|
DYNAMITE DARGAN
Story & Photos by John DiSanto |
||||
|
Rising lightweight prospect Karl “Dynamite” Dargan, 16-0, 8 KOs, and his trainer Brother Naazim Richardson held an open media workout on Thursday at the James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym in West Philadelphia. Dargan is slated to face Angino Perez, 17-5, 15 KOs, September 20th, at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, CT. The 10-round bout is for the Junior NABF lightweight title and will be nationally televised on network television by NBC. Dargan was an
outstanding amateur, before beginning his professional
campaign in 2007. His early pro career was plagued by
inactivity. But with greater activity in recent years,
Dargan has begun to rise in the rankings and attract the
attention of boxing fans. His fight on NBC will be his
second on the network. Dargan beat Michael Brooks by
decision last November for the vacant USBA Atlantic Coast
Region lightweight title. He followed up that win with two
more victories this year. On this day, Dargan went through a light workout for local media, and was scheduled to return to the same gym for more training later in the day. “He’ll be back in tonight,” Brother Naazim Richardson said. “This young guy is a pleasure to work with, for the simple fact that he’s very mature.” “I’m prepared to fight at any level,” Dargan said. “A couple more fights to gain experience. I’m ready for the top level, but experience plays a big part in this game. So by the top of next year, I’ll be ready for anybody.” Some wonder if Dargan’s opponent is a step back from some of his recent competition, but Team Dynamite would not hear it. “If a man is in there healthy, with two hands throwing punches at you, it’s dangerous.” Richardson said. (Turning to Dargan) “Don’t underestimate. Don’t let the media, or anybody else start telling you to start putting people in certain places. You don’t underestimate nobody who’s throwing punches at you.”
“Main Events (Dargan’s promoter) has been able to find more guys willing to step in the ring with me,” Dargan said. “So I’ve been more busy with Main Events than I was without them as my promoter. (Staying busy) helps a lot. Some people say if you don’t fight for a long time you get ring rust. In this game, you don’t have time to knock off the ring rust. As soon as you get in the ring, you have to be on point.”
“It feels good,” Dargan said about fighting on national television. “It’s another step up fight. If it wasn’t on NBC, I’d look at it the same. Of course I appreciate the exposure, but I can’t focus on whether there’s going to be TV or not. I have to focus on the task at hand, which is fighting.” “He’s been around this (boxing) so long,” Richardson said. “He was raised around it. He’s got a high education in the sport at a very young age. So I don’t worry about him overshooting the mark just because it’s television. We do have to open the public’s eyes as to who this kid is. And he has to do that by performing every time he gets an opportunity.” |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
“In
the amateurs from 2002, every year I won a national
championship,” Dargan said. “Just because I’m a pro doesn’t
mean that I’m not a champion, or fighting at the
championship level.” 
Fighting
on the big stage of another NBC broadcast TV telecast
doesn’t appear to put any additional pressure on Dargan.