TalkingBoxing Interviews
Pemberton More Than Deserving
THU May 26, JULIUS STECKER - Just as Peter Manfredo Jr. and Sergio Mora earned their opportunity at one million dollars and name recognition that could lead to millions more, there are countless others attempting to be spotted on the radar.
One guy in particular has done everything possible, yet has come up on the short end of a big day. Here are little hints as to who this top-rated contender is:
Clue One: He has participated in three of the Top 20 fights in boxing since 2002.
Clue Two: He is currently the number one WBC ranked super-middleweight contender and is the NABF Champion as well.
Give up yet.
Here is the final clue; he is one of boxing’s Top TEN most exciting fighters in the world to watch on TV or better yet live.
For all of you non-hardcore dopes who have not figured it out yet, here is your answer; his name is Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton and TalkingBoxing.com caught up with Pemberton to get his feelings about him not getting the opportunities he has rightfully earned.
“I have been in the business 13 years, and in 13 years, I have not made over 300,000 dollars,” exclaimed Pemberton, who sports a 29-3-1 record.
It's hard to imagine, literally giving your blood, sweat and tears to the sport you love along with countless fight fans memories never to be forgotten, yet Pemberton can’t afford to purchase a home of his dreams. Pemberton doesn't have an opportunity to provide the life for his family that they deserve.
Pemberton is like Arturo Gatti, minus the glory and the fame, earning a reputation the hard way, fighting on small cards, doing much like what Gatti has done minus winning world titles and fighting big name fighters.
Instead of fighting on HBO, Pemberton has fought on ESPN2 and CN8 televised fights. Add that with the fact he fights in the lackluster super-middleweight division, you have a problem.
There was talk about a third fight with Omar Sheika, but nothing is definite, and as of right now that fight is not happening.
“I love this sport, but I am getting fed up with it. There is no reason to fight Omar Sheika again, but if the money is right I will fight him. I will fight anybody if the money is right,” stated the New Bedford, Massachusetts native. “I can’t make $100,000 dollars, while some guys are out there making millions of dollars.”
While some may mistake his comments for sour grapes, you need to look at the fighter’s body of work to realize that Pemberton has done more then his share to earn the money he is looking for. Pemberton defeated respected contender Omar Sheika twice, and gave Charles Brewer a great fight back in 2002, when he was a serious underdog and now sits as the number one ranked contender, yet with all of that, there is no big fight on the horizon.
A lot of this can be attributed to rival promoters and other fighter’s view of Pemberton. "The Sandman" is seen as a high-risk low reward fight. Why risk sending your guy in there with Pemberton?
With a big right hand that has helped in his 24 wins via the knockout and the mindset to go through hell to win a fight, who is out there that can match this?
In essence that is exactly the reason Scott Pemberton should be a promoters and a networks dream, offering Excitement, Excitement, and more Excitement! What more could you ask for.
Now at age 38, the hourglass continues to churn in the wrong direction for The Sandman, but maybe boxing will get its senses together and give this man the opportunity he deserves and one that he has earned.
"I would love to fight for one million dollars, or even a half million dollars. But I have had a lot of misfortune in my career. But on a positive note, I got to go to Germany; I had an opportunity to spar with Jeff Lacy, Antonio Tarver, Fernando Vargas, and Glencoffee Johnson. But I want to make money, and I want to buy a home for my family," Pemberton said in closing.
So promoters, and networks if you are reading, wake-up and give this man a real money fight. Blood has been spilled and dues have been paid. But now justice needs to be served in Scott Pemberton’s favor.
