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Doug 'Preacher Man' Robertson
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It is said that all good things must come to an end, but for a good thing to end there must be a beginning. With fighters like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and others that have carried the heavyweight torch for so long on their way out the door, it is time to rejuvenate the division and make things new with some fresh faces and new talented fighters to start their legacy. All fighters come in with a dream to become champion and while some may experience that dream coming true, very few are lucky enough to capture the hearts of fight fans with their sheer talent, charisma and ability to captivate a crowd. The new heavyweight era begins with such fighters as Owen Beck, Samuel Peter, Malcolm Tann and David Rodriguez hitting the scene. But the boxing world now needs to brace itself with newest fighter on the block, Doug 'Preacher Man' Robertson. The twenty-nine year old native of Longview, Texas, has the speed and skill to dance around his opponents while he administers great damage with his fast flying jab. He is a veteran of the Toughman circuit fighting in it since 1997 and has complied five local Toughman Championships under his belt. Around these parts he is simply known as the 'Preacher Man'. To the boxing world he is just another new face in the crowd but in time and through his hard work and dedication they will know his name. The 6’3” lightening fast fighter made his pro debut back on August 19th against newcomer and towering fighter Mike Julien. Robertson picked apart Big Mike to earn a four round unanimous decision victory on the undercard of the Malcolm Tann-Andrew Greeley fight, which won Robertson-Julien the trophy for the fight of the night. The dedicated family man is a father of two and has been married to his high school sweetheart for ten years. The southpaw fighter is a clean living Christian who plans on being a minister in the years to come and believes the heavyweight platform will play a part for him to spread the word for his faith in God. He is an honest, fun loving guy to his family and friends, but make no mistake, when he gets in the ring it is strictly to win and win he will. Will Doug Robertson be heavyweight champion of the world some day? He believes so, and he knows that through hard work dedication and keeping his faith in God he has just as much of a chance as anybody else does. Doug was more than happy to share his thoughts with the Doghouse about his life and future in the sport of boxing.
Benny Henderson Jr.: What inspired you to box?
Doug Robertson: Originally I seen Toughman Contests on television and I told my wife that looked like it would be neat to try even though I didn’t grow up fighting. It sounded crazy of course but I figured I would test my luck because I liked to try different stuff basically. It really sparked when they told us we could talk to the crowd after each match we won and I thought that would be a good time to share my faith and testimony on how God saves and how great his mercy is so I figured I could use that as a platform. So the passion of boxing wasn’t there at first but it did come along.
BH: What experiences fighting in the Toughman Circuit do you feel that could help you out as a pro boxer?
DR: To me it is the element of surprise basically because from fight to fight you don’t know whom you were fighting basically until three minutes before the fight. So you have to adapt quicker than a professional fighter would because they normally have months to learn about their opponent. I feel me having to adapt in such a short time in all those fights will give me an edge.
BH: What do you feel your best quality is as a fighter?
DR: My jab, speed and movement. That is what I rely on because I am not a big guy. People write me off as being a light heavyweight because of my size and that I have a slender build. My speed comes into play a lot getting away from those guys and getting them before they get me.
BH: You know there are a lot of new fighters hitting the scene all the time, and they all say they will be champion one day. What makes you so different then all those other fighters?
DR: Well, that’s really no guarantee, but like I say through hard work you can do it. I feel that it is my calling as far as being a part of my Christian life, because it is going to be a platform for me to reach a lot of people. Because in the world we live in nobody wants to hear you unless you are somebody, so with me being a heavyweight champ I would have more influence on people and I believe that God will honor that. Because it will spread his word not because of boxing and God honors his word and this is a chance to spread his word. I believe he will help me out in that area. In the Biblical times he helped people like David and Solomon mainly because it was to progress him and bring glory back to him, not necessarily to David and them. So that is how I feel it is going to play into my life as far as being the heavyweight champ and being able to let people hear about God that normally wouldn’t hear about him.
BH: Your pro debut was on the Malcolm Tann undercard on August 19th. What was it like walking from the ring entrance in to the ring for the first time?
DR: Man, I was scared but with me fighting in the Toughman I still had that back ground of fighting in the ring so it wasn’t new in that area but just fighting somebody on the professional level it was a whole different feeling. To see this big guy step in the ring I was just like terrified, I was like it would seemed like you guys would have picked somebody smaller for me to start off with [Laughing.] I didn’t know his background or anything so it was kind of scary. But I just made up my mind that I was going to fight this guy and whatever happens just happens. I felt like I was going to win I just didn’t know for sure what this guy had.
BH: Well, how was it like to get you first win as a pro and get over that hump?
DR: It felt just unreal, I’m still on cloud nine basically from that win. It is a good feeling and you feel like you can fight then very next week but I feel real good about it.
BH: How fast do you plan on moving up?
DR: I want to have a fight every month. If I could every month for the next twelve to fifteen months I feel like it will put me in a position to be seen by these big names. My main thing is that I have a passion to do this so hopefully somebody will notice me and I can make some money and make boxing my full time job. I feel like if that happens I can train real hard and move up quickly.
BH: What was your first boxing memory?
DR: To be honest with you I hated boxing when I was growing up, I thought I was going to be the next Bruce Lee.
[We both laugh] I remember watching boxing when it was on CBS with Sugar Ray Leonard and them, I really didn’t like it because they weren’t kicking. I grew up on classic ninja theatre and stuff like that.
BH: You were into Ninja Turtles huh?
DR: [Laughing] Yeah, stuff like that till the Toughman came around and then I got a passion for it. I first stepped in the ring and I loved it. When I won people were like how long you been boxing and I was like never been in the ring. People said I looked like a natural boxer so I thought I might as well tryout for it.
BH: What kind of money did the Toughman contests pay you?
DR: All the local contests were a thousand dollars and the nationals were fifty thousand dollars for the winner.
BH: What about the heavyweight division today? Do you see any dominant heavy’s out there?
DR: Well honestly I don’t see any dominate heavyweight out there today, there are a lot of good fighters but I really can’t just pick one out of the bunch and say that this guy would be the better one. I like Chris Byrd because of his size and it is like a David and Goliath type of fight when he fights. He is a smaller guy and fast and really smart. I would pick him to be the top dog but even then he isn’t the most dominant fighter. It is wide open and hopefully I can step in the picture and make a showing.
BH: What is your training regime?
DR: I usually train five days a week sometimes seven days a week but it is basically when I can. Because with working, working out and with the family and church they are all spread out. So I am mostly running in the night but I mix it all up.
BH: You know you are a Christian and live life right and a family man. Do you fear that getting big and popular and with temptation could damage that? It is a savage business.
DR: It is a savage business, but God is who put me in this position. It is easy to forget if you are not focused, but I don’t have problems with any of that. It is no big deal to me.
BH: Why should a fight fan come watch Doug 'The Preacher Man' Robertson fight?
DR: I feel like I am exciting to watch, to be totally honest with you. From what people have said to me I think it is exciting so if you come I will defiantly try to put on a good show.
BH: What can the boxing fans expect from the 'Preacher Man' in the next two years?
DR: Hopefully to be in the top fifteen, my goal is to be the heavyweight champion so I’m going to try my hardest to be.
I want to thank Doug Robertson for taking time out for the Doghouse to share his thoughts. Doug fights out of Longview Texas and is trained and managed by Ken Jones. For more info on Doug, his future fights and media inquiries contact Benny Henderson Jr. at CrazzedTrucker@aol.com |
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2004
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By Benny Henderson Jr. (October 12, 2004)
