First Pro Boxing Show in Coffeeville History is Big Success!

Skyy South Boxing Gym hosted the Coffeeville Classic - Round 1!  The show featured two professional bouts and Golden Gloves Sparring.  In the Pro bouts, Israel "Kid Izzy" Luna won a four round decision over Ricky Dinkins.  Luna was the three time Colombian National Champ before turning pro under the Skyy Banner.  He is now 3-0 with 2 knockouts.  In the main event, Keandrae "Lightning" Leatherwood won by 2nd round knockout over Scoey Fields.  Leatherwood, who has appeared on Showtime TV, is also with Skyy and improved his record to 13-2-1.

In sparring, Skyy boxer KeEric Hinton, who won the 2013 Alabama Golden Gloves, Thomas Knox, Deon Nicholson, Shawn Mason, DeTron Burton, Amber Rockwell, and Victoria Maloney all showed excellent skills and put on a great exhibition of boxing for the fans.

The event was free to the public.  Special guests included boxers Deontay Wilder and Thomas Howard.

LIVE BOXING AT SKYY SOUTH BOXING GYM!!!

We are hosting LIVE BOXING on Sunday, December 15th at 1 pm at Skyy South Boxing Gym in Coffeeville!  There will be a statewide judges and refs clinic at 11 am, followed by live boxing at 1 pm. This even is FREE to the public and will feature up and coming stars Keandrae "Lightning" Leatherwood and Colombian Champ Israel "Kid Izzy" Luna.

Interview wth Deontay Wilder

Tuscaloosa's Deontay Wilder could be in line for heavyweight title shot

By D.C. Reeves

Sports Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Monday, October 28, 2013 at 5:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 11:39 p.m.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. | After 30 wins and 30 knockouts, a world title shot could be next for Tuscaloosa's Deontay Wilder.

Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Wilder's promotional company, Golden Boy Promotions, said he is working on a fight between Wilder (30-0, 30 KO) and Canadian Bermane Stiverne (22-1-1, 20 KO) for the WBC heavyweight title.

Schaefer made the announcement following Wilder's fourth-round TKO of Nicolai Firtha at Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night.

Schaefer said discussions between Golden Boy and Stiverne's representatives about a potential match are ongoing.

“(Wilder-Stiverne) was the plan, that is the plan,” Schaefer said. “I'm going to do whatever is in my power to get it done because I know (Wilder) is going to do everything in the ring to make that plan come true.”

The opportunity for a world championship arises because current WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, 42, plans to run for president in his home country of Ukraine in 2015 and will likely vacate the belt.

There are a couple of hurdles, however.

First, Klitschko will have to officially notify the WBC that he is vacating the title. Schaefer believes that announcement will come in December.

The second hurdle is the WBC will have to agree to award the vacated belt to the Wilder-Steverne winner. Discussions between Schaefer and the WBC are ongoing.

Stiverne, 34, is the No. 1 contender in the WBC rankings and was scheduled to fight Klitschko for the title in August. The fight was postponed when Klitschko suffered a hand injury.

Wilder is the WBC's No. 3 contender behind Chris Arreola in the WBC's latest rankings, causing uncertainty about whether the WBC would agree to give the Stiverne-Wilder winner the title outright.

A Stiverne-Wilder bout carries more intrigue because Stiverne just beat Arreola by unanimous decision in April. Schaefer said there is the possibility for a “doubleheader,” to crown a champion; Arreola could be allowed to fight the Stiverne-Wilder winner for the belt or the less likely scenario that Wilder would get the winner of a Stivern-Arreola rematch.

“The fact is that Deontay and Arreola are both in position to fight for the heavyweight title of the world, there's no doubt about it. We'll just have to see,” Schaefer said. “I think it might be easier and more sellable from the first get-go to have Stiverne fight Wilder because they haven't fought yet.”

World title or not, a fight with Stiverne would be Wilder's biggest test to date. A win could help quiet criticism that Wilder's resume lacks a quality opponent.

“We don't really care about what people think about us or what they are saying about us,” Wilder said. “We've got a goal, we've got a plan, we're on a mission. We're going through the orders that we've got and we're keeping the plan that we have until the mission is complete.”

Schaefer believes the 28-year-old Wilder is ready for the next step.

“He has impressed me immensely. I think he really has an opportunity to become the heavyweight champion,” Schafer said. “He's terrific, he's a very charismatic guy outside of the ring, he's exactly the kind of person and personality we have been waiting (on) in the United States and hoping for to carry on the rich tradition we have for the heavyweight championship of the world.

“He is the guy I think who can do it.”

An awesome display of sportsmanship in the locker room

Back in the locker room for post-bout smiles all around!!

Post-fight interview

Deontay emerges victorious with a 4th round KO, raising his record to 30-0 (30 KO's)!

Who is that masked man, anyway?

Deontay warms up in the locker room before the big bout!!

Team Wilder poses for a picture before heading to the arena

Team Wilder!!

Front row, left to right:  Russ Anber, Cuz Hill, Mark Breland, Jay Deas

Back: Deontay Wilder

Deontay and former Skyy Boxing Pro fighter Melicia (Sanders) Schauble

Deontay eats cake at the weigh-in??

Team Wilder is all business during lunch!!

Skyy Boxing Pro Fighter Deontay Wilder fights Nicolai Firtha in Atlantic City

Deontay Wilder, one of Skyy Boxing Gym's professional fighters, arrives in Atlantic City with Coach Jay Deas (owner of Skyy Boxing Gym) before competing on the Bernard Hopkins undercard.  Coach Jay hams it up for the camera, and Deontay poses with fans.

Congrats to Ke'eric Hinton!!

Congratulations to Ke'eric Hinton for winning a decision over Neil Hargrove of Birmingham!  Ke'eric is the state novice middleweight Golden Gloves champion.

Skyy Gym Northport to open in morning!

Big news!! Skyy Gym Northport to open at 9:30 am starting October 1st!  Skyy Boxing Gym Northport will expand its hours.  This is great news for all current and future Skyy members.  Best news yet is gym dues will stay the same!  Skyy will open at 9:30 am Monday-Friday starting October 1st.  Call Jay if you need further details at (205) 799-1696.

Photos from Skyy South

Camp Coffeeville - Wilder's Secret Weapon

By Frank Reynolds

From Boxingnews24.com

Deontay Wilder and Coffeeville Mayor, Robert Cox

It is a town without a traffic light. It claims only 350 residents and boasts a single restaurant, convenience store, post office and grocery yet to rising heavyweight Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder, Coffeeville, Alabama is home away from home.

Wilder is currently 29-0 with 29 knockouts. He is ranked in the top 10 in the World and currently holds the WBC Continental Americas Title.

He has trained in Coffeeville in preparation for his past six bouts. It is now tradition for Team Wilder to start and finish each camp in this tiny, out of the way woodland retreat located in southwest Alabama along the Tombigbee River near the Mississippi state line.

The team, which includes Wilder, Coach/Manager Jay Deas, former World Champ and Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Breland, Canada's Russ Anber and camp coordinator Cuz Hill claim this area where animals outnumber people at least 100 to 1.  For Wilder, Coffeeville is a perfect place to be. “I can get away in total isolation and focus on the job at hand. There are no distractions. You can barely get a cell phone signal so it’s all about what we need to do to win. We start and finish camp there as a way to focus,” said Wilder.

Longtime Coach Jay Deas has ties to the area, which affords Wilder housing and a large compound on which to train. The town is remote, yet not too far from Wilder’s home in Tuscaloosa. Should he need to tend to his family (he has a daughter with Spina Bifida) it’s only a two hour drive.


“We used to come to hunt and fish,” said Deas. “We’d find a place to work out in front of the Town Hall. Slowly but surely the idea came to put a training camp in Coffeeville.”

Visionary Mayor Robert Cox saw the potential right away. The town was seen by many as down for the count, having closed its high school two years prior. The school had been the heartbeat of the community.

The town set about to purchase the educational building and once that was accomplished recruited Deas to open a gym as the first new occupants of the former school. The agreement called for the facility to be used not only by Team Wilder, but also to benefit the youth of the area. Wilder and company quickly jumped in giving frequent free clinics. Suddenly, the town was on its feet again and swinging back.

“We’re small, but we’re proud,” said Mayor Cox. “When the school closed a lot of kids here had nothing to do and that leads to trouble ten times out of ten. This gym gives them hope. They’re excited. It’s a big deal and something they’ve never had before.”

When Deas, Breland and Anber first saw the gym, neglect had taken its toll.

“It was pretty bad. Filled with dead bugs, dust and rust. Mark and Russ were the first to see through all that and say this could be great, something no one else has. Original hardwood floors from the 1950’s and tons of space. They said they wanted to do it,” said Deas.

The youth of the town spent days cleaning it up. Anber, who owns Rival Boxing, donated six premium heavy bags to the cause and flew in from his home base of Montreal, Canada to hang them.

“Jay needed my help and explained his vision to me. Once I saw it I thought it was a tremendous idea and I wanted Rival Boxing to be on board,” said Anber. “We’re making a difference. It’s a beautiful gym that needed to be used. With the space, original flooring and top of the line bags it is easily one of the top 50 boxing facilities in America. Easily.”

For Mark Breland, it is a return to his past, having spent part of his storied amateur career on Muhammad Ali’s boxing team.

“Coffeeville is a throwback to what Ali had at Deer Lake. I ran those hills in Coffeeville and my legs hurt for two days. It was like 1984 all over again. I loved it,” said Breland.

One thing Breland learned the hard way was the need to be on constant alert.

“Oh, you’ll see some animals! They’ve got deer, wild pigs, alligators, coyotes, all kinds of stuff,” said Breland. “I had to learn what was what so I could be on the lookout when I ran. I saw a pig and said, man, there’s a hippopotamus! They all fell out laughing at me.”

Former World title challenger Ray Austin has sparred at Camp Coffeeville and feels the area is of benefit to Wilder.

“Deontay can be great. I already call him Champ. For him to have his own isolated training base can only make him better. I’m on board with it anytime he needs me to spar. I think a lot of fighters are going to want to set up their camps in Coffeeville,” said Austin.

“I like the area and the people. We’re glad to have the gym up and running for the kids there. They’re hungry to be somebody and that motivates me. I always look forward to the start of camp,” said Wilder.

“Deontay has been good for Coffeeville and Coffeeville has been good for Deontay,” said Mayor Cox. “Since he started training here he’s won the Continental title, got ranked in the top ten and won his first Showtime main event. We feel like we’re a part of that. When he wins the World Title, how many towns our size can say they had a World Champ training?”

Huge Gator caught near Skyy South Gym!

This huge gator was caught in Coffeeville, which is home to Skyy South Gym.  This is just one of the many reasons roadwork is important!!

FREE BOXING CLINICS!!

Join Skyy Boxing South (Coffeeville, Alabama) for 2 free boxing clinics this weekend:

Friday, Aug 30th  from 4pm - 5:30 pm
Saturday Aug 31st, 10 am to 11:30 am 

at the Coffeeville High gym.

VICTORY!!

Team Wilder

From left to right:  Russ Anber, Jay Deas, Deontay Wilder, Mark Breland, Cuz Hill

Wilder calls Liakhovich KO "a scary moment"

The end came at the 1:43 mark of the first round.

The first of two vicious right-hand shots from heavyweight Deontay Wilder landed sharply on the left temple of Sergei Liakhovich, putting the ex-beltholder flat on his back where he remained, legs and arms twitching.

Referee Tom Taylor swiftly waved an end to the bout, dropping to one knee and grabbing Liakhovich by the chin with his left hand.  He cradled the fighter's head with his right and told him, "Stay down."

Wilder, a 6-foot-7 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, was oblivious to what was transpiring behind him at the time.  He mugged for the camera, wagging his tongue and leaning over the ropes to embrace the cheers of the crowd in celebration of his 29th straight knockout in as many fights.

"I came with a left hook, right hand, and then I came with a jab, right hand, right hand.  I hit him the first time with a hook, but the hook didn't really do it.  But when I came back with the jab, right hand, and the right hand, that got him after the jab had forced him to the ropes. I think that he was surprised by the ropes, and he bounced off, and that even gave me more momentum on my punch.  Mosto f the time, when I hit a guy, I feel the full structure of their face in my glove and stuff, " said Wilder.

"But this time, I felt it a little bit, but that was definitely not all of the force of my punch.  I think that was more the position that he was in, and where I was.  I had good gravity, I had good positioning and balance, and my feet were spread apart so I had good leverage on the punch.  When I hit him, I saw him going down, and I just went to my neutral corner.  I knew that it was over, because my corner was telling me that it was over when he fell down.  So I was all happy and celebrating.

Wilder's demeanor changed, somewhat, upon seeing a replay of his triumph over Liakhovich, who had entered the bout having suffered consecutive ninth-round knockout losses to unbeaten contenders Robert Helenius and Bryant Jennings.

"I saw it afterward on the replay on the big screen when I looked back and I saw it on the monitor.  That's when my smile went into a frown, and I was concerned and I was worried, because that was a scary moment.  That was one of those things that, when I saw that, I was like, 'oh, man,' and I was saying prayers for him," said Wilder.

"They're saying that he's going to be okay, and I heard that he's going to be in the hospital for a couple of days, but that was a scary moment.  I've seen it all over the place.  That was on YouTube and it's on the internet.  Just to see his eyes roll into the back of his head and him going into a seizure like that, and he had a concussion as well, that was scary.  Very scary."

A 27-year-old father of tow girls, ages 8 and 2, Wilder said that he reconciles his role as perhaps the division's most devastation puncher through his practice of praying before his fights.

"I always tell people that I have two prayers.  I have a team prayer, and I have an individual prayer.  The team prayer is always about victory, and even in my personal prayer, that's there about winning.   But in my personal prayer, I also express to God that I want to knock out my opponent, but I don't want to hurt them to the point where they can't go back to their job, or they can't do what they love to do anymore where they can't provide for their families," said Wilder.

"I know that this is what we signed up to do, and that it's a part of the business, but I definitely don't want to be the guy who kills somebody in the ring.  I wouldn't want that on my heart.  Winning is one thing, but hurting somebody to the point where they can't support their family?  I'm a father myself, and I love my kids, and I want to support my kids and if I couldn't support them no more - especially being a man - that would truly hurt my heart.  So I definitely don't want to hurt nobody.  But I'm definitely going to keep doing what I do, you know, because I love the knockouts."

Wilder takes another big step in boxing

Deontay Wilder, the 2008 Olympic heavyweight boxing bronze medalist, barely broke a sweat Friday night en route to dispatching Sergei Liakhovick in less than two minutes at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino.  

The former WBO heavyweight champion was supposed to provide Wilder, a Tuscaloosa native solid work in extending him past the fourth round for the first time.  Instead, Liakhovich didn't make it through the first round.  Previously, no opponent had been able to get rid of the Scottsdale, Ariz., resident in less than nine rounds.

Wilder was largely a project after turning professional.  Though he won a medal in Beijing, China, he was still a novice with less than 50 amateur fights to his credit.  

Over the past five years, Wilder cut his teeth against modest opposition, mostly away from bright lights and expectations that come with major television.  Friday's Showtime-televised main event could force Wilder to be moved quicker than anyone anticipated.

Wilder has sparred Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, the two-headed heavyweight monster that has reigned over the division for much of the last decade.  Is Wilder that far from being ready to test himself against either brother without headgear?  Is it something Wilder would be interested in if the time comes?

"I thought about that after camp, because I gave such tremendous work to them (as a sparring partner)," said Wilder after Friday night's victory.  "The reply I got from sparring them, I got the feeling maybe they'll hold off on fighting me, because they know what I'm capable of doing.

"At the same time, those guys are very competitive to where if you think you're ready, and I know if you talk enough, they will fight you."
While Wilder is still a few considerable steps away from being in that position, it is not out of the realm of possibility.  His first focus is establishing himself as the premiere American heavyweight. 

Alongside Wilder, there are two other stateside heavyweights making a name for themselves.

Andy Ruiz Jr. would never win a body building contest against Wilder, but has shown impressive skills despite a less than appealing physique.  That he is promoted by Top Rank, while Wilder is with bitter rival Golden Boy Promotions, means a showdown between the two is unlikely.

A more reasonable fight would come against Bryant Jennings of Philadelphia.  Jennings and Wilder have exchanged words in the media and Wilder just starched a guy that Jennings took nine rounds to eliminate.

Next month, American heavyweights Seth Mitchell and Chris Arreola meet in a  crossroads fight.  Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer has already indicated the winner could be next for Wilder.  It would be a solid jump in class, and the first fight where some might go against Wilder in pre-fight predictions.

Wilder is determined in his mission to become the first American heavyweight champion since 2007, when Shannon Briggs held the belt briefly - after beating Liakhovich, ironically.

"I think I've got America behind me," said Wilder.  "There can only be one American heavyweight, and his name is Deontay Wilder."

Wilder vs Liakhovich - Showtime Tonight!

By Mark Ortega

Special to The Tuscaloosa News

INDIO, Calif. | Tuscaloosa heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, takes his first big step up in class tonight when he meets former WBO heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich in a 10-round main event. The card will be televised on Showtime.

Wilder has a perfect 28-0 record with 28 knockouts since turning professional almost five years ago. None of those knockouts have come against a fighter in the class of Liakhovich, who in 2006 upset the odds by earning a decision victory over Lamon Brewster to win a version of the heavyweight title.

Though Liakhovich (25-5 16 knockouts) has won just two of his last six bouts, all four losses have come against quality contenders. Wilder is looking to establish himself as one of the best young American heavyweights; an impressive win over Liakhovich would go far in making that claim.

Liakhovich should provide a good litmus test to gauge Wilder's progression. He's never been past the fourth round, while Liakhovich hasn't been stopped before the ninth.

One of the other premiere young American heavyweights Wilder is trying to measure himself against is unbeaten Philadelphian, Bryant Jennings (17-0, 9 knockouts), who stopped Liakhovich on his stool in the ninth round of their fight last March. That marked the last time the Belarusian stepped into the ring.

Wilder and Jennings exchanged heated words with one another on ATG Radio (an internet radio show) a week ago.

“I'm ready for whatever, to give the fans what they want,” Wilder said. “I want to shut somebody up. It's time for that fight with Jennings, it's 2013, almost 2014, I want it.”

Wilder and Liakhovich weighed in Thursday, with the former looking much like a future champion, coming in at a muscular 224 pounds. Liakhovich has seen better days, weighing 232 pounds.

Wilder is a physical specimen at 6-foot-7 and has sparred with heavyweight champion brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Despite his fight night foes being of lesser credentials, Wilder has benefitted from working with the two best heavyweights today Liakhovich feels as though the experience factor will be a big reason for his success on Friday.

“One of the main guys I spar with is a tall guy like him,” Liakhovich said after weighing in.

“I've fought a lot of tall guys like [Robert] Helenius and [Nicolay] Valuev, which will help me in terms of knowing what to do against a tall opponent.”

Liakhovich failed to note that in those two fights, Valuev shut him out and Helenius stopped him in nine rounds. Perhaps those twenty plus rounds with giants will play a positive factor.

If Wilder knocks out Liakhovich with ease the way he has dispatched previous opponents, he doesn't expect it to be enough to quiet the naysayers.

“I feel like no matter who I fight, I'm not going to get credit,” Wilder said. “If I knock him out early, they'll say he was old, but I just gotta go out there and take care of business.”

Despite what Wilder says, an impressive early knockout would help speed up his ascent up the ladder.  When looking back at his career years from now, it is possible that tonight's fight could be considered the point where he became worthy of the hype.

A Great Team of Talent!

It's awesome to have so much talent in one room!  Thanks to these guys for all of their hard work!  From left to right:  Deontay Wilder, sparring partner Bryant Ezell, Coach Mark Breland, sparring partner Alonzo Butler, Coach John Foust, Coach Jay Deas, sparring partner Jameel McCline.  Kneeling is Coach Cuz.

Excitement is in the Air!

Excitement is in the air at the Skyy Boxing Gym as Deontay Wilder - one of Skyy Boxing Gym's own - prepares for his fight against former Heavyweight World Champion Sergei Liakhovich.  The 10 round main event will be shown on Showtime on August 9th.  Let's go Bomb Squad!

Skyy Boxing Gym is located in Northport, Alabama, and Skyy South Boxing Gym, in Coffeeville, Al., is coming soon!!

World Class Training in a Rural, Focused Environment!  Hwy 69 North in Coffeeville, Alabama.