SYD “ THE JEWEL” VANDERPOOL You’re Not the Best Until You Prove It
By Sean Rosen
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
Welcome to the world of boxing and the life of Kitchener’s very 
