Joel Casamayor
 Joel CasamayorBoxingInsider.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on April 11th, 2008 | Options:  Print This Article  Email This Article  RSS |
STATUS: Former WBA Super Featherweight champ.
HT: 5-6 1/2 WT: 130
AGE: 31
CHILDHOOD HERO: Teofilo Stevenson. Three-time Olympic champion. He could box with all the qualities. He had everything, that tremendous speed and that beautiful jab. Followed by the right hand. He used all kinds of body shots, used his legs, danced in the ring. No one can box like that in these times. There are no complete fighters today.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Baseball, helping the little boys in the gym, spend time with family of course, play basketball, tennis.
NICKNAME: Cepillo (means brush).
EARLY BOXING MEMORY: We were watching some amateur boxing recently. And it made me think back to my early days of boxing (age 9). There was a gym in my neighborhood (Guantanamo, Cuba). We went to competition against other neighborhoods. I never forget how my father (Raymundo) look at me so proud, with a shine in his eyes when I win. From there, I went to provincials, then to national competitions. My collection of medals was increasing. I’d look at the wall…it’s getting too full [smiles]! I have won more than 300 trophies and over 100 medals. All kinds of medals. Sometimes I won trophies in Europe that were almost my size!
FAVORITE MEAL: Lobster.
FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: Vanilla.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Enter The Dragon with Bruce Lee.
MUSICAL TASTES: Salsa, merengue, bachata (Dominican music).
PRE-FIGHT MEAL: Spaghetti, chicken breast, and always a little bit of sweets.
PRE-FIGHT FEELING: I used to be a little nervous as a boy. Now, I’m very relaxed, calm. Almost sleepy. Once before a fight, the doctor said to me, Your blood pressure was 100% normal, even. This is the first time I have ever saw a boxer so calm. You look like you’re going to a party. I said, Yeah, I am going to a party. I know they are afraid of me. I do my talking in the ring. I had over 400 amateur fights. I’ve been to Europe, China, Thailand…they always put the mean look on their face. Every 20 years a great fighter comes out of Cuba. Last time it was Stevenson. This time it’s me. I’m the best there is. And I will soon prove it.
GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT: When I won the gold medal in the ’92 Olympics in Barcelona. That was the greatest moment, raising my arm. I beat (Wayne) McCullough (who suffered a shattered eye socket).
MOST PAINFUL MOMENT: When I defected before the Olympic Games of ’96. I was in training camp in Guadalajara, Mexico, getting ready for the Atlanta Games. The coaches were forcing me to make 119. They didn’t treat me like a champion. They never gave me the honor of someone who had done so much for my country. I thought of the pressure they put on me to make 119. It was very difficult for me to make that weight. ‘If you do not make 119, we will send you back to Cuba.’ People knew I was supposed to win a gold medal in ’96. But I made a decision. You cannot eat off gold medals. Me and Ramon Garbey told the security guard we were going to buy some bottled water. We never went back. I left my family, friends, teammates. The worst part is I never got to say goodbye to anyone. I missed my daughter so much. But I wanted to be free.
WORST INJURY: A little cut on my eye from a head butt in Connecticut. (Against) a guy from Georgia (W6 over Eugene Johnson in ’96). I’ve never been on the canvas.
PEOPLE MOST ADMIRED: I’m a straight guy. I like a real man. I’m a very serious, passionate and honest person.
FAVORITE BOXERS TO WATCH: The reality is nobody really impresses me. I watch Mike Tyson, Shane Mosley, I still like and respect Trinidad. The only person who can impress me is a heavyweight who moved quickly, who could box with the qualities of Teofilo Stevenson. There are no complete fighters today. I can’t even say Bernard Hopkins.
JOEL ON FREITAS: This is the fifth time I am preparing to fight this guy. He canceled five times with different excuses. Freitas has no heart. He has no balls. And he has shaky legs. He is scared of me. And he has good reason to be scared because I am going to bust him up. I will hurt him, step away, give him a moment to think he can recover, step in again and just keep putting pressure on him. I will cut him down. I will punish him for making me wait so long.
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