ContraCosta Times, CA
Sept 23 2006
He wins, but can he take a punch?
Richmond’s Morgan is 3-0, and opponents can’t seem to touch him
Boxing
Richmond’s Aaron Morgan has had three professional bouts now, and
trainer Ralph McCoy still can’t tell if he can take a punch.
That’s because Morgan (3-0) hasn’t let anyone get close to his chin.
Morgan’s latest victory came on Sept. 8 in Modesto as he won a
unanimous decision over Manuel Garcia, who is now 4-4-1. McCoy
scheduled the bout knowing that Garcia had a reputation as a big
puncher.
It all figured to be part of Morgan’s education. McCoy thought he
would find out how Morgan would react to a big punch.
"They were feeling each other out and Aaron burst out with a flurry
of punches," McCoy said. "He hit Garcia with a four- or five-punch
combination that set the tone. The guy got upset and he started
winging, throwing bombs."
McCoy thought he was about to see Morgan have to respond to a big
punch. "He couldn’t catch Aaron all night long," McCoy said with a
laugh. "I thought Aaron would stop him in the third round, but the
guy was tough."
Although McCoy didn’t get exactly what he expected, he was pleased
with his student’s performance. "Aaron had to show some boxing
expertise and he did. He kept his jab out there and he threw
excellent combinations.
"He also was rolling with the punches and that took the guy’s power
off. One time he got butted, and that bothered him more than
anything."
McCoy is looking for future opponents and he hopes to send Morgan out
two or three more times this year if possible. "We’re looking at a
couple of opponents right now," McCoy said. "Andy Nance (a former
highly rated boxer) is helping me quite a bit with the selection of
opponents. We are looking for someone with a little more experience."
The plan for Morgan has been to keep him busy while presenting him
with different styles. "We want to get him eight or nine wins, then
we will start looking at tougher opponents," McCoy said. "We are
trying to avoid rushing him too much. He wants to take on the world
right now, but you don’t want to schedule someone with too much
experience. He can’t do it quite yet, so we’re trying to avoid the
big bangers. I still don’t know whether he can take a big punch."
McCoy has handled boxers such as former USBA junior middleweight
champ Art Serwano and California light heavyweight champ Bomani
Parker.
"Aaron learns quicker than any fighter I’ve ever trained," McCoy
said. "Within a day, he gets things down pat."
According to McCoy, Morgan likes to study pros in his weight class on
television. "I have to hold him back," McCoy said with a laugh. "He
says, ‘I can beat that guy.’
"He is only 20 so I keep telling him, ‘Aaron, you have to look at the
big picture.’ As long as we have our eye on the big picture and we go
accordingly, it will be OK."
McCoy had been training Morgan at the Bay Area Boxing Gym in Rodeo.
However, that facility has closed. They have been working with
Concord trainer Karl Sharrock’s stable of fighters, at the Vallejo
PAL and at the Cal boxing club.
Besides Morgan, McCoy is working with 125-pounder David Springer, a
23-year-old amateur. He also has been helping the Golden Bears. "I
love working with the Cal boxers," McCoy said. "It’s great working
with college kids."
Shot at title
Castro Valley’s Glenn Donair (16-2-1) gets a shot at the IBF
flyweight title when he faces champion Vic Darchinyan (26-0) on Oct.
7 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Darchinyan won the title in 2004 and has defended it three times.
Darchinyan was born in Armenia and now lives in Sydney, Australia.
Donair won the NABA flyweight title on May 5 with a 12-round decision
over Cesar Lopez (18-3) in Concho, Okla.
The bout will be held on the undercard of the Diego Corrales-Joel
Casamayor bout. Corrales won a split decision over Casamayor on March
6, 2004.
Pro scene
Donair’s brother, Nonito Donair, will also fight on the Oct. 7
against an opponent yet to be named. Nonito Donair is 15-1 as a super
flyweight and is coming off a TKO over Jose Luis Cardenas on July 29
in Santa Ynez. … Eric "Butterbean" Esch continues to fight despite
losing three of his last four bouts. Now 74-7-4, Esch faces Ed White
(11-12) on Saturday in Belterre, Ind.
— Jay Heater
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
