Social media, our modern communication tool, is often criticised by those who believe that it gives a voice to the anonymous, attention seeking and downright cruel cross section of society who seem to take pleasure in bringing others down. While sadly there may be some accuracy in this viewpoint I have always found it to be positive, as used in the correct way it helps connect people who share similar interests no matter where on the planet they happen to reside.
It was our shared fandom of boxing and use of Twitter that led me to encounter Abraham Gonzalez (he is on Twitter @abeG718). I had noticed that Abraham was supportive of the articles on this site and very enthusiastic about boxing in general so I connected with him to try and find out a bit more about him and his love of boxing.
Similar to social media being regarded as negative by many and having a bit of an image problem at times boxing also comes with this type of stigma attached. I prefer to see the positive side of our sport and the good it can do for people from all walks of life. I am pleased to say that the answers provided by Abraham here prove and fully backup my belief that boxing, like social media definitely does more good than bad in the grand scheme of things.
CM: Hi Abe, you’re obviously a big boxing fan. Can you give the readers a quick summary of your background and how you first got into the sport?
AG: I am a 36 year old Hispanic (Puerto Rican/Ecuadorian) from the Bronx, NY who has been serving in the active duty component of the Marine Corps over 18 years. Being from NY, sports is something that you are constantly around and have no choice but to follow because everyone is always talking about it. As a kid in the 80s, even walking by the electronic store they would be showing whichever NY team was playing on the display TVs. We didn’t grow up with much but we had what we needed and our family bond was extremely tight. As many Hispanic families do even now but much more back then, there would be these gatherings at someone’s apartment where everyone would be having a good time and just catching up. During one of these gatherings my cousin came through the door with a huge smile on his face and told my Dad that he was able to get the VHS of the Leonard vs. Hagler fight. Back then the average New Yorker couldn’t afford closed circuit so the passing of the VHS tape was common. I remember my Dad being so excited because he is a huge boxing fan and when I saw that fight I knew that boxing was something that I wanted to continue to watch.
CM: So by watching fights like this am I right in thinking a real sense of community was present?
AG: Yes, I believe that the boxing fan base amongst the Latin community in the 80s was built exactly like that which has fed into what it is today. If you go back a little and watch the No Mas documentary, you could even see that in Panama, that first Duran vs. Leonard was seen by groups of people hovered over a small TV or radio from the small child to the older grandparents. Very few could afford to see it live back then, so it was either getting a group together to make an event out of it or see the VHS a few days later amongst family and friends even though the results were in the newspapers. Those small kids grew into today’s regular purchaser of PPV fights or became fighters themselves.
CM: So you mentioned that you are an active duty Marine. I’m sure everyone reading really appreciates your service. Has boxing played any role in your military career?
AG: It’s funny because in talking about boxing or being at events on base where they were showing some fights, I met some really good people who introduced me to some life-long friends I consider family to this day. Boxing always seems to be a common ground amongst Marines probably because of the training and dedication it takes to do it for a long time and be successful. It reminds us as Marines the things we have to do to remain sharp and effective while facing adversity.
CM: Your twitter feed was good the night you attended the Guerrero-Peralta card. Are you able to attend many pro or amateur shows in your area?
AG: I had a great time at the Guerrero-Peralta card! Having close seats, meeting some of the boxers who were class acts and sharing the experience with my wife was amazing. I was stationed in the Washington D.C. area prior to a few months ago and only lately were there any premier fights being held there. We did see Jessie Vargas knock out Saddam Ali and that was a very electric atmosphere. Now that I am stationed in Southern California I am trying to go to as many boxing events as possible since they have them so often within a 2 hour radius.
CM: The other thing you mention on your Twitter bio is Flava Promotions. Does this have anything to do with boxing?
AG: Flava Generation Promotions is something that I have been trying to build throughout the years. It started out as management but it’s really turned into more of a consulting thing at the moment. Currently, I work with an International Contemporary Jazz Vocalist by the name of Victor Fields and he has hired me on to be his tour director while he is promoting his latest CD “The Lou Rawls Project.”
CM: So as 2016 moves towards it’s final few months what are your thoughts on this year in boxing so far and your hopes for 2017?
AG: 2016 has been full of some exciting boxing! Thurman-Porter, Santa Cruz-Frampton, all of those wars at the Stub Hub Centre in Carson, CA, the continued rise of Anthony Joshua and the return of Mikey Garcia. We still have fights from GGG, Chocolatito Gonzalez, Canelo Alvarez, Danny Jacobs, maybe a Chavez Jr. fight, Miguel Cotto, Danny Garcia and a few others. I think 2017 may be the year that defines who carries the flag in boxing. I think the Heavyweight division gets solidified a little more, we finally do get the GGG vs. Canelo fight. We see the winner of Kovalev-Ward face Stevenson to unify the titles. We see Terence Crawford continue to rise along with Errol Spence.
CM: Finally, from being stationed around various parts of the United States have you heard about or seen any young up and coming fighters you think we should keep an eye on?
AG: When I was stationed in Virginia, working a part time job at a shoe store named Cole Hann, I met a gentleman named Lorin Chvotkin in the summer of 2014. At that time he was telling me about 2 fighters that he was handling that are bound to be superstars. One was named Gervonta Davis (8 months later signed with Mayweather Promotions) and the other was Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed (signed to Top Rank). Of course being a boxing head, I immediately looked them up and started to follow them. Davis is in line to possibly fight for a title this fall while Mike Reed is continuing to build on his undefeated record. He also brought me around to two other young men that I would be on the lookout for. They are really young but are seeing success and look to have promising futures: Malik “Iceman” Hawkins and Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson.
