| When super middleweight
Donovan George signed with promoter Bobby Hitz in February, he wanted to
rebuild his career by taking a series of tune-ups before taking another risk in
competition.
Before signing with Hitz,
George went 1-2-1 in his previous four fights, getting stopped by Adonis
Stevenson and Caleb Truax. His career was at a crossroads and he wanted to rebuild
while remaining active.
So much for that plan.
In less than two weeks,
George will fight in Colombia against Alexander Brand, 22-1 (18), for the vacant
International Boxing Organization (IBO) super middleweight title on May 17.
“I said, ‘F*ck it; let’s do
it,’” George said. “When opportunity knocks, you’ve got to answer. I’m not a
fool and I know that this isn’t a serious world title but this is still a very
small version of a world title. It can catapult me to where I want to be.”
George, 25-4-2 (22), said he
got a call few days ago from Brand’s camp. Brand needed an opponent on two
week’s notice after fellow Colombian and former titleholder Alejandro Berrio
pulled out with an injury.
After mulling it over briefly,
George signed the contract to fight. The 29-year-old, however, won’t be going
to Colombia with his regular team.
His trainer, Sam Colonna is
unavailable because he is training light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara for a
light heavyweight showdown with consensus champion Adonis Stevenson. His other
co-trainer, Rita Figueroa doesn’t have a passport. Even members of his own
family, such as his wife, Aleksandra and father, Peter aren’t traveling with
him.
Instead, it will just be
former fighter Fernando Hernandez as his trainer and fellow fighter Mike
Jimenez as his chief second.
“You’ve got to gamble,”
George said. “I’m going out there without a team. I’m going out there pretty
much alone to fight for a humpty-dump world title. It’s not an ideal
circumstance for me but I had to jump on it.”
Not everyone was so sure from
the gate that George’s decision was the right one. Hitz advised George to pass
up on the fight.
“I said it wasn’t our game
plan and it wasn’t what we set out to do,” Hitz said. “I’m the guy who likes to
not serve the wine before it’s time…but he’s a very driven guy and he made a
convincing argument. Sometimes careers are made by doing things like this.
“I believe in this kid and
his drive,” Hitz said. “You can’t take away something from a kid like that.”
George’s fight against Brand
is a calculated risk. Brand is 37 years old with his only notable fight coming
against Badou Jack in which he lost a disputed split decision in May of 2012.
“If he was 25 years old and
30-0, I wouldn’t have taken the fight,” George said. “He’s an extremely
unorthodox guy. He’s almost like a Sergio Martinez where he darts in and out.
My strategy is going to be catching him jumping in with his hands down with my
right hand.”
George also said he feels
that Brand is underestimating him, thinking he’s out of shape on short notice.
George disputed that, saying that sparred 12 rounds Monday and ran eight miles.
George last fought April 18, earning a sixth round TKO over Troy Lowry.
“I went right back into the
gym Monday after the fight,” George said. “It’s one of those things that I feel
like happens for a reason. The reality is I’m in shape and ready to fight.”
One factor that George says
he isn’t fighting for is money.
“The pay is dirt-sh*t
terrible,” George said. “I need to establish my name again and prove that I’m
for real.
“Stuff like this will make
or break my career,” he said. “Nothing in my life is going to go according to
plan, so f*ck it.”
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