Rogers Mtagwa Interview

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This Friday Night, Hall of Fame promoter J. Russell Peltz returns to the New Alhambra in Philadelphia with the action packed Rogers “The Tiger” Mtagwa ready to square off against Aldo Valtierra with the vacant NABF featherweight title on the line. Mtagwa has had some ups and downs in his career but now his team wants to let the world know that they are gunning for a world title in the very near future and it all start on Friday night. Mtagwa and his manager Joe Parella took the time to speak with Fight News on a variety of topics and they hold nothing back!

PK: In November, you lost a hotly disputed split decision along with your USBA title back to Martin Honorio who has only defended it once, taking a split decision over Joe Morales, a fighter you previously knocked out. What is your take first on that loss and are you interested in a rematch?

RM: I will say right now we are never going back to Chicago. A lot of people thought we won that fight which took place in his hometown in front of a pro Mexican crowd. The accommodations were terrible; the dressing room was like a closet. Going to the fight the driver tells us that we are in the “opponents” corner. They stopped the fight twice to check Honorio’s eye. It was voted the USBA fight of the year but outside of a knockout there was just no way were going to win that fight.

PK: What is your take on where your career stands right now?

RM: Well I am 28 and feel that there are still some good years left. Its like we are there knocking on the door, then something like Honorio happens and now no one answers and we are back to fighting for our life. We always in an exciting fight, never avoided anyone and paid the dues.


PK: What does your fight against Aldo Valtierra this Friday mean to you?

RM: We need this fight because the goal is to fight for a world title real soon. It is about the money now and the big money is at Showtime and HBO. ESPN and Teddy Atlas tell us they really like us but there’s just not a lot of money there. We are ranked #5 in the IBF with the 2 and 3 slot vacant and we aren’t ducking anyone but we can’t take the short end anymore.


PK: What do you see happening this Friday at The New Alhambra?

RM: We expect to win. We have to fight on the inside. He throws wide lefts, looping rights, all of his power is on the outside. We aren’t looking for the knockout, if it comes it comes but Aldo has never been stopped before.

PK: How are you preparing for the fight?

RM: We brought in Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts to train for this fight and I am ready to win. I have been training really hard, have in over 100 rounds for this fight. Sometimes I need to be stopped but I have my routine. The plan is to get off first and get out.

PK: You are known as a crowd pleasing, action style fighter. Do you think this has hurt your chances of securing higher profile fights?

RM: You would be surprised at how hard it is to get fights. Not too long ago there was talk fighting Jason Litzau and we agreed to the fight. After the Alvin Brown fight, Litzau’s people called back saying we have too much experience for Jason right now and that Jason can’t make 126lbs. We wanted Jose Hernandez after he beat Litzau and they wanted no parts of us.

PK: You have lost more than your share of split and majority decisions. You mentioned the Honorio fight but any others that really stick out?

RM: Yeah, we were absolutely robbed against Agapito Sanchez in Whippany New Jersey. They gave him a majority decision but we beat the living shit out of him. I won’t say it was crooked but we definitely didn’t get a fair shake. Less than 2 months after the fight, Sanchez gets to fight for a title. I am willing to bet the contract was already in place. We asked for a rematch and the immediate answer was no. I won’t say the name but even one of Sanchez people told us we got robbed.

PK: What are some of the more memorable fights?

RM: Let’s see, knocking out Joe Morales was one of them. He was never knocked out before than and during that fight we were behind on the cards. The Fernando Trejo fight too, he usually fights at lightweight and we beat him. There was a few times where the ref could have stopped that one. We stuck in there and we pulled it out.

PK: Where are you originally from? How long have you been in the USA?

RM: I was born in Tanzania which is a poverty stricken land. I send money home and have 5 brothers that fight. My youngest brother is better than me! I want to bring them over here too. I came to this country in 2000 and live in Philadelphia. I love Philly, it’s good, and it’s my hometown now. I have a good following and I am happy to fight in front of them.

PK: Where do you train?

RM: I train out of Joe Hands Gym which is my home base but sometimes I also go to Shulers Gym because they have more work there.

PK: What are you predicting for Friday?

RM: That we will win and then going after a world title.

Thanks for your time Rogers & Joe!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can email Philly Keith at keith@phillykeith.com

Go to http://www.phillykeith.com/ for up to the minute info on the Philly boxing scene

Mike Jones Interview

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photo by Mike McGuigan

About a year ago, the people who regularly attend the fights at The New Alhambra began to ask "Who is Mike Jones?" Over the past 12 months or so fighting under the Peltz Boxing Promotions banner, Jones has let his hands do the talking, knocking opponents silly and becoming the guy many fans want to come see. Now that his name has a buzz, the question becomes, "Is he the real deal?" His team firmly believes that he is and on Friday night Mike "Machine Gun" Jones will put his perfect 8 - 0, (8ko's) record on the line against Doel Carrasquillo, a big punching ruffian from the Terry Nye Gym in Lancaster, PA in a highly anticipated elimination bout for the PA State Welterweight Title. While Jones, a graduate of Martin Luther King High School, has earned a rep as a dangerous person in the ring, outside of it he comes across as a man of respect whose top priorities are his kids, his training and realizing his goals of one day becoming a world champion. When Mike isn't with his family or in the ring, he spends his nights working at Home Depot and also recently landing a supporting role in the upcoming movie The Greek American, a cross between Rocky & Goodfellas which focuses on the life and times of a young Philly boxer in the 1960's. I recently had the chance to speak with the Machine Gun along with his managers Doc Nowicki and Jimmy Williams after wrapping up a fierce workout session with trainer Vaughn Jackson at the Philly Brawlers Boxing Gym. The Jones camp took the time to give their thoughts on the upcoming fight, plans for the future and other info that will let us know why the 24 year old Mount Airy native is here to stay.

PK: Mike, thanks for taking the time for the interview, you have a big night coming up this Friday at the New Alhambra, how are you feeling for this fight?

MJ: I feel real strong for this fight, ready to go for 8 rounds.

PK: This fight is scheduled for 8 rounds, but being that you are 8 – 0 with 8 knockouts I have to ask, do you think it will it last the entire 8?

MJ: I am always prepared to go 8 rounds, its up to the other guy to decide if he wants to stick around for 8 round and take the punishment that I give. That’s up to them.

PK: Your opponent Doel Carrasquillo has been making a name for himself as well recently, have you done anything different to prepare for this fight?

MJ: Nah man same ol’ same ol’. Same workout routine, in the gym every day and working hard. It’s gonna be the same results on July 20th.

PK:What does your training routine consist of? Getting a lot of good sparring to prepare for this fight?

MJ: Yeah I have been getting good work in with my trainer Vaughn Jackson. My routine consists of a lot of things. I jump rope, shadow box, work pads, calisthenics. I have been sparring with LaJuan Simon and Demetrius Hopkins to name a few. I’m always ready!

PK: How did you get into boxing?

MJ: Well, I was a kid, around 15 years old my dad got me into boxing. I kept bugging him and bugging him to take me to the gym so he took me down to Joe Frazier’s Gym and I have been hooked ever since.

PK: What are some of the goals you hope to accomplish as a pro boxer?

MJ: My immediate goals for the near future is to capture the state title, from there I then just want to keep taking bigger name opponents. Eventually that will lead me to winning a bigger belt, world title.

PK: You started off your career in Philly and recently you have has the opportunity to fight outside on the road, out of the comfort zone in Washington and Las Vegas. How was that different?

MJ: It was a different experience, different surroundings and all but once we get inside the ring it’s the same ol same when its one on one. You saw the results.

PK: You have earned a name around here as a knock you out, tough fighter but what’s Mike Jones like outside of the ring?

MJ: I’m a pretty modest, laid back guy. I spend a lot of time with my kids and my family; I just chill out and do my work. That’s about it.

PK: You fight at 147 lbs. what are you thoughts on the Welterweight division as a whole?

MJ: I think it real good, a lot of talented fighters in this division. I actually think it is the best division in boxing right now. I feel that I will be right up there in the near future. I give it another year and I will be ready for a Cotto, Mosley and them.

PK: Anything you would like to say as we come to a close?

MJ: Yeah, come check out the fight on July 20th at the New Alhambra or on Telefutura, witness another Mike Jones knockout!

Special thanks to J. Russell Peltz, Doc Nowicki & Jimmy Williams for making this interview possible.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can email Philly Keith at keith@phillykeith.com

Go to www.phillykeith.com for up to the minute info on the Philly boxing scene