By: Sean Crose
“My father was an expert,” rising bantamweight John Leonardo tells me, “so I simply adopted in his steps just about.” Certain sufficient, New Jersey’s Leonardo comes from boxing inventory, his father having been an expert middleweight. Certainly, the senior Leonardo additionally gave his son the nickname the junior Leonardo now goes by – Physique Shot. “My dad was a physique puncher,” Leonardo says, “the most effective physique punchers. That was one thing that was instilled in my thoughts.” The senior Leonardo additionally appears to have helped instill a high quality model for his son. Combating behind a excessive guard and a powerful jab, Leonardo is aware of learn how to keep vary whereas making use of strain within the ring.
He’s going to have a golden alternative to showcase these abilities this Could eleventh, when he takes on Frank Gomez on the Tropicana Lodge and On line casino in Atlantic Metropolis. The Tony Jeter promoted Leonardo-Gomez combat is being seen as a highpoint of that evening’s Boxing Insider card. “I don’t know a lot about him,” Leonardo says of Gomez. “I’ve seen loads of movie of him. It’s not one thing I’ve been nervous about.” What’s extra, Leonardo has been making ready to return to the ring for the primary time since August – when he gained a unanimous resolution over Dominique Griffin – for months now. The ten-1-1 Leonardo certainly had one other combat lined up, but it fell via, which implies the 23 yr outdated is now desperate to return to motion.
“On a regular basis I just about work out 3 times a day,” Leonardo tells me. “I field each evening.” The person is nothing if not disciplined even by skilled boxing requirements. He’s additionally prepared to embrace lower than conventional types of coaching. “I attempt to choose it up nearly like I’m operating,” he tells me of the swimming routine he’s utilized to his combat preparation. “I often do between 50-60 laps and each few laps I attempt to choose it up.” Suffice to say, the younger fighter likes to swim nonstop to be able to get probably the most out of his pool periods.
He might solely have been combating professionally since 2021, however boxing has clearly been part of Leonardo’s life for fairly a while. Earlier than turning professional, the Every day Information Golden Glove winner earned himself a powerful novice resume. “I had over 65 novice fights,” he says. “I gained the New Jersey Golden Gloves. I additionally gained the Diamond Gloves for New Jersey….I fought abroad in Sweden as an novice, and Denmark with the New York Metro Staff.” So far as the longer term goes, nevertheless, Leonardo has his eye on a significant prize. “I’m trying to get into the highest ten,” he tells me. “Clearly my purpose is to win a world title. That’s the massive purpose.”
Tickets for Boxing Insider Promotion’s Could eleventh card could be bought at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/boxing-insider-live-professional-boxing-atlantic-city-new-jersey-05-11-2024/occasion/02006076BA7B700C
