Throughout boxing history, one of the
most consistently talented weight classes has been the welterweight division. Today
things are pretty loaded at 147; at the top of the division, Floyd Mayweather
and Manny Pacquiao jostle for position. Also in the upper echelons, we have the
likes of Timothy Bradley, Paulie Malignaggi, Devon Alexander and a plethora of
other impressive fighters. Looking to add his name to the already stacked realm
of the welterweights is Thomas Dulorme. The 22-year-old Puerto Rican steps up
in class putting his 16-0 (12) record on the line when he meets hard hitting
Argentinean Luis Carlos Abregu at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona
in upstate New York on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark.”
Anson
Wainwright - On Saturday, you fight once beaten Luis Abregu, 33-1 (27), in
upstate New York. What do you think of him as a fighter?
Thomas Dulorme - I think he's a really
good fighter and that’s why I’m working so hard to be victorious that
night.
AW - It takes place on
HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” which is a huge platform for you. What are your
thoughts on that?
TD - I'm very thankful for this
opportunity. I want to thank my promoters, Gary Shaw, Lou DiBella and Javier
Bustillo. Without them, I wouldn't have gotten here. HBO is a great platform
and I worked pretty hard in the gym so I could be victorious and look
good on my debut.
AW - In your most
recent fight, you went the distance with Yoryi Estrella, though you won every
round on all three scorecards. Can you talk us through the fight? Were you
happy with your performance?
TD - Yes, it was a great fight for me
because I needed to work a few rounds before such a big fight on HBO. Estrella
came in on the weight in at 149 and on fight night blew up to 172 and came to
fight that night. I'm happy with the performance because I fought a light
heavyweight and looked good.
AW - So far this year,
you’re 3-0 (2). How do you assess your progress this year?
TD - It's been a good year for me and I'm ready for this opportunity.
AW - Who are the key
members of your team? Also where do you regularly train?
TD - My manager is Quique Roman; my trainer is Jose Bonilla; my publicist is
Ricardo Rodriguez. My strength coach is Julian Muniz and my promoters are Lou
DiBella, Gary Shaw and Javier Bustillo. I train at la Escuela de los Deportes
in Carolina, Puerto Rico. I've been training there since I was eight years old.
AW - Though you now
fight out of Puerto Rico, you were actually born in the Dominican Republic. Could
you tell us about your early years and how the transition between the two
countries came about?
TD - I was actually born in St. Martin, the French side, and then moved to
Dominican Republic for a couple of months till I moved for good to PR. I've
been in PR since I was three years old and it's all I know. I fight for PR. If
you would put me in Dominican Republic or St. Martin for I day, I would get
lost. I'm from PR.
AW - You had a very
good amateur career. Could you tell us what titles/tournaments you won, if you
fought anyone of note? Also what was your final record?
TD - I had about 70 fights and won a
couple of regional titles here from PR. I became a national champion three
times. My final record was 76- 11.
AW - The welterweight
division has plenty of talent and some very good champions. Could you comment
on the division?
TD - I think it's pretty loaded with talent. I have to work hard if I want to
prove that I’m at their level.
AW - This year, on a
personal note you did well in school. Could you tell us about that?
TD - Yes, I have three years in civil engineering and I just finished a
two-year drafting degree, which I am really proud of. I really
love studying and drawing is a passion that I really have had for a
while and that I love.
AW - Away from boxing, what
do you like to do with your time?
TD - I really like drawing house plans
and working on interior designing.
AW - Who
are your boxing heroes? Who do you like today?
TD - My Puerto Rican boxing hero is [Felix] “Tito” Trinidad and I have a boxer
to which I really looked up to: Sugar Ray Leonard. He had everything; if I
could do only half of what he did, I would be real happy. The best, in my
opinion.
AW - In closing, do you
have a message for the boxing world ahead of your next fight?
TD - I've trained really hard for this opportunity and I will not let my Puerto
Rican people down. I will win for my island and raise my flag the highest.
Thank you for the interview. Thanks for your time.
