George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah Q&A - Ready for #160 Contenders!
George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah Q&A - Ready for #160 Contenders! By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing (July 26, 2012) Doghouse Boxing - Tweet
By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing. -
Fighting out of Lawton, OK, George
“Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah (pronounced tad-uh-napper) is
unbeaten in 30 bouts, plus a draw while scoring 22 knockouts. In
order to get a shot at the top contenders he must move up into the
ratings. Right now he is No. 13 in the USBA, No. 32 in the WBC and
No. 60 in the IBO.
Prior to any interest in boxing
Tahdooahnippah’s sport was high school wrestling because boxing was
not being offered at the school. He received a full wrestling
scholarship to Delaware State after being a Cadet-Greco-Roman All
American. He attended there for 3 semesters before giving up
wrestling and looking for a new challenge.
In a country where little attention is
given to our American Indian athletes since the days of Jim Thorpe,
there have only been a handful of boxers coming on the scene like
Virgil Hill, Joe Hipp and Shawn Hawk. The “Comanche Boy” hopes
to change all of that.
Getting a late start at 25
Tahdooahnippah is still learning with no amateur boxing experience.
He learned to fight in tough man contests winning the North Texas
kick boxing title as a light heavyweight. He was a 2002 runner-up in
the Sansho-Kick boxing world championships. He has been sparring
with “Contender” champion Grady Brewer who is also from Lawton.
“George is a very hard hitter, he can knock guys out. He’s come
a long way and if matched right he can pull off some upsets. He is a
hard worker and always in shape,” said Brewer.
Without a manager or a promoter
Tahdooahnippah felt he was born to fight. His father and uncles
boxed because they attended Indian boarding schools. On March 12,
2004 he made his professional debut stopping Robert Ross in 0:43 of
the first round in OK City. The following month at the Comanche
Casino, in his hometown of Lawton, OK, he won a 4 round decision over
Ronald Allen giving away 17 pounds.
It wasn’t until 2006 under manager
Bobby Dobbs, who manages top contender Carson Jones, that
Tahdooahnippah became active as a boxer. “I have been George’s
manager since he was 3-0. I have carefully built his record to what
it is today and allowed him to develop much like the way Top Rank
has for Chavez, Jr. George is ready for prime time and we signed with
Joe DeGuardia (Star Boxing) 2 weeks ago in order to land him bigger
fights,” said Dobbs.
In 2010 Taddooahnippah had Jeff
Mayweather for a short period as trainer to help enhance his skills.
His trainer is David Vaughn. “I have been with George since his
fourth fight some 6 years ago. He has improved a lot since what he
wanted to do was be a banger. Now he knows he can box, too. We have
a good relationship. He is willing to listen and we try something I
suggest and see if it works out”, said Vaughn.
Taddooahnippah fought James Cook, 10-3,
in his tenth fight to a draw in January of 2008 in Tulsa, OK. He was
ill but knew he had to fight and fought the last 2 rounds on heart
alone. He was never able to get a return match with Cook.
Tahdooahnippah’s biggest win was in
July of 2011 when coming in at his lowest weight of 158½ he scored a
knockout over Jimmy “School Boy” Holmes, 19-2-2, for the vacant
WBC Continental Americas middleweight title at 2:28 of the first
round. This was his only scheduled 10 rounder so far. He suffered a
torn right bicep and was operated on. He returned 7 months later to
stop Tyrel Brown, 7-1, at 2:27 of the first round in February of this
year. In his last bout in April he defeated Rahman Yusubov, 8-6,
winning 5 of the 6 rounds on all score cards.
Back on September of 2008
Tahdooahnippah stopped Jonathan Corn, 47-19-3, in 0:40 of the seventh
round of a scheduled 8 for the vacant USA Native American Boxing
Council Super Middleweight title. That was his only scheduled 8
rounder. In 2009 he had a scheduled 10 with Dan Wallace, 9-9 that
was halted after a round due to severe weather that required
evacuation of the tent the fight was being held in at Lawton, OK.
They would give it another go 2 months later in Wichita Falls, KS,
with Tahdooahnippah winning all scheduled 6 rounds. He had wins over
Chris Ray, 8-3, by first round stoppage and Brooke Wellby, 35-18-4 by
decision over 6 ending 2009 at 6-0 for the year.
Tahdooahnippah has posted a pair of
second round wins over veteran Steve Walker, then 21-17, in April of
2008, and again in November of 2010. In February of 2011 he defeated
Thomas “Thunder Kick” Longacre, over 6 rounds. Longacre was a
former Kickboxing champion. “I am a devoted man of God. I am a
member of the Native American Church,” said Tahdooahnippah.
Mia Tahdooahnippah has played an
important role in her husband’s career. “George is a wonderful
husband but by far his best strength is being a parent. George
spends countless hours with our children and their sports which he
coaches. We have 4 children in Nacona 7; George Jr. 5; Talon 3 and
Lulu 1, said Mia”. She added how hard he works for the Comanche
nation fighting diabetes and encouraging native people to exercise
and eat healthy. Living in the country they are forced to eat at
home. The children do not have “wii” or “play stations” so
our children will spend time outdoors being active. “The children
enjoy going to the gym and can all wrestle and box. I haven’t
decided that is a good thing since they like to box each other,”
she added. She made it clear “our family is dedicated to his
boxing career and wouldn’t have it any other way”.
Mia has served the Comanche Nation for
the past 7 years as the Nation’s Gaming commission Compliance
Director serving 15,000 members. She is a graduate student of Wm. F.
Harrah College of Hotel Administration at UNLV. “With us both
working full time jobs we couldn’t accomplish any of our goals
without the love and support of our family, especially George’s
father, brother and my parents,” said Mia. This writer only wishes
that I had more to share about Mia and their family but space has its
limits.
Matt Yanofsky publicist for H&D
made the contact for me with Tahdooahnippah.
The “Comanche Kid” was good enough
to give some answers for Doghouse in a Q&A.
KEN HISSNER: Why did it take you until
25 to have your first professional fight?
GEORGE TAHDOOAHNIPPAH: Lawton, OK,
didn’t have boxing so I wrestled. I fought in the streets with
young and old men. Whoever wanted to fight. I’ve always been a
natural fighter. Indians have always had to fight.
KEN HISSNER: What experience have you
had with trainer Jeff Mayweather?
GEORGE TAHDOOAHNIPPAH: In 2010 when I
was preparing for a Fernando Guerrero fight. The fight fell through
but I stayed in Vegas to pick up some valuable experience. More than
anything I came away with confidence. I know I can do it. I have the
skills, the ability and the strength to win a world title. Jeff can
second that.
KEN HISSNER: Has sparring with Grady
Brewer been a help to your career?
GEORGE TAHDOOAHNIPPAH: Having the
pleasure of learning from a world class veteran like Grady has been
invaluable.
KEN HISSNER: Do you sometimes feel you
are representing the Comanche nation?
GEORGE TAHDOOAHNIPPAH: I represent the
Indian people in their struggle. I’m a real life wild Comanche
Indian. Whoever steps in the ring with me quickly finds out I’m a
breed of animal they haven’t seen before.
KEN HISSNER: Are there any opponents
in the middleweight division you would like to get in the ring with?
GEORGE TAHDOOAHNIPPAH: Chavez, Jr.,
and Sergio Martinez along with anyone else at the top (Jermaine
Taylor). I have a lot to prove so let me get to proving..
--
Visit the IMPROVED Doghouse Boxing Forums (Login with your Facebook or Twitter account - Now Mobile, Ipad, Blackberry, Android & YouTube Friendly) DogPound
