On Monday evening, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the true nice guys of boxing. ‘The Celtic Warrior’ Bobby Gunn is the former IBA, WBC-USNBC, WBA-NABA, IBC and NABC Cruiserweight champion. His record stands at 21-4-1, with 18 knockouts.
Since Gunn’s controversial loss to Tomasz Adamek in July of 2009, he has struggled to book a decent fight. After repeatedly calling out undefeated Israeli Ran Nakash (25-0, 18 KOs), his challenge was finally accepted. Nakash vs. Gunn will take place on February 17, at Harrah’s Casino in Chester, PA.
?I’ve been inactive for near a year and a half because of the Tomasz Adamek fight, and the truth of it is, I’ve had a lot of fights to fall through,? Gunn said. I’ve had 8 fights that fell through since Adamek, and I’ve been scheduled back and forth to fight Nakash three times now. Actually, If you go to Nakash’s last fight, if you look at the open book, it talks about his win over Victor Barragan. It also talks about me fighting [Nakash] back then. That was like 6 months ago or something.?
?I’ve been working real hard. I’m supposed to fight on January 22nd at the Harrah’s Casino. My name was up originally, but they took it off Boxrec because they can’t seem to get me an opponent. Joe Mack and Don Elbaum have worked night and day, Lorne, to get me an opponent, and it’s coming to the point that [potential opponents] want double what I’m getting to fight me. They’re acting very silly. Here’s the deal: A lot of fighters reading this article, they might say ‘I’ll fight him! I’ll fight him!’, and that’s all fine and dandy, but boxing commissioner Greg Sirb will only approve certain good fighters, and the good fighters are overpricing themselves. It puts me in a heck of a position. It looks like I might have to go into Nakash without a [tuneup] fight, but the good thing of it, Lorne, I lead a very good clean life, as you know. I’m never out of the gym, and I think that will help me in the long run.?
Although Ran Nakash has an undefeated record with 25 wins, no losses and 18 knockouts, Gunn isn’t intimidated in the least, and believes he will knock out his undefeated foe. He’s not alone. One particularly well-respected boxing veteran agrees.
?George Chuvalo up in Canada told my dad… Remember George Chuvalo? He fought Ali. He told my dad that Bobby Gunn is gonna take him out in 5 or 6 rounds. This is the biggest step that Nakash has ever stepped up ? fighting Gunn. He told my dad that he would think Nakash is getting a heck of a payday, because it’s quite a gamble.?
But there’s more than bragging rights and money on the line. There will be titles as well.
?It’s gonna be 12 rounds. As of right now, there’s gonna be an IBF, I believe, North American title on the line, and a WBA Regional title. I want it so bad. I’ve been pushed crazy. If you think about it, in a year and a half, I’ve had eight fights fall through. Eight! Eight fights, Lorne, that I trained for. Not just that I got notice about them, I actually trained for them! To tell you the truth, it’s been one disappointment after another. I was told by Danny Green’s team, if I was victorious over Nakash, he would like to fight me, and then I get news that Danny Green may be retiring. He had some kind of operation. I believe his appendix burst, or something, but he’s retiring perhaps.?
?I want to say this for the record too; I’ve had so many sponsorship’s promissory notes that fell through, you know Lorne? There were so many guys that were gonna back me up and give me the best training camp of my life, and I’m not saying no names, but I want to address the truth. It’s an awful thing, Lorne, to sit and tease you, and tell you they’re gonna do this and that, and they back out. It costs a lot of money to do a real, top championship training camp, and to do it right, you’ve got to do it that way ? train like a champion and live, eat, sleep and drink it. And I’ve been doing this all by myself. I’m leaving for Canada tomorrow, and I’m gonna train in Canada with my dad. Basically, where I’m going, it’s going to look a lot like where Rocky Balboa trained for Ivan Drago in ‘Rocky IV’?. (laughs)
While Gunn has admittedly suffered a great deal of disappointment, he’s still optimistic about his future, and thankful for his team.
?But I just thank God for my team. Like I said, Don Elbaum, Joe Mack, Dave Feldman and George Kokkalenios. He’s my attorney, George Kokkalenios, and he’s been going over the contracts back and forth.?
Gunn went on to explain that there is a possibility that he may still fight on January 22, and that he feels he’s ready for whoever comes his way.
?I might still be fighting on the 22nd of this month. I’m ready to go. They wanted me to have a tuneup fight before Nakash, but to be quite honest with you, a few of my team members, like Mack and George, they don’t want me to fight because I take a chance of getting cut, then you turn around and fight Nakash 3 weeks later. But, I’m telling you, I’m ready to go tonight. I wish Ran Nakash was tonight. I’d get in my truck and drive to the arena. I’m so hungry for it.?
In Gunn’s fight with Tomasz Adamek, he feels that the stoppage occurred too early. It was obvious that Gunn was taking some hard shots, but he never went down, and never appeared to be seriously hurt. Many high-profile boxing experts have told Gunn that the fight was indeed stopped too early.
?I got so much to prove, and I wanna come right out and say this; I’m not unhappy. I’ve wished the boy the best. I’ve prayed for him. I’m his biggest fan ? Tomasz Adamek. I hope he beats Klitschko. I really do. But I’m very bitter the way they stopped the world championship fight on me. If you’re gonna beat me, let me go out on my shield like a warrior. Please don’t do something silly in a world championship fight. Because of that, I got so much still to prove. I know that in 2011, if God makes a way for me and the road is clear, I know that I can make a big splash. I do believe that I can recapture a title. I really believe it with all my heart.?
In his closing statement, Gunn spoke directly to his fans.
?I would like to say to all my fans; thank you for being patient and thinking about me. But more than anything, please keep me in your prayers because prayers work. I fight for my fans. I’ve had titles, and fought for them, but there’s nothing more than being the people’s champion, and that’s what I wanna be. I’ll fight anybody that wants to make a real fight, and if that makes my fans happy, then I’m happy. That’s really what it’s all about, Lorne.”
