Freddie Roach talks about rising contender, Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin

MichiganWarrior · Jul 16, 2011

Grand Rapids native Peter Quillin eyes title shot, works with Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach

By David Mayo | The Grand Rapids Press

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- A grimy boxing gym in back of a tiny strip mall hosts more stars per square foot than most venues in this city.

Peter Quillin likes it inside. It’s the rest of town he could do without.

"This is the office. This is where I work," he said, and by that he means living in Southern California at all.

A camera and boom microphone follow the famous trainer almost everywhere as part of an upcoming HBO reality show about Freddie Roach, as if his string of appearances on the subscription network’s "24/7" programs didn’t expose him enough. Wild Card Boxing Club has two rings, a few punching bags and a small weight area. The office, rest room and locker room barely allow free movement.

No fewer than 30 boxers are crammed into a 1,000-square-foot space at 11 a.m. on a weekday, and there’s no doubt who the biggest star is -- and that he isn’t here.

One of the rings is crammed into a corner, where the two adjacent walls are adorned exclusively with oversized photographs of Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino superstar, boxing’s pound-for-pound king, and Roach’s prized pupil. One of the shops in the strip mall is Manny Pacquiao Merchandise and Tattoo.

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Quillin, 28 years old and with 18 knockouts on his 24-0 record, sat in a Thai restaurant in the strip mall, chewing fruit and sipping from a whole coconut, reflecting on how far this boxing pursuit, from Grand Rapids to New York to Los Angeles, has taken him.

He lives at an apartment in Studio City, where he and Johnny "Hook 'Em" Burress spend virtually all their non-training time. They met as classmates at Northeast Middle School.

Quillin’s father, Peter Sr., flies in from Grand Rapids to handle all the Cuban-influenced cooking in the weeks preceding a fight, and Quillin also has two other friends from his youth who remain active on his team, all of them people "who are going to let me know the truth."

Burress was the one offering the get-out-of-town advice after Quillin got clobbered during a disagreement outside a gas station at Leonard Street and Turner Avenue NW a few years ago, and the fighter says that if he hadn’t listened, he could be in big trouble now, not a world-ranked boxer zeroing in on a title shot. He was imbedded in local street culture, out to prove himself to other people. Today, he said, he only proves to himself.

On July 23, Quillin fights veteran Tarvis Simms on a big card, with Amir Khan-Zab Judah headlining at Mandalay Bay, in his first appearance in Las Vegas. He doesn’t consider it a big deal. He has fought five times at Madison Square Garden. Same thing, different time zone.

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He learned his foundation in Grand Rapids, where Mike Garcia and the late Jerry Grinwis trained him. He said his biggest boxing regret is his brief amateur dalliance before turning professional in 2005, the year after he moved to New York in search of a pro career.

"I wasn’t putting in the effort that I’ve learned since then," he said. "I should’ve fought more amateur, a lot more. I should’ve learned more. But I’m here without all of that."

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:think

Eric Brown, a Detroit native who has worked as Roach’s assistant coach since moving here in 1999, handles the day-to-day training responsibilities of Quillin, who said he appreciates that his chief cornerman teaches "that Michigan style of fighting, that very slick boxing." Their three fights together have lasted less than eight total rounds.

"To me, a coach is only as good as the fighter he’s training," Brown said. "People can think you’re the greatest trainer in the world, but if the guy you’re training isn’t getting on the same page you’re on, and not getting what you’re trying to give him, you’re no good to him. If a guy is coachable, he’ll fall right in line, and Petey’s that kind of guy."

Brown and Roach devise fight plans and work as two voices sending one message, and four eyes seeing the same tweaks. Quillin said they communicate differently, but on the same wavelength, so if one trainer’s advice confuses him, the other can provide an alternative explanation.

Roach said the trainers saw Quillin as "right-hand happy" and "ignoring the jab and the hook" when they first got him.

Brown said Quillin "was knocking guys out with just the right hand -- a lot -- and he would just stand around, and wait, and wait, and wait, and just load up on his right hand. He’s much more than that, and I don’t want him to reduce himself to that."

Now, both trainers agree that Quillin’s left hook could be the central weapon in the upcoming fight against the left-handed Simms.

"The lead hand, when you’re fighting a southpaw, is crucial, as long as the footwork’s in the right place," Roach said. "From what I’ve been seeing, he’s got the game plan pretty much intact."

Roach said Quillin is a natural athlete who could play any sport, and already knew all the moves being emphasized. But fighters often pack away tricks. They quit practicing all they know, which limits their versatility.

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As for a middleweight title shot, Quillin chafes at the perception of the most-recognized 160-pound champion, Martinez, among the pound-for-pound leaders, and Roach questioned, "How good is the guy, really?"

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atschatschatsch

He’s a great athlete, and Pete is also, but Pete knows boxing, and Martinez’s boxing skills are limited."

Quillin pushes a button and a 1969 love song gushes, the syrupy-smooth "This Love is Real," by The Lovelites.

"You know what that is?" he said. "That’s the music I’m entering the ring to. That’s what makes me unique. You don’t see many guys coming out to something like that. Create a moment, man."

Through the window of the Thai restaurant, a man Quillin knows walked past, shirtless, wearing a dress hat.

"Lots of weirdos out here, dude," Quillin mused.

Quillin went to a Los Angeles Dodgers game recently. But mostly, personal adventure extends only as far as the apartment swimming pool for a man who once foraged for a discarded couch on a New York street to make his bed.

Quillin is surrounded by people who are famous, and those who aspire to be.

Being a champion, in the ring and of the ring, entails more.

"I’m not trying to be a superstar," he said. "I’m trying to be the best I can be and inspire all the people that I can. Anybody that I touch, I want to inspire them to be better in their life. And what that does for me is give me a little more peace in my heart, that I did my part."
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2 Thing

1. Im glad Pete is with Freddie Roach. I consider Freddie Roach to be one of the best offensive trainers in the game. I think he is suspect in teaching his fighters defense, but offensively being able to apply hurt and pressure on opponents with style, no one is better.

2. Freddie Roach obviously has never seen Martinez fight. Bringing up a fight Martinez had with Margarito 20 years ago. And saying Cintron beat Martinez. atsch

I've heard Martinez tossed around by Quillins team repeatedly. And all I can say is Pete should stay as far away from Martinez as he can. Because he would get destroyed, he is simply not ready.

Relentless · Jul 16, 2011

James Degale and George Groves would end Quillins career.

MichiganWarrior · Jul 16, 2011

Relentless said: ↑

James Degale and George Groves would end Quillins career.
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Give the young Brits giant gloves and head gear, and Quillin gets schooled. Without the young Brits get their **** pushed in. :yep

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pBt0FMWKq8&feature=related[/ame]

Jack · Jul 16, 2011

It's a pity he is a coward. Michigan would have some good fighters but there's obviously something in the water that causes their hearts to shrink.

sportofkings · Jul 16, 2011

Have been following Quillin for quite a while, it was a pity when his career was stalled for such a long time. Hes a fighter who could potentially be world class, and he showed it in his last fight, beating a fringe world class contender in good style. Hes in a very tough division though, we will have to wait and see.

Relentless · Jul 16, 2011

MichiganWarrior said: ↑

Give the young Brits giant gloves and head gear, and Quillin gets schooled. Without the young Brits get their **** pushed in. :yep

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pBt0FMWKq8&feature=related[/url]
Click to expand...

the only reason peter quillin is so hyped is because he's american and undefeated, he hasn't done ****, james degale or george groves could have ****ed up the rotator cuff injury having jesse brinkley.

MichiganWarrior · Jul 16, 2011

GRRRRRR.

Tarvis Simms pulled out of the bout with Peter Quillin on the Khan vs Judah undercard. So instead Petes facing a journeyman Junior Middleweight instead.:twisted:

This would have given Pete a test against a southpaw, and a guy who could take him into deep waters.

I think Quillins team need to look at Marco Rubio as a possibly opponent. A guy who is tricky and will last.

Boom_Boom · Jul 16, 2011

freddie roach working with the beat fighter ever to come from grand rapids michigan

MichiganWarrior · Jul 16, 2011

Relentless said: ↑

the only reason peter quillin is so hyped is because he's american and undefeated, he hasn't done ****, james degale or george groves could have ****ed up the rotator cuff injury having jesse brinkley.
Click to expand...

Watching the Degale vs Groves fight was like watching 2 females bat at eachother with their eyes closed for 12 rounds. :yep

"Stay back! Dont hit me! ahhhhhhhh!"

sportofkings · Jul 16, 2011

Quillin should move down to 160 if he can still make it, he would be in very tough targeting world titles at 168, he has a better chance at middleweight.

JunitoJab · Jul 16, 2011

Good read thanks for posting.

Don't know much about the kid. Hope that changes.

Relentless · Jul 16, 2011

MichiganWarrior said: ↑

Watching the Degale vs Groves fight was like watching 2 females bat at eachother with their eyes closed for 12 rounds. :yep

"Stay back! Dont hit me! ahhhhhhhh!"
Click to expand...

i thought you ***gits from detroit enjoyed that kind of stuff?

MichiganWarrior · Jul 16, 2011

Relentless said: ↑

i thought you ***gits from detroit enjoyed that kind of stuff?
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What? We cut from that Cloth. :yep

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol9oKbuSe-U[/ame]

Relentless · Jul 16, 2011

MichiganWarrior said: ↑

What? We cut from that Cloth. :yep

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol9oKbuSe-U[/url]
Click to expand...

k9 sucks

did he not lose to sevie 2 pund forbes?

T.S. · Jul 16, 2011

I have all faith in Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin. I know he has the work ethic of a "Jerry Rice" and eats, sleeps and breathes boxing. It boils in his blood. I'm sure he'll be Champ someday soon. As far as all these posters saying he gets schooled by British fighters? Well, keep shaking those Union Jack Pom Poms. I heard the same cheers about David Haye.

Good luck and God Bless to Petey Quillin :bbb :thumbsup

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