Interview with Andre Rozier - The Coney Island Boxing Club, AKA: The House of Pain!

Interview with Andre Rozier - The Coney Island Boxing Club, AKA: The House of Pain!

By John Pullman, Doghouse Boxing (July 31, 2009)

When talking about New York City, a list of boxing gyms comes to mind. One that has been on a steady climb to the top of that list and is currently sticking out like a brand new black eye, (in a good way) is; The Coney Island Boxing Club, or as Andre Rozier calls it “The House of Pain!”

The Coney Island Boxing Club is a hot bed for boxers on the verge of super stardom. Here is the line up, featherweight Gary “Kid” Stark Jr., super middleweights Curtis “Showtime” Stevens and Jaidon “The Don” Codrington, undefeated light middleweight “Mean” Joe Greene and former Olympian and undefeated pro Sadam Ali. Those fighters present a staggering combined record of 86 and 7, and we didn’t even mention the several blue chip amateurs that also call this gym home.

I know what you’re thinking … “What a roster?!” That was my first thought as well …

Oh, did I mention Danny Jacobs? Yup, this is also home of the Golden Child, who in less than 2 years has already run his record up to 17 and 0 with 15 knockouts and is preparing for his 5th bout this year.

Paulie Malignaggi is also getting ready for his fight with Juan Diaz on August 22, at the Coney Island Club, under the watch of Sherif Younan. This place is just stacked right now!

Younan and Andre Rozier are part of a team of trainers that work together in developing this plethora of world class fighters. And, according to Rozier, it is the system that is in place that creates such greatness. “Our coaching network is a family oriented system. We work with everyone in a circle, everybody works with everybody,” said Andre.

It is a talent filled line up with an uncanny amount of knowledge and experience. The team includes Andre Rozier, Victor Roundtree, Sherif Younan, Gary Stark Sr., lead by 69 year old club director, “Poppa” Ralphy Miranda.

Danny Jacobs, who is co-trained by Rozier and Roundtree, is knee deep in his regiment preparing for Ishe Smith on the Malignaggi/Diaz card on August 22nd, in Houston, Texas. “It’s a fight that I am not worried about Danny winning. I just hope Ishe commits to a fight, cause he usually doesn’t. We will be ready to take care of business,” a confident Rozier proclaims.

Rozier continues talking about the immediate future for the club’s other prospects, “We’re looking to get Curtis a fight for the NABO super middleweight title. Derrick Edwards is a possible opponent. We are looking for some work for, of course, Joe Greene. And we are also looking to get Sadam back in the ring to do his thing. But right now we are just concentrating on Paulie and Danny and just looking to have a spectacular, fantastic, successful night on August the 22nd.”

In conclusion, Rozier wants you to remember “We at the Coney Island Boxing Gym, The House of Pain, are fully behind Havoc Boxing Gear. We are in the hurt business!”

Thanks to the knowledgeable and always animated Andre Rozier for taking the time to speak with me.