Baldassara an old school pugilist by Grant Jeans Jan 23rd 2006

In boxing today many people involved with the sport are of the opinion that professional boxers have the wrong attitude. They seem to be happy to fight sparingly, as little as twice a year, hold out for unrealistic sums of money whenever contracts are negotiated and do little in the way of making a contribution or put anything back into the noble art from which they make a living. However the aforementioned criticisms can in no way be attached to Clydebank's Scottish middleweight champion Vinny Baldassara. Last November Baldassara clinched the vacant crown with a comfortable 99-92 points victory against Craig Lynch at Glasgow's Thistle Hotel. This will hopefully open the door to further opportunities for the ‘old school' pugilist whose achievement has gone largely unnoticed by the local media. Baldassara was optimistic about the future when I visited him at Clydebank's Osprey Amateur Boxing Club. “The highlight of my career so far has been winning the Scottish middle-weight title, but I don't see that as being my main goal in boxing, it's a stepping stone to get me up the rankings and hopefully from there I can progress and fight for the British, Commonwealth and European titles. But one title at a time.” The gym, Clydebank Osprey Amatuer Boxing Club, where he trains is run by former professional Barry Winter and Baldassara is quick to praise his mentor for all the help he has given. “I was 12 years old when I first came to the club and there were people sparring in the ring and I thought to myself I could be as good as them. When I first worked with Barry on the pads he could see there was a bit of natural ability there. He is a great trainer to work with and really helped me develop over the years.” Turning professional at the, quite late, age of 24 will not be a disadvantage according to Baldassara as he has gained valuable experience in the amateurs and during his ten professional contests, won 7(3ko's), lost 2, drawn 1, thus far has steadily progressed and will not reach his peak for another year or two. “I have more of a professional style. In the amateurs with two minute, four rounds the fight can be really fast. I'm more of a thinking boxer and as the rounds go on I get better and better. I had my first amateur fight when I was 13. I had about 30 amatuer fights but what I didn't have back then, which I do now is total control of my mind. In the past I would end up beating myself before I got in the ring but with experience you learn that no one is invincible.” Baldassara continued, “As a professional I've really knuckled down in training. I've sacrificed a lot of my social life, I don't drink, go out clubs, basically live like a monk as they say. Everything is starting to come together, I'm hitting harder, feel stronger and a lot more confident.” Unfortunately Baldassara suffered a setback in his first pro bout in March 2003 when he was informed that he had the opportunity to fight with extremely sparse notification. “I only got one days notice for my pro debut against George Telfer. I shouldn't have taken the fight because I was also moving house at the time so the preparation was far from ideal, but it was a chance to get my career started. But I feel that with the right time to prepare then I can beat anyone. When your going into a fight with good preparation behind you and your confidence is high then that is when you're going to perform to your full potential.” As far as match ups are concerned Baldassara is happy to let his trainer/manager Barry Winter take charge of that side of proceedings. “I'll let Barry deal with that. I will fight anyone as long as I get three weeks notice. I'm always keeping myself ticking over and walk around at just over my fighting weight. I am a real middleweight, a lot of boxers fight two weight divisions below their natural weight and it's ridiculous really, something should be done about it.” At a time when champions are content to defend their titles once or twice a year, it is refreshing to meet a fighter who genuinely loves the fistic sport would fight on a far more regular basis if the opposition could be found. “If I get the opportunities then I want to go as far as I can. I would box for nothing because I love it. I would like to fight every six or seven weeks if possible. After a fight you feel emotionally drained as well as physically so it is good to get a few weeks to recover before getting back to work for the next one.” Baldassara also mentioned the time when he really knew that his heart was truly in pursuing his boxing dreams. “I did walk away from the sport for a short time when I was 21. When you're young and your friends are going out then you want to be out with them. I said to Barry I didn't want any more fights but it's a hard sport to walk away from and that is when I realised that boxing is what I want to do.” Baldassara also helps Winter train the youths and seniors at the Osprey ABC every Tuesday and Thursday evening. “I feel that boxing makes you look at life in a whole different way. It keeps you fit and installs discipline. I see it as an art, if you watch it carefully it's a bit like a dance and certainly a lot more that two guys just trying to hit each other. I love helping out with the training and it's something I would like to carry on when I retire.” That retirement will be a long way off yet. For now Baldassara is looking to take the British middleweight scene by storm.

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.