I read and enjoyed that. Loads of those CBZ interviews are class. Know nothing more than that interview
A very, very tough guy. Tony was a skilled southpaw brawler with a solid chin and, while not a huge puncher, was able to wear opponents down. He got a big win over Edgar "Mad Dog" Ross of the Pete Ashlock stable out of Orlando to win the NABF junior middle crown. That put him in line to fight for the title against Maurice Hope or Rocky Mattioli (I forget which had the strap at that exact moment) but went for the quick big payday against SRL instead. He wasn't quite the class of Leonard or Benitez and fancied himself more of a middleweight, but could make junior middle and did so for fights like that to pick up money fights. He was competitive with those a cut below that (until the tail-end of his career) and would bring it to anyone -- if you fought Tony, you were going to be in a fight. I had occasion to talk to him on the phone a few times in recent years and he's a heck of a good guy. A credit to the game.
A very good interview. I'm from Kansas also and Tony was a big deal around here in those times, much like Pete Ranzany was in Sacramento. Like Ranzany, he was a tough fighter with some skills but just couldn't hang with the big boys. It's no disgrace though to be stopped by fighters like Brisco, Leonard and Benitez. I'd say he went pretty far with modest talent.