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SYD “ THE JEWEL” VANDERPOOL
You’re Not the Best Until You Prove It
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by Sean Rosen
September 30 – October 6, 2004 |
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Welcome to the world of boxing and the life of Kitchener’s very
own Syd “the Jewel” Vanderpool, scheduled to fight for the IBF
Super Middleweight Championship this Saturday night in Las
Vegas. With a professional record of 35 wins (23 by knockout)
and only two losses, Syd Vanderpool could very well be the best in
the division.
His first loss was his 6th pro fight back in 1993, when a
thumb in the eye produced a swelling that forced the fight to be
stopped. Vanderpool’s only other loss was far more significant
and a definite reflection of his true character. On May 13th 2000,
the Kitchener native challenged current Middleweight champion
Bernard Hopkins (now considered the world’s top pound for
pound fighter) and lost a tough 12 round decision. Since the
Hopkins fight Vanderpool has been on a seven fight win streak
and is generally regarded as one of the top Super Middleweights
in the world.
ECHO had a chance to sit down and chat with Vanderpool
about this Saturday’s fight, boxing in general and what lies ahead:
ECHO: So Syd, tell us about yourself, what got you into boxing?
Syd Vanderpool: I have four older brothers and my dad originally
wanted us to be like the Jackson 5. He bought us all instruments
— drums, trumpet, organ, the whole bit. Despite his efforts, we
weren’t very good. He started watching boxing on television and
he loved it so he figured, well, if they can’t be musicians, let’s
give boxing a try. He was a marathon runner in Trinidad, and so
he started training us in the basement. That’s how we started.
ECHO: And were you the brother who excelled?
SV: No, we all did very well as amateurs. My oldest brother Felix
was a pro and fought around Canada. My other brothers just did
it as amateurs, and Fitz, of course, he’s a Canadian champion still
fighting professionally today.
ECHO: And as for your training over the years, is there a specific
organization that has helped you to get where you are?
SV: Yes. Team Destiny is an organization formed by a group of
supporters whose goal is to help promote and market aspiring
athletes in Canada, and to help them achieve their goals in their
respective sports.
ECHO: And how has Team Destiny helped you?
SV: I have a PR person, an accountant, a printer…. These are
things that I myself couldn’t afford and these people and
sponsors just donate their time and resources to help make
things happen.
ECHO: What’s it like in the dressing room before a fight?
SV: Usually there’s music, talking, joking. Most fighters have
rituals, and mine is just to stay very relaxed. I like to keep it as
light as possible.
ECHO: What is it like when you’re standing in the ring and the
bell’s about to ring.
SV: It’s excitement, and also just remembering what I want to do
in that first round. My goal is to stay relaxed and be confident.
ECHO: Since you’re a professional fighter, how do you decide who
to fight? How much is money versus risk, and how much is simply
wanting to fight the best?
SV: I have always wanted to fight the best. When I had the
opportunity to fight Bernard Hopkins in 2000 [the current
undisputed Middleweight champion], I was not obligated by my
contract to accept — I would have actually gotten paid more not
to fight. Because my management had to get me a world title
fight within 18 months (which was just about up) I took the fight
for less money. I wanted to fight Bernard Hopkins. I wanted to
fight him on HBO. So yes, throughout my career I don’t see this
changing; it’s all about the best fighters and doing it on the
biggest networks.
ECHO: When you fought Bernard Hopkin’s and didn’t get the
decision, was that a hard loss to accept?
SV: It was hard to accept because going into that fight I was one
hundred per cent sure I was going to win. I did extensive training
and I prepared myself mentally. I couldn’t have fought better at
that time, there’s just no way I could have. I did the best I could
with the tools that I had.
ECHO: In reference to your upcoming fight, tell us what you know
about Jeff Lacy and how he compares to Tito Mendoza, who you
defeated in your last fight to secure this title shot. Is he a higher
calibre opponent?
SV: Different styles. I think Tito Mendoza actually had a bit more
experience than Lacy. Mendoza had over 30 fights, and Lacy
coming in has only 17. I think I have the advantage of experience,
and the height difference is huge. Mendoza is 6’ 2”, Lacy is listed
at 5’ 10” — I doubt he’s 5’ 8”. Overall, it’s just going to be a
totally different fight.
ECHO: Jeff Lacy is undefeated with one draw. When you fight a
boxer who is undefeated, no matter what his class or ability or
experience, is there not an intangible intensity?
SV: I think once you’ve had a defeat it makes you better and
stronger. Until that point, you don’t know what your limits are.
All the greats, like Ali…they’ve all had defeats, but they’ve all
come back and that’s what makes a great champion. So I think if
anything, it is a detriment to be undefeated.
ECHO: When it became clear that you would be fighting for a
world title on Showtime, was the preparation for the fight
different? Did the whole machine switch gears?
SV: It definitely changed gears. Although I’ve been preparing for
this fight and other fights down the road for many years, the
immediate preparation changes from working out to training.
When you train, you have a specific goal, a specific purpose. It is
more intense.
ECHO: What is your typical training regimen for a fight?
SV: I’m always in the gym training just to sustain my condition,
because you never know when you could get that call for a last
minute fight. I’d say six to eight weeks before a planned fight, I
do strength training with my conditioning coach three times a
week, I do sprints three times a week and I have boxing in
Toronto three times a week. I also do yoga, stretching and that
sort of thing.
ECHO: Without giving anything away, what do you think the keys
to victory are against Jeff Lacy?
SV: Using my experience and hand speed. Those would be the two
big things. I could walk up to him and say “listen, I’m going to
use my experience and I’m going to use my speed,” and he
couldn’t compensate for it. There’s nothing he can do. It just is
what it is.
ECHO: How much of your future success is based on simply
beating Lacy, and how much is based on putting on a good show
— for example, an exciting knock out? Does this effect how you
approach the fight?
SV: For probably the last three to four years of my career, it’s
been all about putting on a good performances —more so than
just winning a fight. Putting on an exciting winning performance
is the key.
ECHO: After beating Lacy, would your objective be to unify the
Super Middleweight titles [there are two other champions], or,
once you get that title, is it really a question of looking for the
best payday?
SV: No, my goal is to unify the division with the champions who
are willing, and then move up to Light Heavyweight, and fight Roy
Jones or Antonio Tarver [since this interview Jones has been
knocked out of contention by Glen Johnson, a previous Syd
victim]. I want to fight champions, then I want the super fights
like back in the days of Hagler, Ali and Leonard. I want the best
fighters in the world because ultimately they’re the biggest
paydays anyway.
ECHO: You are a Kitchener native, born and raised. As they reach
higher levels of stardom, many fighters tend to move to cities that
are more closely linked to the nerve centre of boxing. When you
beat Lacy and move on to bigger things, will you be tempted to
relocate to a place like Las Vegas or New York?
SV: No. The way I see it, I’ve made it this far and to this point
doing it from here. My training camps are in the States, and that’s
pretty much all the preparation I need, so I don’t really need to
live there.
ECHO: People often hear about fighters making a lot of money on
big fights. What percentage of the purse does a boxer actually
take home?
SV: 50 per cent. After you pay your managers, your taxes and
your training.
ECHO: What would you say to people out there who don’t follow
boxing, and have never thought about it? How would you pitch
the sport to them?
SV: With other sports like hockey, tennis or basketball, people get
the chance to play them in high school and at other points in their
life. They have a certain understanding of the sport and what it
takes to be good. Unfortunately, boxing is not something you
find in the local community centre. That makes it less widely
understood that boxing is more than just one guy hitting another
guy.
ECHO: Do you think it’s just that people don’t relate to it?
SV: That’s right, people can’t relate to it. I try to do boxing clinics
to get kids involved at a young age. I get them to try it, and so
not only are you helping children with their self esteem, but you
are also creating a boxing fan base for the future.
ECHO: In closing, do you have any words for your fans in the
Kitchener-Guelph area?
SV: Philthy McNasty’s Waterloo. Victory party! Be there!
The current odds in Las Vegas have Syd Vanderpool as an
underdog against the undefeated Jeff Lacy. The fight will be
shown on Pay Per View as well as on the big screen at Philthy
MacNasty’s in Waterloo where a huge gathering of local support is
planned for our Jewel, Syd Vanderpool. Let’s all be there to
support one of our own.
SYD
“THE JEWEL” VANDERPOOL
VS
JEFF LACEY
for the vacant
World Super Middleweight Championship
Saturday, Oct. 2, 9pm
Big Screen: Philthy McNasty’s
or on Viewers Choice
Pay–Per–View
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