boxing. I also believe that I shine the light of Jesus on everything that I do and by winning these fights, I believe that I am doing exactly that, being somewhat of an ambassador.  I would rather see somebody go to heaven than me winning a fight, it’s definitely more important.  That doesn’t mean that I am not going to work as hard, or go lose a fight so somebody might get to heaven, it just means that you never want to see anyone die and go to hell.  You don’t want to see that.  At the end of Matthew, you have the great commission, we are told to spread the word of Christ.  So many things have been changed.  I’m not a guy that could stand in front of a crowd and give a sermon, that’s not me.  This is the way I do it.

Paneech: Have you ever thought about adding a religious side note to your name.  Something like “Sugar” Ray Robinson… like Jake “The Apostle” Giuriceo?

Giuriceo: (laughs)  No, I haven’t thought of doing anything like that.  One thing I am doing though is on my next t-shirt, on the back I want them to say ‘Blood, Sweat, and Prayers’, because I believe that is everything that I put into this.

Paneech: You have a unique situation in your training.  You will go to California and work with Frank Duarte (above) for about five weeks, and then when you come home, you work with Keith Burnside.  How do you sort through what two different trainers tell you and decide what is best for Jake?

Giuriceo: That is actually a pretty easy question.  Whoever is my lead trainer at the time is who I listen to.  For the first nine fights, I worked very good with Keith and listened to everything that he told me to do.  When I went to California and started working with Frankie, for the last four fights, I listen to Frank.  I am out there for five weeks with him.  If Keith and Frank have a disagreement on something, we get them together and try to work it out.  Ultimately though, I am working more with Frank now, so I have to listen to what he is telling me to do.  I listen to the head trainer who is training me for my next fight, and the last four, it has been Frankie.

Paneech: How has Keith reacted to having to take a backseat to Frank with the current arrangement?

Giuriceo: The great thing about our team, is that we are actually a team.  We want to do everything together.  I don’t really hear any complaining from Keith or Frank.  They keep it between themselves and Joe [Corvino] and keep it away from me.  We work together, and if it is a situation that they need my input, they will pull me in and ask me what I think.  Realistically, Keith is one of the guys that pushed me to go to California.  He was honest and up front with me and told me there was only so far he was going to be able to take me.  Keith is a great guy, like a father-son type relationship, and they all really want the best for me.  Anything he can do to be there for me he does.  People say things to get into his head.  Sometimes it gets hard because Keith and Frankie miscommunicate.  Sometimes Frankie doesn’t answer the phone, sometimes Keith never calls.  It goes both ways, maybe a little power trip on both ends.

Paneech: Joe Corvino is someone who is very involved in your career.  You have told me that he is a good guy and that he has done great things for you.  Expand on his role in your betterment.

Giuriceo: Joe is my boxing manager/promoter/father/public relations guy (laughs) – he really does everything.  There isn’t anything that Joe does not do.  We have built a solid relationship because of boxing.  He runs his business like a family, which is why he is in the lead role of my team.  When I go to California, he foots the bill or I wouldn’t eat over there.  He takes care of me, I work part time for him.  It is hard to find a job where you can leave for months at a time and just come back, he took care of that for me.  He helps me in all aspects and I love him.

Paneech: How supportive are your family, friends, future wife, future in-laws, and everyone else?  It’s nice when you are winning, but those people will be there for you in the end.  How supportive are they as you ascend?

Giuriceo: My family is pretty small.  There is really only my mom, two brothers, and an uncle.  I have a few aunts that are here and there, but they all love me and are very supportive, and it is nice to know they will always be there, no matter what happens.  The family that I am marrying into is absolutely awesome.  My fiance is very family-oriented.  We go to those birthday parties and there are twenty or thirty people there.  They have embraced me and love me as long as I treat Jackie right.  My closest friends are just people I share my Faith with.  The close friends I had growing up, I only associate with about three or four of them.  The whole big group is very supportive though.

Paneech: Joe said maybe doing some stuff out of town to increase exposure, maybe grab some television time.  What is on the recent agenda?

Giuriceo: My next fight is on November 19 and will be for a UBO Lightweight Title.  It is a vacant title that we will be fighting for over at St. Lucy’s in Campbell.  The card is called November Fury and is being put on by Mike Cefalde and Lights Out Promotions.  It is to be the biggest fight of my career,so far.

That career can extend quite a ways if Team Giuriceo can start to grab that bigger spotlight.  Win or lose, Giuriceo has the heart and spirit of any athlete I have ever interviewed.  He is someone that large circle of friends and relatives can be proud of for his beliefs, his Faith, and his never say stop work ethic.

There will be a complete preview for the November 19 card here next week.

Nobody knows for sure what is going in the world of Kelly Pavlik these days. ESPN.com reported last week that Pavlik was going to make a geographical transition with a new support staff, a new trainer, and a new place to call home.  Pavlik’s trainer since he took up the sport, Jack Loew, scratches his head and can understand he might be facing life after Pavlik, but does not understand why the former champion, and someone he considers a son, would not sit and talk with him about his future plans.

“The last time I talked with Kelly, I was his trainer”, said Loew on Friday.  “If I am, I am, and if not, we have had a great run at it.  The only thing that upsets me is that I have done all I can do for the kid.  I can’t control what he does when he leaves the gym.  In 2007 and 2008, I was better than chocolate pudding and everybody loved me.  Because he went on a drinking binge and screwed up his own career should not reflect on me, and a lot of people are looking at it that way.”

Loew has some up-and-comers in the stable, including Dannie Williams, who has recently signed a deal with Dibella Productions and will be fighting on ESPN in January. I have said it before, and I will say it again, Jack Loew is not a one trick pony.  Yes, Kelly Pavlik was his in, his mealticket, and his primary focus for a long stretch. However, there is a Willie Nelson, a Popo Salinas, a Dannie Williams, and a full gym of talented kids who Loew can work with.

“If Kelly decides to go with Robert Garcia or Freddie Roach, God Bless him, I wish him nothing but the very best”, said Loew.  “He is a great kid and has been loyal to me.  I made a ton of money with Kelly and I was smart with my money.  I knew there would be an end to the Pavlik Era sometime, unfortunately it ended a little too early.  If we are splitting up, I wish him the best, I really do.  Jack Loew is gonna be fine.”

“The thing that bothers me the most was I told him that if that is what is going to happen, I am fine with it if it comes from you.  If I have to read about it on the internet, that will piss me off a little bit.  He said he would call me Sunday when he got home, and obviously, he has not called me yet.  I just hope it doesn’t end on a bad note because we have had such a great relationship.  Alcohol has done some bad things to Kelly and I hope that it hasn’t hurt his respect for me that he can’t call me to let me know what is going on.”

Don’t misunderstand this article, if Pavlik leaves he may succeed again with someone else in his corner.  I think he would still have great support from Youngstown and will still represent himself as a Youngstown native.  In my opinion, Top Rank is playing their hand and telling Kelly he has to get out of Youngstown, albeit with Loew, or a new trainer, to resume his fighting schedule.  Pavlik himself has said that everything he does publicly is magnified because he is a public figure who is known nationally.  If he was drinking after the Edison Miranda fight, people were buying his drinks.  If he went to a bar after the Sergio Martinez fight, he had a problem.  Public perception and the strong arm of Bob Arum work hand-in-hand to export our champion?

I have made several efforts to contact Pavlik with no response.  Scour this website, it has been up for three years, and look for a negative viewpoint on Pavlik.  Good luck reading every article, fight preview, and summary, there are none.  Whatever you do champ, good luck and we will all be rooting for you.

Anthony Pientrantonio went to New York’s biggest venue to box, an accomplishment that few can put on their resume.  Madison Square Garden is the big leagues, and Pientrantonio saw his fight against Sean Monoghan as a big opportunity. Unfortunately, the Sharon, PA native could not pull off the upset and was defeated by TKO in the fifth round.

Monoghan (10-0) is a lot like John Duddy.  He is from Ireland, and is a good draw when fighting in New York.  Duddy was exposed by Billy Lyell before he got too big. Duddy has since retired at the age of 32 and owns a bar in New York now.

Pientrantonio (7-8) knew he was an underdog going in, but felt like he might be able to pull the unthinkable off, but no such luck.  Pietrantonio trains at the Southside Boxing Club under the watchful eye of Jack Loew and can take some punches, which makes a statement about Monoghan being a little better than Duddy when it all shakes out.

Lots of upcoming boxing stories including Jake Giuriceo‘s November 19th bout, Kelly Pavlik‘s rumored split from Jack Loew, a feature piece on Popo Salinas, and Jack Loew‘s night before Thanksgiving Show.

Anthony Pietrantonio is finally getting a big venue break.  Pietrantonio will challenge undefeated Light Heavyweight Prospect, Sean Monaghan at Madison Square Garden this Saturday, October 22.  Monoghan is 9-0 with 6 KO’s but is the style of fighter that Pietrantonio can match up with.

“He is from Ireland, and those guys draw big, especially in New York”, said Pietrantonio of his opponent.

“He fights my style, very straight-forward, and to be honest with you, he doesn’t look any tougher than the last guy I fought.”

The scheduled six-round fight is part of the undercard featuring the main event of Nonito Donaire (26-1) against Omar Andes Narvaez (35-0), a couple of big name bantamweights.

Pietrantonio is thrilled about the chance to fight at The Garden.

“It is going to be awesome., it’s the biggest stage in the world and it is very historical and exciting”, claimed the underdog.  “I want to deliver and put on an awesome show.  I rise to the occasion when I get chances like this and have a habit of fighting to the ability of my opponent.”

Pietrantonio (7-7, 6 KO) has been training with Jack Loew after switching gyms.  He won his last fight at the Covelli Centre and ended a skid of consecutive losses that had him questioning his future in the sport of boxing.  The 34-year old feels like he is on the right track and wants to make the most of the opportunity.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase my skills”, said Pietrantonio.  “I am the underdog, no doubt about it.  People see my record and think that this will not be much of a fight.  I can’t wait to show the ‘experts’ who I am and why I am in that fight.”

Results from the fight will be posted when I get them Saturday night. Good Luck Anthony!

Lights Out  Management and Inside Boxing are gearing up for what looks to be a terrific boxing card on November 19.  The fights will take place at St. Lucy’s Assumption Center in Campbell.  Jake Giuriceo will headline the card as he goes for his first belt, the UBO All-American Lightweight title.  Several other local boxers are listed to be on the card.

Giuriceo (13-0-1) will face stiff competition in his first quest for national respect.  The Bull is set to take on Bryne Green (7-4-1) who fights out of Finland, New Jersey.  Don’t let Green’s record deceive you.  In his last three fights, Green beat a fighter who came in at 4-0, received a draw verdict against an opponent who was 5-2, and won his last fight against a fighter who was 14-4.  This will be no cake walk for Giuriceo.

Other fighters, some local, who are set to appear at the event include Chris Koval, Juan Salinas, Marco Hall, Vincent O’Neil, Wilkins Santiago, and Dante Moore.  The fight will be the second with Mike Cefalde calling the shots for Lights Out.  Giuriceo headlined a good card at Cene Park in August for Cefalde.

Tickets for the event are available at Patsy’s Bar, First Choice Rentals, The Wine Cellar, Check-N-Go, and Jensen Lock & Alarm.

More details leading up to the event will be posted as I get them.

Jake Giuriceo‘s stock is on the rise. The young boxer from Campbell, Ohio is winning fights and looking impressive in the process. ‘The Bull’, as he has been nicknamed, is 13-0-1 as a professional and looks better than the last fight each time I see him. Part of his success can be attributed to good management with Joe Corvino at the helm, good training with Frank Duarte and Keith Burnside splitting the responsibilities, work ethic, and a fiance who believes in him. The other part of his success is a direct result in his strong Faith and religious beliefs.

On a rainy and gloomy night, I met Guiriceo and Corvino at a local restaurant where we conducted a lengthy interview that will be broken down into three segments. I learned a lot about the charismatic young man who signed autographs for young fans who recognized him that night. I learned how focused he is on getting himself to become the best possible boxer he can be. I asked questions about religion because I have heard that Giuriceo is a very spiritual being.

Here is the first part of the Jake Giuriceo trilogy, which focuses mostly on his love of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

Paneech: Some see boxing as a barbaric sport. Some see religion as a tranquil non-violent and non-combative practice. How do the two mix in your life?

Giuriceo: That is a hard question to answer. I am going to just speak freely on the mixture of the two. What I am is a follower of Jesus Christ. My church affiliation is an Assembly of God where we strictly follow the Bible and nothing else. I am a Christian at heart. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell you not to box. Actually, there is a passage in the Bible where Paul in First Corinthians 9:26, quotes boxing. It is not barbaric to the point where it demeans religion.

Paneech: Have you faced adversity because you are so open about your beliefs?

Giuriceo: Face-to-face nobody has ever said anything to me. Aside from the time that I wore the Jesus trunks (above photo), where Jesus’ name was on my trunks eleven times and I did catch some adversity, I haven’t really had an issue with anyone. The Lord has blessed me and it has been a really good and smooth career. As far as the boxing and religion mixing, it is simple, I put The Lord first in everything that I do. The Bible tells you to put God first with all heart, mind, body, and soul, and everything else falls into place. I give 100% in the gym at all times. The Lord tells you to give 100% at all times, don’t slack or just go through the motions. There is no problem with it.

Paneech: Let me rephrase it then so you see the question from a different angle. Let’s say you had a bad day in the past couple of months. You are at a point in the day where you are going to either say, ‘I am going to the gym to work my frustration out’, or, ‘I am going to go home and get into my Bible’, which route do you go?

Giuriceo: It would depend on what time of the day it is. If it is time to go to the gym, than I am going to go to the gym. When I get done at the gym, I will go home and read my Bible. If I go to the gym and come home frustrated, I will go home and read my Bible. I do both. I know I am beating around the bush and not answering the question, but I really do both, and that is my honest answer. If I am driving down the road at three-thirty, I know I have to go to the gym. Maybe I will stop and pray first, I always pray before my workouts anyway. I stay in contact with God 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I don’t necessarily need a Bible in my hands to stay in touch.

Giuriceo is genuinely persuaded by his religious beliefs and I admire the way he handles himself under any circumstance. His Faith is real and those around him could not begin to tell you that there is no gimmick in his prayers. He would be thankful and religious without boxing and should be an inspiration to those who take shortcuts in life and make excuses of never having enough time to read scripture.

In Part Two next week, we will talk about boxing, the dual-trainer situation, the future, and the expectations.

Last Summer, on a whim, I asked Lisa Neeld ten questions about baseball at a baseball game.  The next time I would see the Playboy Model was at a boxing match.  Because the readers enjoyed the baseball questions and answers so much, here are ten questions about boxing with ten answers from Lisa.  I will be doing a full-blown interview with Neeld in the near future.  Until then, enjoy!

Q: Ray Mancini’s nickname is ‘Boom-Boom’.  How did he get the nickname?

Lisa: He  got that nickname from hitting so hard.  Not once, but twice!  (laughs)

Q: Many boxers have the word ‘sugar’ in their title.  Fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Shane Mosley.  Why do you call a boxer sugar?

Lisa: Um, because when the sweat pours out of them it is like sugar?  (laughs)  That’s what happens to me when I sweat, it is like sugar.

Q: Who is the greatest boxer of all times?

Lisa: * with help: Um, Joe Louis?

Q: What does TKO stand for?

Lisa: Total,  um wait… Total  (laughs) Technical Knock Out!

Q: How high does a ref count before the fight is ended by knockout?

Lisa: Ten?

Q: What is a standing eight count?

Lisa: Uhhhhh…  When one of the boxers is dazed and confused for eight seconds?

Q: Who is the current World Heavyweight Champion right now?

Lisa: (long pause)  Uhhhmmmm…  That guy with the mean right hook?  Wait!  Wait, Kelly Pavlik?  Are you gonna help me?  Wait, I am retracting that (laughs), because he is not a heavyweight!

Q: How much do boxing gloves weigh?

Lisa: I box with twelve ouncers, but mine are pink though.

Q: What three things should every boxer do while training?

Lisa: Run?  Lift. Abs? (laughs in between each)

Q: What is shadow boxing?

Lisa: When you are looking in the mirror and you are moving around, and like you are hitting, swinging at yourself?

Q: What is a speed bag?

Lisa: It’s where you hit really, really fast.  I have a bag, you know.  It’s not a little bag though, it is one of those big ones.  (laughs)

Thanks once again Lisa, not only for being a good sport, but for also sharing your wealth of knowledge in the area of boxing!

** Both photos courtesy of Ron Stevens.

Anthony Pietrantonio is not a household name in the boxing world.  In fact, few reading this story have much of an idea of who he is or what he has done. Pietrantonio (7-7) made a positive impression on me when he fought on the Ghost Production card at the Covelli Centre on July 3.  He didn’t dominate the fight and was woozy by the end, but he showed some serious heart and guts staying up and continuing to throw punches against his opponent, Randy Campbell.  The guy looks like a fighter.  He has hit a good spot, switching over to Jack Loew’s Southside Boxing Club, and he may have better days in what he is calling ‘one last good run’.

Paneech: Your last fight was a slugfest.  No clinching, no tying up the opponent either way, just straight bombs from bell-to-bell and round-to-round.  Do you always fight that way?

Pietrantonio: I was more or less fighting that guy’s [Campbell] style.  It fell into his style, I wanted to make it a show so I slugged it out with him.  I feel like I fought down to his level and against a higher quality opponent, I would fight a higher quality style.

Paneech: You were training somewhere else, had a six-fight losing streak, and end up here with Jack Loew.   Has a change in scenery helped your career?

Pietrantonio: Me being here with Jack has helped a lot.  He stays on me to do what I have to do both in the gym and on the road.  The other gym, I had to work a job and was only training maybe two or three days a week.  I would get the call for a fight on a week or two of notice, and it would be pretty good money, so I would take it.  My age is rising and the opportunities are decreasing.  I was fortunate to be picked up by a sponsor who basically gives me money and allows me to focus on boxing more than working.

Paneech: Talk about how your age [Pietrantonio is 33] can effect things and how hard of a push you can really give because in some circles that is considered old for a boxer.

Pietrantonio: There was a point where I thought I peaked, but I am wondering if I have even found my true potential yet.  I was 5-0 to start my career.  I had a setback and got myself into a little bit of trouble.  When all that was behind me, I started back up and the opportunities were scarce because I had to work.  I am pushing myself harder than ever right now and feel like I am finally approaching a level where I can win consistently.

Paneech: Moving forward, can Jack make you a more polished fighter?

Pietrantonio: I definitely think so.  There are a lot of different guys in this gym, so I am getting many different looks.  The other gym, I was sparring the same people every day.  My first fight was against a guy named Henry White Jr., who had like 160 amateur fights and he beat me, but after the fight which I did well in, I was commended and learned that White was a five-time Golden Gloves champion.

Paneech: You said there was a point where you had to go work, what was it you did?

Pietrantonio: I was doing heating work.  Heating and air conditioning.  I did insulation, put furnaces in, installed air conditioning units, basically anything I had to so I could have some money.  I could have been on a job someday for ten hours, which would mean no training because I didn’t have the time.  I feel good knowing I don’t have to rely on that anymore.  I love doing this.  I started when I was about 20.  I was a friend of a guy who boxed named Willie Phillips, and after I went to the gym once with him, I was hooked and knew it was what I wanted.

Paneech: How far can you go with this?

Pietrantonio: I’m ready to go all the way!  If it takes me somewhere, then great, so be it.  If not, at least I know that I tried and put everything into it.  There is no doubt in my mind I am ready for anything.  I fought James McGirt Jr. and would have gotten some national recognition if I would have won, but I only trained two weeks for that fight.  Six of my seven wins are by knockout, I just have to put it all together.

Paneech: What is the dream fight for you at 175-pounds?

Pietrantonio: I was supposed to fight Andre Ward before I got into some trouble.  I have seen him go down a few times and thought I had at least a shot at winning against him.  If I were to catch Ward, and he goes down, he will stay down.  I would like to have that opportunity back someday.  I like to watch Miguel Coto.  He is like me, he doesn’t talk much and fights hard.

Paneech: Did you play any sports at Sharon High School?

Pietrantonio: I played midget football and later was active with track and field.  I ran the 100, 200, and 400.  I ran the 100 in about eleven seconds.  When I am not in the gym now, I still concentrate on training.  I have two girls I look out for and I like to spend time with them on the weekends.

One Word Answers

Favorite Meal of The Day: Dinner – Spaghetti.

Biggest Phobia: Drowning.

Worst Habit: Not running enough.

Favorite TV Show: Sopranos.

Favorite Drink: Fruit Punch Gatorade.

Fast Food Order: Big Mac Value Meal, Fries, and a Coke.

Favorite Candy: Snickers.

Best Boxing Movie Ever: Raging Bull.

Person You Are Closest With: Darnell Boone.

Favorite Team: Pittsburgh Steelers.

Musical Preference: Godsmack, newer metal.

Favorite Cartoon Character: Daffy Duck.