Tag Archives: Hammering

Posted on 07/18/2017

Hank Lundy: “I’d beat Broner and Garcia”
By: Ben Sutherland

It’s February 27th, 2016. It’s the 5th round at Madison Square Garden. After some early success in the fight, Hank Lundy is up against the ropes as Terrence Crawford tees off. The referee decides he has seen enough and jumps in. The fight is over.

“That fight was stopped too early” says an incensed Hank Lundy, “I was still throwing back. They knew how dangerous I was and the ref stopped it as soon as he could”. Speaking a year and a half on from that fight, the loss clearly still cuts deep for the man from Philadelphia. His mean competitive streak burns at him for another shot at a world title.

Following the Crawford fight, Lundy has had a couple of comeback fights. He made relatively light work of both John Delperdang and Daniel Evangelista Jr to take two comfortable wins. But now he is back and ready for another shot at the big time, “Hammerin Hank is back and better than ever” he says.

It was in an encounter with the high school bully that left the bully asleep on the ground, that Hank first realized that he could fight. His uncle also quickly realized the potential that a young Lundy harbored and immediately got him into the boxing gym. Lundy sacrificed a partial college football scholarship so his family could afford to send his sister to college. “I told them I’d find another way” says Lundy, and boxing proved to be exactly that.

He had a promising amateur career, finishing runner up at the 2005 national Golden Gloves and then another runner up spot at the Pan-Am championships. In 2006, Lundy turned pro signing with Jimmy Burchfield and Classic Entertainment sports. Fighting primarily out of New England, Lundy stormed through his early fights which allowed him to carve out a strong reputation. His brave and aggressive fighting style made him exciting to watch and it wasn’t long before the big time came calling.

Lundy’s first big test came against the feared Viktor Postol. “When my promoter comes to me and asks if I want a hard fight or an easier option, I take the hard one every time” says Lundy. Lundy flew over to Postol’s native country of Ukraine and took him all 12 rounds, losing a decision on enemy turf. This set him up for his world title shot against Terrence Crawford. A loss that hit him hard, but by no means broke the man from South Philly for who sadly, adversity is nothing new.

His thoughts now turn to another world title shot. True to his fearless nature, Lundy doesn’t care who he fights, he just wants a world title. Lundy has a keen eye on the upcoming clash between Adrien Broner and Mikey Garcia. Lundy was called in to spar by both camps but he refused, “they just want to get a better look at me” he says, “They know I’d beat both of them, everyone is running scared of me”.

Hammerin Hank Lundy did it the hard way, rising from the streets of South Philly to the top flight of boxing. Nobody ever gave him anything, he had to go out and get it, and that’s why he is so dangerous in the ring. Lundy is back fighting at 135lb and he is better than ever. If not Garcia or Broner then he wants either Terry Flanagan or Robert Easter Jr. He says he will beat all of them but the boxing public will just have to wait and see.

Posted on 06/01/2017

“Hammering” Hank Lundy & Jaron “Boots” Ennis in Philly Friday!
By: Ken Hissner

Lightweight “Hammering” Hank Lundy, 27-6-1 (13), returns to Philadelphia for the first time since 2009. Also on the card is Philly’s welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 11-0 (9), the best looking prospect in Philadelphia since 1984 Olympian Meldrick Taylor. Peltz Boxing, BAM Boxing and now Raging Babe continue to bring the fans competitive bouts.

Peltz is an IBHOF promoter and matchmaker. Brittany Rogers is one of the youngest promoter-matchmakers in the country and though in her 20’s knows her boxing especially learning from Peltz who goes back to 1969 when he promoted his first show.

There was a press conference Wednesday night at the Xfinity Center in South Philadelphia. There are eleven bouts scheduled but by fight night Friday several will probably be cut out. Boxing Director Greg Sirb gets quite upset when there are more than seven bouts. Raging Babe speaks Spanish and was able to speak to the main event opponent of Lundy in Danny Evangelista, Jr., 20-7-2 (16), from Mexico City in a scheduled 8 round bout.

Lundy is quite outspoken and though failed in a title fight with unbeaten Terrance Crawford at 140 proclaims he will be the 135 champ. He has lost 3 of his last 5 fights and was backed by his promoter from CES Promotions out of Rhode Island telling all in attendance about Lundy fighting Crawford with an injury.

When boxers return to their home base Peltz said in so many words they are at the end of their career. Lundy is 33 and in his eleventh year of boxing. He has returned to his trainer “Cornbread” Ramey who is one of the most respected trainers in Philadelphia.

On the other hand Ennis is trained by his father “Bozy” Ennis who may be the best or one of the best trainers in the city and runs “Bozy’s Dungeon” in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. His son has won all 11 fights in but his fourteenth month since turning professional in April of 2016 under manager Cameron Dunkin. Dunkin chose Chris Middendorf’s Victory Promotions instead of Top Rank who are one and have been one of the best promotional groups in the country for years. Middendorf promoted a pair of shows in Philadelphia and hopefully won’t be returning after the mismatches he put on. Ennis has fought 6 of his 11 fights in Philadelphia and another in close by Bristol, PA. His bout is against Wilfredo “EllZurdo” Acuna, 16-20 (12), of Mauagua, NIC, scheduled for 6 rounds.

Also on hand were super welterweight Mark Daniels, Jr., 3-0 (1), a Native American from Crandon, WI, who as Peltz said was “not hesitant to come to Philadelphia to fight a Philadelphian in Isaiah Wise, 4-1 (3), who is a tough opponent and that’s the way Peltz does his matchmaking putting on competitive fights. This is for 6 rounds.

Well known trainer Don Turner now having a camp in Arapahoe, NC, is from the Philadelphia and brings in a pair of boxers to debut here knowing this area will develop out of town boxers as it did in “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler and Eddie Mustapha Muhammad. He has brought with him super welterweight Ishmael Altman who will face Philadelphia’s Tyree Crowder also in his debut. The other from NC is southpaw Heriberto Polanco who will fight Brooklyn’s Omar Kabary Salem, both in their debuts.

In a welterweight bout two out of state boxers face each other in a 6 round bout in Juan Reyna, 6-6-1 (2), of Brownsville, TX, against Alvin “Iron Majik” Varmall, Jr., 10-0-1 (8), of Catskill, NY. Philadelphia’s prospect Scott Kelleher, 5-0 (3), is returning to action after 13 months and will meet Dion Richardson, 1-1 (1), of Newark, NJ. Another prospect from Philadelphia is Crystian Peguero, 1-0 (1), who made his debut in March. He will meet Saquan Felton, 0-1, from Rochester, NY. Peltz said “I’m bringing a match between lightweight Marko Bailey, 4-0 (3), of Durham, NC, and Vinnie Denierio, 1-1 (10) of Geneva, NY, who I was told was a barnburner in their recent meeting.

Peltz doesn’t always care if the boxers are from the city if he knows they will give the fans something to cheer about.
Philadelphia’s super lightweight Nahir Albright, 1-1 (0), will meet debuting Sultan Zamir Uulu, of KYR now living in Philadelphia. Finally Philadelphia’s welterweight Marcel Rivers, 1-0 (1), meets Jamaal Gregory, 1-0 (1), of Charlotte, NC.

First bout is at 7:30PM and you know a Peltz show always starts on time. It is at the 2300 Arena at 2300 S. Swanson St. at the Front and Oregon area. Peltz said the event is already sold out.