Belmontes Says He’s Not Underdog To Abril

Broadway Boxing heads off B'Way Friday night, touching down in Queens, at Resorts Casino, on a card tipped by slick Richar Abril (19-3-1; from Cuba), and the Fighting Rabbi himself, Yuri Foreman of Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Abril could find himself right back in the title contention mix at 135 with a win on the Lou Dibella card, which is being co-promoted by New Legend.

Abril needs to get past Texan Jerry Belmontes, a somewhat curious case. He started 17-0, then had a hard slide, going 2-8. He's won two straight and did it the hard way his last time out, winning on the road against 21-0 Valentyne Golovko, in NYC, end of January. The judges did right (majority decision) by the Texan, and he earned himself another slot on a Dibella card.

I chatted up the 27 year old Belmontes and manager Adrian Clark as they were about to leave for NY.

Question to Belmontes: Talk to me about this fight. You the underdog? He's a super slick boxer, right? How do you beat him?

Belmontes Answer) I’m active, he has not been. He is the underdog for this fight. I am slick, just as he is. Whoever lands the cleaner effective shots and becomes the aggressor wins the fight. I’m motivated, man. I’ve been through too much to come this far and let this slip away.

Q) Tell us about the last fight. You were impressive. Anything different about prep or home life or anything leading in lead to that?

A) I told AC I was going to win. I’m just tired of being looked over or labeled an ‘opponent’ because of the losses. I showed everyone last fight that I’m not an opponent and I have a bigger point to prove for this fight. I’m just hungry, man.

Q) Tell us about home: mom and dad and siblings and wife and kids and all that. The stuff and people you fight for…

A) My dad trains me, my mom keeps our family together. My youngest brother Steve is a pro fighter but no one wants to fight him, so he is sitting. My other brother Sal trained me for the Omar Figueroa world title fight. He is looking to turn pro also. My oldest brother Joe makes sure we are in line. I am married to an amazing woman and even better mother, Gabi, and I have two sons, Gavin and Jerry Jax. They are my everything.

Question To Manager Adrian Clark) Please tell us about your take on this fight. Your kid gonna get the win? How? A win means what?

A) Jerry is focused. He is tired of looking at everyone shine and not him. He has to be aggressive this fight and steal the win, as he did the last fight. He fought against a similar guy in Miguel Vazquez and learned a lot from a guy with an awkward, slick style. Jerry wins by split decision, I predict. A win makes three in a row and we’ll look for the next big fight to get Jerry to a world championship.

Tickets are priced at $125 ringside, $75 reserved seating and $50 general admission. Tickets may be purchased by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the night of the fight. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m.