The last time I saw Comanche Boy George Tahdooahnippah was on July 8, 2011 at Remington Park, Oklahoma City. With Jeff Mayweather in his corner, he completely outclassed Dezi Ford, sending him to the canvas, and scoring a TKO win at 2:59 into the first round. Since then, Comanche Boy has scored another TKO win over Steve Walker on November 12.
On January 13, Comanche Boy (25-0-1, 20 KOs) will square off with Eloy Suarez, as the former continues his quest to step onto the world stage of professional boxing.
I spoke with Tahdooahnippah on Thursday evening about his upcoming fight, his future in the sport and his sincere desire to be a good ambassador for fellow Native Americans.
LS: Hey George, how are you doing?
GT: I’m doing alright.
LS: I know you have a fight coming up on January 13th. How?s everything going in preparation?
GT: Everything’s going good. Actually, since my last fight, I took a short break, which was Thanksgiving. It was really just a week off, spending some time with the family. But I got right back on the grind ? got back on my conditioning. I just picked up where I left off. I’m still having some good sparring, so I feel good, I feel strong and my weight’s looking good.
LS: You’ve been staying really busy. You had 4 fights this year, and 7 fights in 2009. That’s a lot of fights in 2 years. What are your plans for 2011?
GT: Well, I knew when I started out I needed to get myself built up, get some wins, because of me not having an amateur background. I needed to gain some experience, and more than that, gain some wins, so that I could get in line for some bigger opportunity fights. I know I do what I gotta do to win. I know my opposition hasn’t been the toughest in the world, but I took care of business. I did what I gotta do to win, and I won.
But now, all that’s been done. Everything’s been built up, so now it’s time to get it on, step out in the world and let’s fight some big fights. You know, I’m 32 years old now, so the time is now. The time is here. I’m excited. I know this year is the year. I thought in 2010 I was gonna get a chance to fight Fernando Guerrero on Showbox, but it felt through. But I know it’s not the only opportunity. I know they come all the time. I’ve just gotta be ready. I’ve gotta be in shape. I’ve gotta be prepared and I’ve gotta determine to know that I’m gonna win.
LS: So you pretty much stay in shape, and you’re prepared to take fights on short notice if absolutely necessary?
GT: Yeah, but you know, I’m a human being. It’s easy to kind of fall off shape and be like an ordinary civilian, but it’s the life of a fighter. We separate ourselves from everybody and we’ve gotta be ready. We’ve gotta be ready at all times. I know with me, I’m not having nothing handed to me, so for me to fight a big fight, it’s gonna be a phone call. It might be 2 weeks notice. It might be 3 weeks. It might be shorter than that. I’ve gotta be ready, and I know I’m gonna be the opponent, so that’s the path I’ve gotta take, and I’m prepared to win. I’m prepared to shock somebody.
LS: Last time I talked to you, you had Jeff Mayweather in your corner, and you had spent time out there with him in Vegas. How beneficial do you feel that it was to train with him?
GT: Very beneficial, because me being a country boy out here in Southern Oklahoma, it’s always been, you know, can I compete at the world-wide level with the big boys, and me going out to Jeff Mayweather, the Mayweather name… You know, that’s the name right there. That’s like, first class.
Then, getting in the gym and sparring the Zab Judahs, the Ishe Smiths upped my confidence. I knew in going out there, he’s not gonna change me in a month and a half training time, but me going out there and showing what I could do with these guys, and my work ethic, my power, my strength…. They’re gonna know, hey this kid’s for real. He’s got potential. I might be a little bit older, but I’m learning. I came up late. I started late, but every time I’m in the gym I’m coming out a better person ? a better fighter. It was very beneficial. My confidence is just boiling over the top, and you know, like I said, now’s the time. I’ve got something to prove, and I have to prove it.
LS: I know that Jeff was pleased with the progress you made while you were working with him. Right after your first round knockout of Dezi Ford, he said that you had been sparring with some top notch guys and that you held your own very well. You mentioned Judah and Smith. Who were some of the other guys you sparred with?
GT: There were some other guys. I don’t know the names, but nothing like Zab Judah. Zab Judah’s in the gym, and he’s got his people in there, and watching him work, how he works and how his team works, it lets me know what I’m doing back home, and I’m doing the same thing. I’m just not Zab Judah. I’m ?Comanche Boy? George Tahdooahnippah, and you know, it helped me. It helped me when I went home to know that I may not have Jeff Mayweather. I might not have him doing the mitt-work with me, but I’ve got a very strong team, and I was pleased with how far I came. I was pleased with the team that I’ve still got now, and I know I’m there. Like I said, I’ve got the tools, I’ve got the skills and now it’s time to pay the bills.
LS: If you get a call to face somebody like Guerrero, and you have sufficient notice, will you train with Mayweather again?
GT: Yeah. There’s always that ? going out to him again. Me, I’ve got a family, I’ve got a job and I’ve got everything here in Oklahoma. Being there [Las Vegas] gets me focused. But I’m also focused here because I know I’ve gotta take care of business. I just need to coordinate all my duties with my family and my job. Either or, I’ll handle business. If I do have time, I’ll definitely go out and train with him.
LS: You have a Bachelors degree in business administration. You have a job. You have a family, including a new baby. Is it hard to find the time to balance everything?
GT: Oh yeah, it’s hard. You know, my wife is my greatest supporter, and she helps me out so much in this. She makes all this possible. I mean, I’m the machine, but she helps fuel it through so many words of encouragement that she speaks, and it drives me. It fires me up when I’m in the gym. It takes me to another level because I believe, and I feel it in my heart. I know it’s there. I know I can do it, and with my family, I’m making a sacrifice. My kids are into playing football right now. But it ain’t gonna be forever. This boxing business is a short-term business, and while I’m in it I’ve got to give it my all, and my family realizes that. My Comanche people… Native Americans, we’ve got an extended family, and all my family, they realize that. ?He’s on that run right now, and we have to support him. We have to get behind him.? Because who’s gonna do it after me? It might be a while. So, while the ball’s in my hands right now, I’m going to try to make as much noise for the Native American people as I can.
LS: I know that you?re very proud of your Native American heritage. Talk a little bit about how important it is to you to represent Native Americans and your tribe. There aren’t a lot of Native Americans in boxing right now.
GT: Yeah, and it’s not just my tribe, it’s all tribes. You’ve got… I’ll tell you who they are: Marcus Oliveira; (20-0-1, 16 KOs) he’s Menominee. He’s fighting in the light heavyweight division. He’s just like me. I feel like we’re on the brink of breaking through, and people are gonna know who we are.
Shawn Hawk; (20-1-1, 17 KOs) he’s Sioux. Same thing. He’s another tough fighter, but besides us, there’s no one else out there on a world-wide level that’s representing athletes like the way we are, so we’ve gotta do it. It’s very important. I’ve gotta carry myself with the utmost respect, and when I perform out there on the stage, I’ve gotta bring it. I’m ready to shock everybody, that they ain’t never seen a Native American athlete out there doing it. That’s what I gotta do. To me, God sent me out here. I’m that warrior on a mission to take care of business and put our people back on the map.
LS: Well, the atmosphere was great when I attended your fight with Dezi Ford. You had so many supporters out there. I know that really must give you a big boost when you’re up there in the ring.
GT: Oh yeah. Especially when I’ve got the chance to do my ring entrance and I hear the drum. It lights a fire in me. It transforms me into the beast inside of me, I always say. Come fight time, I’m so fine-tuned. I’m in excellent shape, and my mentality is so strong. Then when I hear that drum, to me, there it is. Here comes the animal, you know? Here comes the wild animal to the ring, and now it’s time to perform. Let go of the chain, let me go and let me do what I gotta do to win.
It just does so much for me to have my people there, and just the fans in general, every fan, not just Native Americans. It’s what it’s about. I’m a performer. I perform in front of people, and it does so much for me internally. It’s what I do it for ? the fans.
LS: What would you like to say to your fans?
GT: Well, I’ve said it before that this is gonna be the year to come out, but time is ticking for me, so I’ve gotta strike now and I’ve gotta strike while it’s hot ? while everything’s good. My body’s good. My mentality’s good. The future looks bright. Comanche Boy George Tadooahnipper, 2011.
LS: Alright, man. Good luck to you, and God bless you.
GT: God bless you too, bro. I appreciate your time.
Delvin Steele of Springdale: ?Comanche Boy looked really good in his short fight against Dezi Ford. I hope he lands a big fight this year. I think he’s ready.?
