June 11, 1999
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM: On June 19 NABF heavyweight champion Michael Grant (29-0, 21 KO's) will battle top heavyweight contender Lou Savarese (39-2. 32 KO's) in a 10 rounder. Much to the chagring of fight-night trainer/corner man Tommy Gallagher, Savarese has embraced Tim Hallmark's weight training regiment, which was made famous by three-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
Savarese, who is training in Houston, describes Hallmark's system as more sports specific than the prototypical workout used by fighters: "There's more weight training and sprinting, and less long distance road work. Sprinting is better for stamina because when you sprint your heart rate jumps up and down in short bursts, whereas when you run long distances your heart rate stays the same."
Gallagher is an "old school trainer" who disagrees with Savarese's assessment: "I don't believe in weight training for fighters. Weights just give you a false sense of strength. In this business you need stamina, not strength. You need to be able to rise to the occasion. Lou calls me old school, but remember this is a prehistoric sport. It's not about techique; it's about who wants it most. But if he thinks having Charles Atlas in camp is going to help him... that's up to him. What matters to me is that he wins."
Not only does Gallagher believe that increased muscle mass is a hindrance to a boxer late in the fight, but he also argues that Savarese is running the risk of over-training as well: "He wants to box five or six rounds a day. Your body can't take that. You should never box more than four rounds a day When I had Doug DeWitt, he couldn't make it to the end of a fight because of all the running and bicycle riding he did in camp. He over did it."
Savarese believes Hallmark's system will prevent him for over training, something he did repeatedly in the past: "I've learned that more is not better: better is better. I used to like leaving the gym feeling listless, spent. I don't do that any more. I do less road work, and I only spar six rounds per day/three days a week. Although some days I'll go 10 rounds."
How does Gallagher believe that Savarese matches up against Grant: "Lou is effective against big guys. He can punch at his level, instead of punching down. If he fights the way I know that he can fight, he'll knockout Grant"...
TUNER: REMEMBER THE BELMONT STAKES: Don Turner, Michael Grant's trainer, offered his view on his protegé's June 19 showdown against Loy Savarese: "Lou is a tough buy, which is why I like him for Michael. Michael needs a tought guy to make him fight. Michael should make a statement in this fight, and if he fights like he's been fighting in the gym, the fight will last only four rounds... tops!"
Where does Turner see Grant in relation to the other top heavyweights? "Michael can beat any heavyweight in the world." Including WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis? "Yes. He beats Lewis. He's bigger than Lewis, he's more athletic than Lewis, and he's hungrier than Lewis. Does Turner worry about Grant being a slow starter? "No. It's just like the Belmont Stakes. Lemon Drop Kid didn't lead the whole way. It doesn't matter what happens at the clubhouse or at the backstretch. All that matters is the finish line"...
Return
to Frontpage