March 15, 2008 will be the day that millions of boxing fans across the world will have their eyes glued to their television sets in anticipation of viewing two pound-for-pound candidates settle a score. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will be putting it all on the line not only for their own legacies but for the pride of their entire countries as well.
It’s a fight that has everyone on edge just in terms of discussion and possible outcomes.
This is why Manny Pacquiao fans can rest assured that every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed in terms of preparation for this magnificent battle based on the fact that he’s bringing in some of the hungriest and most vibrant sparring partners available.
The list of sparring partners includes: Danny Cervantes, Roger Gonzales, David Rodela, and Adrian “A-Game” Gallon.
I had a chance to sit down with amateur phenom Adrian Gallon to discuss the opportunity to lend a hand to the Filipino icon in addition to what brought the 22 year old boxer into the sweet science.
BB: What?s going on A-Game? Heard you got a job to perhaps spar with this guy named Manny Pacquiao. I haven?t heard too much about him but I heard he?s not too bad of a fighter.
A-Game (chuckling): Yeah man. It?s a great opportunity and I can?t wait to show them what I got.
BB: Well let?s start off first with discussing some things from your past and how you entered this crazy world of boxing. How long have you been perfecting your craft for?
A-Game: Six years. I?ve been in the gym since I was 16 just working on my game. Making sure it?s ?A? quality.
BB: So what exactly inspired you to lace?em up and decide to box?
A-Game: Same old story. A young kid growing up in East Oakland getting into trouble. I needed an outlet for my fighting ways and decided to find the nearest boxing gym. I asked around the neighborhood and everyone directed me to Kings Gym but unfortunately they charged fees to participate so I ended up going to East Oakland boxing gym on 98th street.
At first my dad didn?t want me to box so I had to forge my name and my age in order to get the ok from the gym to fight.
BB: Was there any inspiration that led you to box? As in did you ever see any boxers that made you think it was a viable occupation?
A-Game: Actually yeah. I remember growing up and my dad showing me a tape of Roy Jones Jr. I looked at him and was just amazed at his ability and the stylish way in which he could dominate a guy. It reminded me of myself and how I would sometimes fight or slap box with my friends in the street. More recently Floyd Mayweather Jr. really has shown some serious talent. I?d say those two guys kinda inspired me to up my game and take it to another level.
BB: So now that you?ve been working on your game and have decided to pursue a professional career, does your dad support you in this?
A-Game: My dad actually passed away three years ago when I was 19.
BB: Did he ever find out that you were boxing?
A-Game: It?s funny because I used to live on 25th street and I?d just run to the gym which was located on 98th street. My dad used to drive the para-transit bus around the area and one day he sees me running to the gym while he?s driving the bus. He gives me a funny look but we never really discussed the whole thing. Of course he knew what I was doing.
New Years of that year my dad and I had a little ritual in which we?d share some secrets about each other and I just came out and told him about me boxing. He accepted it but never came to any of my fights. Unfortunately he passed away before he could.
Either way I know he?s looking down on me and I?m hope he?s proud for how far I?ve come.
You can never keep secrets from parents. I remember one time when I was still trying to keep it a secret from him about me boxing and I get home and he sees an article in the Oakland Tribune about me boxing. He pointed it out to me before I even knew about it.
BB: Talk about your first experience in the gym. Most guys that grow up fighting in the streets quickly find out that the ring is a whole different experience.
A-Game: At first I thought, how hard can this be? I?m just gonna go in there, do my Roy Jones impression and play with this guy. It was pretty weird at first because when you fight in the street bare-knuckle, it?s a sharp, bruising pain when you get hit in the face. With the gloves on I just felt my head rattling and my brain shaking. It was weird and I wouldn?t necessarily call it pleasant but what kept me going was giving my opponent some payback. I needed to sharpen my skills to do so.
BB: How about your first amateur experience? How did it go?
A-Game: I was actually in the gym for two years before I had my first amateur fight. Working out of East Oakland boxing gym their main focus was just taking kids off the street rather than having guys go pro. I hooked up with this guy named Tyrone and he got my first amateur fight down in San Jose. People were really impressed by me thinking that I had to have had some prior bouts due to my skill level.
I?m not saying this to brag or anything but I guess most people don?t work in the gym for two years before they first lace them up for real. My first fight was an easy one.
BB: How about your first loss? Explain how it made you feel.
A-Game: My first loss was at the Nationals in Oxnard, California. It felt really bad because it was a championship fight. I really wanted to win and many felt that I did. Unfortunately my opponent was a local guy with a lot of support and they gave him the ?W?. After the bout I saw him looking at the belt with a look of shame because he knew that he probably didn?t really earn it. That?s just how boxing goes I guess so I took it in stride.
BB: How about your first real loss? Has there been any fights that you knew you deserved to lose?
A-Game: My first real loss was to Stan M. The experience level wasn?t there for me and he definitely edged me out in that fight. It was a learning experience and luckily for me, my trainer Ben Bautista encouraged me to shake it off and continue improving and working on my craft. Ben wasn?t even my trainer at the time but that?s what inspired me to hook up with him and it?s been nothing but good ever since.
BB: How about going pro? Did you feel as though you always wanted to go pro or did something happen to make you realize that the fight game is for you?
A-Game: When I first started at 16 I felt that I wanted to go pro but after seeing a lot of the politics and bullshit in the gym, I wasn?t so sure. But these last couple months have changed all that.
When I was with you in Vegas for the Ricky Hatton fight, it made me feel as though I can do this. I liked the atmosphere and I just decided that if God made me and gave me the talent to do so, I should use it.
BB: Well considering that you?re gonna get a chance to work with one of the best 130 pound fighter on the planet in Manny Pacquiao, explain what if feels like. Are you scared? Any intimidation involved?
A-Game: The way I look at it, he?s just another human. He?s no doubt one of the best in the world but I?m just gonna try and do my best and hopefully give him the best work possible. I?m not intimidated but just very anxious and hopefully they?ll like what I bring to the table. I know I?ll get a lot more confidence being his camp and will definitely be ready when I go pro in the near future.
I?m expecting a lot of power from Manny because I?ve fought some Filipino fighters before and they all pack a pretty good punch. The only thing is that I?m not too familiar with southpaws but I will definitely give them everything that I got.
BB: How about Freddie Roach? I know you got the chance to meet the man recently. What can you tell me about Freddie?
A-Game: He just seems like a real good guy. He shoots straight from the hip and is just so genuine. He seems to have taken a liking to me and treats everyone like a professional. Freddie said, ?A-Game, you know the drill? just come in the best shape possible and keep working!?
BB: What about your life outside of boxing? Any brothers or sisters?
A-Game: Yeah I have two brothers and three sisters.
BB: I remember you stating that you?ve been living on your own since you were 19. That?s pretty young for an expensive city like the SF Bay Area. How have you been able to do that while training on virtually an everyday basis?
A-Game: My father passed away when I turned 19 so I had to grow up real soon. He was the man I looked up to so when he was gone, I had to make my own way. I don?t have any family that I?m close to other than my auntie Marilyn Galon and her kids.
BB: How did the passing of your father affect you? Was it hard to continue boxing when such an important figure in your life was no longer there?
A-Game: I did start veering off a bit when he passed. I always tried so hard to make my dad proud of me and it?s just too bad he never got to see me fight in person. Fortunately I was able to focus once again and rededicate myself to this game so that he can look down and see me shine some day.
BB: I know you work at the SFC Gym in San Francisco working with up and coming fighters as well as kids. Explain how that is.
A-Game: I have a passion for working with kids and we?re trying to build a very strong amateur team. The kids don?t have to pay and it gives them something look forward to. It?s truly a great experience for me.
BB: How about some of your likes outside of boxing? Food, got any favorites?
A-Game (thinking for a minute or two): Yeah! Chinese Food! Sweet and sour prawns and steamed white rice. I can eat that all day everyday.
BB: How about when you?re training? Can you get away with eating that stuff?
A-Game: Nope. When I?m training I do it all the way. There?s no point in working hard in the gym and then going home and throwing it away eating foods you shouldn?t be eating. When I train I eat foods like oatmeal, brown rice, boneless skinless chicken breasts, vegetables, and fish.
BB: Sounds rather miserable. How about music? Any favorites?
A-Game: Yeah man. I like Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. I like the flamboyance of Wayne and the fact that he can rap so stylish. It makes me really wanna go and put on a good show that will entertain the crowd.
BB: How about movies?
A-Game: I like comedy and horror movies. I?d say WOO! is one of my favorite comedies along with the Nightmare on Elm Street series. That Freddy Kreuger can still give me nightmares to this day.
I like movies because it can give me a break from real life for a couple hours. I can go away and live another live for that time frame which can be fun.
BB: How about any outside interests or hobbies?
A-Game: I like to dance and rap.
BB: You got any albums coming out?
A-Game: Nah. It?s just for fun. The rap game is probably even worse and more scandalous than boxing.
BB (chuckling): Well A-Game. Is there anything you?d like to say to the BoxingConfidential readers out there?
A-Game: For the youths in my streets of East Oakland and the kids across the world… there?s more to life than going out and acting bad. If you work hard, stay dedicated, and stay on you?re A-Game, you can get there. My whole thing isn?t about the fame and fortune. I just want a stable environment for my family and since I don?t really have on right now, it might be time to make my own!
Oh yeah, and stay away from the haters!
BB: Thanks A-Game. Good luck with your career and make sure you give Manny the best of what you got. If it?s anything from what I?ve seen, the Pacman couldn?t have chosen a better sparmate out there.
A-Game: Thanks man.
Adrian Gallon is the name and ?A-Game? is the moniker. This young 22 year old man from East Oakland, California is set to make some major noise within the featherweight division in the very near future.
From the heartbreak of losing his father at an early age to diving into this tumultuous sport that is boxing, Adrian always seems very mature and grounded especially for his young age. He?s one of the good guys in boxing and has the potential to make a huge impact for his community when he becomes a world champion some day.
Not if? the only question is when.
Keep an eye out for ?A-Game? as he?ll be making his pro debut in the coming months and from what I?ve seen brings a total package that might have his nickname change to ?Complete Game? once the world sees what this young man has to offer?
PS. If you?d like to drop Adrian Gallon a message, here?s his Myspace address:
