By: Sean Crose
“My father was knowledgeable,” rising bantamweight John Leonardo tells me, “so I simply adopted in his steps just about.” Positive sufficient, New Jersey’s Leonardo comes from boxing inventory, his father having been knowledgeable middleweight. Certainly, the senior Leonardo additionally gave his son the nickname the junior Leonardo now goes by – Physique Shot. “My dad was a physique puncher,” Leonardo says, “among the finest physique punchers. That was one thing that was instilled in my thoughts.” The senior Leonardo additionally appears to have helped instill a top quality fashion for his son. Preventing behind a excessive guard and a formidable jab, Leonardo is aware of methods to keep vary whereas making use of stress within the ring.
He’s going to have a golden alternative to showcase these expertise this Could eleventh, when he takes on Frank Gomez on the Tropicana Resort and On line casino in Atlantic Metropolis. The Tony Jeter promoted Leonardo-Gomez combat is being seen as a highpoint of that night time’s Boxing Insider card. “I don’t know a lot about him,” Leonardo says of Gomez. “I’ve seen loads of movie of him. It’s not one thing I’ve been anxious about.” What’s extra, Leonardo has been getting ready to return to the ring for the primary time since August – when he received a unanimous determination over Dominique Griffin – for months now. The ten-1-1 Leonardo certainly had one other combat lined up, but it fell by way of, which implies the 23 yr previous is now desirous to return to motion.
“On a regular basis I just about work out 3 times a day,” Leonardo tells me. “I field each night time.” The person is nothing if not disciplined even by skilled boxing requirements. He’s additionally keen to embrace lower than conventional types of coaching. “I attempt to decide it up virtually like I’m working,” he tells me of the swimming routine he’s utilized to his combat preparation. “I often do between 50-60 laps and each few laps I attempt to decide it up.” Suffice to say, the younger fighter likes to swim nonstop as a way to get probably the most out of his pool periods.
He might solely have been preventing professionally since 2021, however boxing has clearly been part of Leonardo’s life for fairly a while. Earlier than turning professional, the Every day Information Golden Glove winner earned himself a formidable novice resume. “I had over 65 novice fights,” he says. “I received the New Jersey Golden Gloves. I additionally received the Diamond Gloves for New Jersey….I fought abroad in Sweden as an novice, and Denmark with the New York Metro Crew.” So far as the long run goes, nonetheless, Leonardo has his eye on a significant prize. “I’m trying to get into the highest ten,” he tells me. “Clearly my objective is to win a world title. That’s the large objective.”
Tickets for Boxing Insider Promotion’s Could eleventh card may be bought at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/boxing-insider-live-professional-boxing-atlantic-city-new-jersey-05-11-2024/occasion/02006076BA7B700C
