|
Philippines, 30 Jan 2025 |
Home >> News |  |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
The (Not so) Over-The-Hill-Gang John Brown & Al Valenti Directing blue-chip prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero to top PhilBoxing.com Tue, 28 Jan 2025  (L-R) – Al Valenti & John Brown KANSAS CITY, Kan. (January 27, 2025) – John Brown, 77, and 74-year-old Al Valenti are boxing lifers with 104 combined years of invaluable experience. They have teamed for one last time to direct the professional boxing career of blue-chip prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero (4-0, 3 KOs), the 19-year-old super middleweight sensation from Olathe, Kansas. Brown is a living legend in boxing from the Great Plains, who during his 65 years in boxing has trained an overwhelming 18,000 students, managed and trained Tommy “The Duke” Morrison to the world heavyweight title in 1993, and also created equipment-altering Ringside Boxing. Valenti is a third-generation boxing promoter following in the footsteps of his grandfather Rip, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012, and his father, Freddy. Rip started promoting shows at the Boxing Garden in the 1930’s and staged the early pro fights for Hall of Famers Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tony DeMarco and Freddie Roach among many others. Al has promoted approximately 200 pro and amateur events around the world. Brown and Valenti got into boxing for completely different reasons: Brown got into trouble with the police as a teenager because he was born in South Saint Louis with a cleft palate and lip, which resulted in neighborhood kids making fun of him because of his appearance and speech impediment. Lots of fights, to say the least, but John fell in love with boxing once he stepped into the gym, where he watched a boxer training and walking around, Sonny Liston. “I was in awe of Sonny Liston and by then boxing was my life,” Brown explained. “Once I learned how to box there weren’t many fights because I got respect, which changed my life because I was going in the wrong way. I fought in the Golden Gloves in four open fights, but I realized these other guys were really good, which would put my plastic surgery repaired face at risk. I quickly found out I got hit a lot less coaching. I stopped boxing after my third (of seven total) operation. “I started coaching the boxing team at St. Benedict’s College in Kansas and later moved to Kansas City following my future wife and was asked if I’d like to coach boxing at a gym, Tomahawk Boxing Club, which was located on a golf course. It was small and in the basement of a school, where it was successful. I had a sales job that I didn’t like and in 1971, I became a juvenile court probation officer, which gave me the opportunity to take the kids to the gym.” Valenti, on the other hand, never really had a chance. Boxing ran through his blood and as Al says, the apple really didn’t fall far from the tree. “I wanted to be a sportswriter and worked weekends at the Boston Herald,” Valenti remembered, “but I navigated to Boston Garden Pizza. The first amateur show I promoted was in 1985 at Hormel Stadium (in Medford, MA). I was an usher at the 1974 AAY Boxing Championships when I first saw Hagler fight, and not long after that I decided to get into (selling) Closed Circuit pay-per-view. I did very well with that (he still does), especially at racetracks all over New England. By the time Micky Ward fought John Rafuse (1986) at Lowell Auditorium, I was totally immersed in boxing.” Valenti promoted shows that featured Ward, Robbie Sims and Dana Rosenblatt, in addition to being involved promoting major events like Mike McCallum vs. Steve Collins at Hynes Convention Center, and Ricky Hatton vs. Luis Collazo at Boston Garden. Romero was a phenom, a 23-time national amateur champion who Brown has already trained for a decade. The only other fighter John has trained who turned pro was Morrison (48-3-1, 42 KOs) from his amateur days through his first 39 pro fights, 1988 to 1993. Brown served as Morrison’s manager/trainer and his role is the same with Romero, only this ride is significantly more enjoyable for him. But why are these two septuagenarians still in boxing? “I love the sport of boxing,” Browned answered. “Today, I own the largest, most successful gym in America (Turner Boxing Academy in Kansas City, KS), and I wanted to create another great fighter. I told Marco that I’d be involved with him as a professional only if I could make him wealthy and keep him healthy. So, unlike Tommy Morrison he needs to have good defense, be a good kid, and internally motivated. After he won his 10th national title, I believed he could be the one, and he has continued his success. “I remember seeing (former KC Royals player) Pete Lacock visiting a children’s hospital to make patients happy. I ’ve been there in that hospital room with no hope and I’ve never forgotten that. I think a star can also be a hero by making people forget the nightmare they’re living. What a great gift! It’s my dream to create a star/hero and I see that in Marco. I know he’s from a classic Mexican family who has been disciplined and raised him to understand what’s right and wrong. He has those traits to make and keep him a star. Marco had a very successful amateur career, and indications so far are the same as a pro. I always tell him he needs to be obsessed with success. I had to promote myself when I owned Ringside Boxing because I was so obsessed with being successful. I’m teaching Marco what it takes to be obsessed with in boxing.” Brown and Valenti have been close finds and associates for more than 30 years and once Brown decided to turn Romero pro, he contacted Valenti to join him on what would likely be their final journey in the Sweet Science. “I know who Al is and I think he’s the best promoter I’ve ever worked with,” Brown said. “He has great connections in boxing and to know Al is to like him. Look what he did with Hagler, Ward, Ruiz, and others. Our success with Marco will be as a team. It’ll be more fun with Al, and this is more of a priority because of our ages. Neither Al nor I need this project to feed ourselves. Any decision we make will be in Marco’s best interest, not how much money we can make. We’re along for the ride.” The respect Brown and Valenti have for each other is so rare in boxing, which often is back-stabbing, even among friends. Because he hadn’t reached the mandatory age of 18, compounded by his weight class (super middleweight) wasn’t included in 2024 Olympic boxing, Romero never seriously considered waiting for a shot at making the U.S. Olympic Team. Instead, his immediate vision was to embark on his professional career. Brown and Valenti first met approximately three years ago with Marco’s parents to build a plan and so far, it’s right on target. The Romero Plan never included The Olympics, so the key was capturing gold medals in his last two elite tournaments, the USA Boxing National Championships and National Golden Gloves. Not only did he accomplish that, but he was also named Most Outstanding Boxer (Golden Boy Award) at The Golden Gloves. “I’m involved with Marco as an adviser because I believe in John as a person,” Valenti remarked, “especially his sincerity and approach. John is a wonderful human being and great to be around. I believe in what he sees, so we are cultivating this kid. Look at how many fighters John has trained. He is the quintessential boxing trainer. John is a genius. His credentials speak for themselves. He’s won everything. We built a framework, and the last two years couldn’t have been scripted any better. This is the essence of my life’s work. I think Marco is like Oscar de la Hoya as a fighter and marketing-wise. ‘Canelo’ (Alvarez) has captivated everybody like Oscar. Who’s next? Marco can be The Guy! And he’s only 19. “This is a fascinating time for us. It’s a challenge. Our plan in 2025 is for him to fight four or five times, including at least once in Kansas City, where he already is very marketable. By the end of the year, he should be close to double-digit wins with more recognition within the industry. There are only so many stars and there will be a lot of changes by the end of 2025, early 2026, when we will likely decide about signing with a promoter. John and I understand each other and that makes us understand what Marco has to do to get to the top.” Other integral members of Romero’s corner include assistant coaches Sergio Flores and Marco’s father, Salvador Romero, who encouraged his son to become a boxer at the tender age of seven. “I first met John in 2016 when I came to his gym from another,” Romero remembered. “He welcomed me, and he took a liking to me after watching me train. I decided to stay with him for my future and he’s been guiding me in boxing ever since. John’s much more than my trainer, he is like another father-figure for me, and I’m so blessed to have him in my corner. Al has really been helping us as I get used to the pro scene that’s new to me. He’s like my fun uncle in boxing. “In this sport you need confidence in your team, or you won’t get anywhere, and I’m very confident in our team. I’ve known John for years and now Al has joined us to help. It’s good to know that they see the potential in me. They keep putting things together to get me where I want to be. It’s also important because everybody on the team knows their role. I work hard to get ready for every fight. I’m very happy with everything that’s happened on my way to get on the big stage.” 
(L-R) – Marco Romero & John Brown “Marco is like Hailey’s Comet,” Brown concluded, “and I’m lucky to have my second.”  |
|
|
PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general. Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com |
PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
developed and maintained by dong secuya © 2025 philboxing.com. |
