Philly’s Ryan Bivins steps into the Dog House: From Writer to Fighter on October 18th!
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Philly’s Ryan Bivins steps into the Dog House: From Writer to Fighter on October 18th! INTERVIEW By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing (Oct 17, 2014) TweetFollow @DoghouseBoxing
Philly’s Ryan Bivins will not be in press row on October 18th at the 2300 Arena in South Philly on a Peltz Boxing, BAM Boxing and Main Events show on USA NBC Sports Network in his usual seat writing for www.BadCulture.net. Instead he will be in the ring making his professional debut against Darryl Gause of Vineland, NJ, who is also making his debut in the light heavyweight division.
In the corner with Bivins will be Damon Allen Sr. and Sloan Harrison, both out of Mitch Allen’s West Philly Gym at 57th & Haverford Avenue better known as the Shepard Recreation Center. It’s a place where 1984 Super Heavyweight Olympic Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs works and 80+ Mitch Allen sits behind his desk shouting out instructions and sometimes gets up to really make a point!
KEN HISSNER: We of the press have been waiting months for your debut. Are you nervous about making your debut Saturday the 18th?
RYAN BIVINS: Nerves haven’t kicked in yet. I’m too busy training. I’m in the best shape of my life. I can’t wait to showcase my abilities.
KEN HISSNER: What kind of credentials are you bringing into the fight as far as your amateur experience has gone?
RYAN BIVINS: I only had 8 amateur fights 26 lbs north of where I’m fighting now, so, this a whole new version of me. Anyone that’s ever been in the ring with me thought I could punch as a heavyweight. Wait until they see what I can do at light heavy.
KEN HISSNER: Do you know anything about your opponent Darryl Gause who is also making his debut?
RYAN BIVINS: I know he’s 32 years old and from Vineland, NJ where my previous opponent is from. He’s replacing Alshamar Johnson on about 3-weeks’ notice. Apparently Gause has a father (also named Darryl) that had 1 pro fight back in 1997 (stopped in 1 round by Kevin Brister) before retiring and becoming a trainer. Darryl Jr. supposedly had 3 amateur fights.
KEN HISSNER: When did you decide to turn professional?
RYAN BIVINS: I decided to turn professional in the 4th grade. Just check out my 1996 yearbook entry.
KEN HISSNER: Who have you had to spar with and if not at Mitch Allen’s Gym where?
RYAN BIVINS: I do most of my sparring at my home gym but I’ve also sparred Jesse Hart, Darmani Rock and Dan Biddle at Joe Hand’s Gym, Yusaf Mack at Shuler’s Gym, and Garrett Wilson, Taneal Goyco, and Hank Lundy at Marian Anderson Rec Center. I didn’t spar any of those guys for this training camp, though. My most notable sparring partners this camp have been Todd Unthank-May and Tyrone Brunson, who also train at my gym. Everyone else, as of late, has been amateur fighters that I take it easy on.
KEN HISSNER: If not pink what color trunks will you be showcasing?
RYAN BIVINS: I will be wearing red or blue trunks with a teal ribbon to support Trigeminal Neuralgia awareness. I’ll also be in Bensalem, PA on Oct. 11 for a TN fundraiser. It will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at Rita's Water Ice, 3610 Bristol Road.
KEN HISSNER: I know you use a tape recorder when interviewing. Will one of your cornermen tape you between rounds so you can still have a write-up killing two birds with one stone?
RYAN BIVINS: Interesting idea but I don’t plan to write on my own fights outside of diary entries that I rarely do. I’ll leave that to more established media members such as yourself. However, if I fight early enough on the card, I may just join the media later and cover the main bouts (assuming I’m not involved in said featured attractions).
KEN HISSNER: As writers we are not supposed to be outwardly rooting for a particular boxer but I have a feeling we at press row will be rooting for you if not on the outside on the inside.
RYAN BIVINS: Thank you; I appreciate that. I’ll do my best to make us look good, but hopefully not too good to give other writers the crazy idea to emulate me. I had amateur fights years before I ever wrote about boxing. And I’m not old, yet.
