PALM SPRINGS, CA – A funny thing happened at the end of a long, cold and rainy day for Arthur Abraham and his six-man team during Day 2 of training for his match against Andre Dirrell on Showtime March 6;.
Abraham had just finished an interview inside the Agua Caliente Casino and Resort with a Showtime advance team.
As we headed to dinner inside the casino’s famous Steakhouse, World Boxing Organization Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck, an Abraham teammate, was just killing time and casually dropped a dollar into the alluring Marilyn Monroe slot machine. A few seconds later he had stuffed $800 in his pocket and was continuously saying “I love America!”
Abraham, of Berlin, Germany, eased into his final month of preparation for his fight with Dirrell as part of the World Boxing Classic Super Six Super Middleweight (168 lbs.) Tournament on the Showtime Network.
The team arrived Monday from Germany and was clearly feeling the affects of jet lagand a drastic time zone change.
In the morning we headed out to Coachella, CA just 15 miles from our Palm Springs base where friendly local and veteran trainer Lee Espinoza is making his two – ring gym available for the duration of the promotion.
The first thing I realized about Team Abraham is that these are experienced travelers and savvy boxing people.
Abraham just doesn’t let minor distractions or inconveniences bother him. This is serious mind control and part of the reason he won the International Boxing Federation Middleweight Championship and made 10 successful title defenses.
Tuesday, after stretching alongside Huck, Abraham, 30-0 (25 KO’s), worked over aheavybag per instructions of veteran trainer Ulli Wegner.
The trainer became a very respected man over the years by training European superstars and world champions Abraham, Marcus Beyer, and Sven Ottke among others.
Abraham and Huck then slipped between the ropes and stretched further.
No mitt work or sparring on this day.
Sparring partners will be flying and driving in over the coming days.
This is a major production for Abraham’s promoter Sauerland Event. He has one publicist on the scene now, along with international matchmaker Don Majeski and myself.
If Abraham is successful deeper into the tournament, Sauerland Event could soon be looking into promoting in America. Sauerland is the biggest and most powerful promoter in Europe.
So far the team has made three trips to the local Walmart and two to T-Mobile.
Let’s see if Mr. Huck can be a lucky tomorrow.
