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Boxing: He wins, but can he take a punch?

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  • Boxing: He wins, but can he take a punch?

    ContraCosta Times, CA
    Sept 23 2006

    He wins, but can he take a punch?

    Richmond's Morgan is 3-0, and opponents can't seem to touch him
    Boxing

    Richmond's Aaron Morgan has had three professional bouts now, and
    trainer Ralph McCoy still can't tell if he can take a punch.

    That's because Morgan (3-0) hasn't let anyone get close to his chin.

    Morgan's latest victory came on Sept. 8 in Modesto as he won a
    unanimous decision over Manuel Garcia, who is now 4-4-1. McCoy
    scheduled the bout knowing that Garcia had a reputation as a big
    puncher.

    It all figured to be part of Morgan's education. McCoy thought he
    would find out how Morgan would react to a big punch.

    "They were feeling each other out and Aaron burst out with a flurry
    of punches," McCoy said. "He hit Garcia with a four- or five-punch
    combination that set the tone. The guy got upset and he started
    winging, throwing bombs."

    McCoy thought he was about to see Morgan have to respond to a big
    punch. "He couldn't catch Aaron all night long," McCoy said with a
    laugh. "I thought Aaron would stop him in the third round, but the
    guy was tough."

    Although McCoy didn't get exactly what he expected, he was pleased
    with his student's performance. "Aaron had to show some boxing
    expertise and he did. He kept his jab out there and he threw
    excellent combinations.

    "He also was rolling with the punches and that took the guy's power
    off. One time he got butted, and that bothered him more than
    anything."

    McCoy is looking for future opponents and he hopes to send Morgan out
    two or three more times this year if possible. "We're looking at a
    couple of opponents right now," McCoy said. "Andy Nance (a former
    highly rated boxer) is helping me quite a bit with the selection of
    opponents. We are looking for someone with a little more experience."

    The plan for Morgan has been to keep him busy while presenting him
    with different styles. "We want to get him eight or nine wins, then
    we will start looking at tougher opponents," McCoy said. "We are
    trying to avoid rushing him too much. He wants to take on the world
    right now, but you don't want to schedule someone with too much
    experience. He can't do it quite yet, so we're trying to avoid the
    big bangers. I still don't know whether he can take a big punch."

    McCoy has handled boxers such as former USBA junior middleweight
    champ Art Serwano and California light heavyweight champ Bomani
    Parker.

    "Aaron learns quicker than any fighter I've ever trained," McCoy
    said. "Within a day, he gets things down pat."

    According to McCoy, Morgan likes to study pros in his weight class on
    television. "I have to hold him back," McCoy said with a laugh. "He
    says, 'I can beat that guy.'

    "He is only 20 so I keep telling him, 'Aaron, you have to look at the
    big picture.' As long as we have our eye on the big picture and we go
    accordingly, it will be OK."

    McCoy had been training Morgan at the Bay Area Boxing Gym in Rodeo.
    However, that facility has closed. They have been working with
    Concord trainer Karl Sharrock's stable of fighters, at the Vallejo
    PAL and at the Cal boxing club.

    Besides Morgan, McCoy is working with 125-pounder David Springer, a
    23-year-old amateur. He also has been helping the Golden Bears. "I
    love working with the Cal boxers," McCoy said. "It's great working
    with college kids."

    Shot at title

    Castro Valley's Glenn Donair (16-2-1) gets a shot at the IBF
    flyweight title when he faces champion Vic Darchinyan (26-0) on Oct.
    7 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

    Darchinyan won the title in 2004 and has defended it three times.
    Darchinyan was born in Armenia and now lives in Sydney, Australia.

    Donair won the NABA flyweight title on May 5 with a 12-round decision
    over Cesar Lopez (18-3) in Concho, Okla.

    The bout will be held on the undercard of the Diego Corrales-Joel
    Casamayor bout. Corrales won a split decision over Casamayor on March
    6, 2004.

    Pro scene

    Donair's brother, Nonito Donair, will also fight on the Oct. 7
    against an opponent yet to be named. Nonito Donair is 15-1 as a super
    flyweight and is coming off a TKO over Jose Luis Cardenas on July 29
    in Santa Ynez. ... Eric "Butterbean" Esch continues to fight despite
    losing three of his last four bouts. Now 74-7-4, Esch faces Ed White
    (11-12) on Saturday in Belterre, Ind.

    -- Jay Heater

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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