Talking Boxing with JERSON RAVELO
THE PRIDE OF NEWARK NEW JERSEY IS BACK!
by Danny Serratelli
11/10 - Super-middleweight rising star Jerson Ravelo, 14-1, along with 9 KO’s, returned to the ring on October 1st and took a decision over a tough opponent in Muhammad Said, 15-2. The 27-year old Ravelo made his CMX "Boxeo de Campeones" debut against an opponent who had won 11 of his last 12 bouts. Needless to say, Ravelo pounded out a decision victory is his first 10-round bout, also taking a step in the right direction in his quest for supremacy in the super-middleweight division. The Dominican native now fighting out of Newark, NJ has his sights set on a future match with IBF champion Jeff Lacy. "Lacy and I will meet up someday, maybe not soon, but we will meet up, definitely." Read on for much more with this top young prospect as BraggingRightsCorner columnist Danny Serratelli goes one-on-one in an exclusive interview!

JERSON RAVELO

Danny Serratelli: What’s up Jerson? I know your rise to the top of the 168-pound division has been delayed by a few different injuries, how have they healed?

Jerson Ravelo: My injuries have healed pretty good, from time to time I still get back spasms, my wrist sometimes gets sore, but nothing I can’t deal with. I feel good enough to get in there and deal with any of these super middleweights out there.

Danny Serratelli: Do you have you next fight set yet, and how did it feel to go 10 rounds for the first time in your last fight?

Jerson Ravelo: At the current time, I don’t have anything set up, I’m dying to fight though. I wish I could fight every month that’s how good I feel. My last fight I could have fought another 10 rounds after it was over.

Danny Serratelli: Who would you want to fight at this point of your career and in the future?

At this point in my career, I would want to fight anyone who’s going to get me closer to a title shot

Jerson Ravelo

Jerson Ravelo: At this point in my career, I would want to fight anyone who’s going to get me closer to a title shot. I want to fight fighters that are gonna set me up for big fights, like Jeff Lacy, Manny Sciaca, Joe Calzaghe and the other guy with the WBC, that’s what I’m working towards at this time.

Danny Serratelli: Tell me a little bit about the history between you and Jeff Lacy?

Jerson Ravelo: Well Lacy and I fought 3 times as amateurs. We first fought in the PAL’s which were held in Florida, a fight I thought I won, but it was awarded to Jeff. Then we met up in the US Challenge, which is a tournament to qualify for either the Pan Am Games or the World Championships. That fight I got the decision, even though I had the feeling USA boxing was trying to screw me once again. I actually put Lacy down with a clean hook, and after the ref gave him the 8 count, he then deducted a point from me, for what he said was a slap that caused the knockdown, then finally we faced each other in the Olympic Trials in Florida once more - Did I mention Jeff was from Florida?? Lacy and I will meet up someday, maybe not soon, but we will meet up, definitely.

Danny Serratelli: What did you think of his performance, winning the IBF Super-middleweight title against Syd Vanderpool, and his upcoming fight with Omar Sheika?

Jerson Ravelo: I thought Jeff had a good showing against Vanderpool. I thought he had a little bit of trouble the first few rounds with Vanderpool boxing him and everything, but when Vanderpool decided to trade with him, then it became Jeff’s fight. His upcoming fight with Sheika, I don’t have much to say about that fight. I think that’s just a safe fight for Lacy that his handlers picked. They know Sheika will come to fight, which is exactly the kind of fights that favor Jeff, it will be a different fight if Omar decides to box him.

Danny Serratelli: I know you’ve been living in Newark, New Jersey since you’re a young kid, so how did it feel to have the opportunity to return to the Dominican Republic to represent their Olympic team in Australia in 2000?

Jerson Ravelo: It actually felt pretty good representing my country of Dominican Republic. The people over there showed me a lot of respect, and I greatly appreciate the opportunity that was given to me.

Danny Serratelli: What happened with that fight? I watched it on the small TV in the gym; it was a bad decision.

Jerson Ravelo: Once I got to the Olympics it was a different story. I drew the Australian the first round of the competition, and I knew right away I had my hands full. The decision was so bad that Paul Miller (the Australian fighter) and his corner actually congratulated me when the fight was over before the results were read.

Danny Serratelli: What was your amateur record?

Jerson Ravelo: I was 96-15 as an amateur, and I’m currently 14-1 9KO'S as a pro.

Danny Serratelli: Are there any other fighters you fought as an amateur that you think you may end up fighting as a pro?

Jerson Ravelo: I beat a lot of good fighters back in the amateur days, but some have gone up in weight, others have gone down in weight. The only guys from the amateurs that would make sense for me to fight in the pros would be Jeff Lacy and Jermain Taylor depending on how long he could hold 160 pounds.

Jermain [Taylor] and I never fought as amateurs, but it’s definitely a possibility that it could happen in the pros

Jerson Ravelo

Danny Serratelli: Did you ever fight Jermain as an amateur, and do you think you guys may end up fighting each other as pros?

Jerson Ravelo: Jermain and I never fought as amateurs, but it’s definitely a possibility that it could happen in the pros. I fought most of my pro fights under the 168-pound limit, which means I could make 160 with the right preparations if I had to make it.

Danny Serratelli: Tell me what happened in the David Lopez fight? After seeing you fight for many years, I was shocked and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in that fight. After a while it didn’t look like you in there any more.

Jerson Ravelo: My fight with David Lopez was actually something good for me. I know that saying that losing a fight was good sounds kind of crazy, but I will explain why. Before the David Lopez fight I was really bored with boxing. I had gotten injured many times, and it seemed that I couldn’t wait to get over one injury to jump into another one. I had back problems, came back from that, then my first fight back I break my right hand, and had to get two surgeries. So I thought that my career would never be the same and that I would never be the same again, and that’s exactly how I fought the fight.

Danny Serratelli: How did you feel about the stoppage? I did not agree with it.

Jerson Ravelo: I felt the stoppage was not right because after the second knockdown I got right up. The bell rang (ending the 9th round) and I went to my corner, the ref followed me to the corner, asked me if I was alright and I told him yes, don’t stop the fight, and that’s exactly what he did! I would love to fight David Lopez again, but I know he will never fight me again. I’m sure David Lopez saw the tapes of me before the fight, and he knows the guy he fought on April 2nd was not the Jerson Ravelo he saw on those tapes, so in a way he knows he got lucky.

Danny Serratelli: What are your goals in boxing?

Jerson Ravelo: I would love to someday become a world champion, just like any fighter who steps between those ropes. I see myself with a world title by next year, 2005. I should have been ranked in the top 10 a long time ago if you ask me. Out of all the 2000 Olympians I was the first to reach double-digit wins. While the other guys had only 7 or 8 fights and were already in the top 10, but I guess everything doesn’t come easy to everyone in this world, that’s why when I win my World Title it will be very sweet.

Danny Serratelli: I know you’ve been through several trainers in a short time, who’s training you now?

Jerson Ravelo: I’m currently training with Oscar Suarez, one of the best trainers in the business. I know Oscar will take me to the next level, I’m always in great shape, and always training even when I have no fights scheduled. Hopefully I will be fighting soon.

Danny Serratelli: Is there anything else you would like to tell the BraggingRightsCorner readers and your friends and fans out there?

Jerson Ravelo: I would like to thank everyone who supports me and everyone who never gave up on me, because even I gave up on myself at one point, but all that is history now. Jerson Ravelo is definitely the best super middleweight in the world, and is back to prove it!

Questions? Comments? Email Danny Serratelli at dserratelli.s@nyls.edu

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