ESPN

Seems like everyone I come across is impressed with Marcus Browne's progress as a pro thus far. The Staten island hitter, a light heavyweight, rose to 4-0 with a KO2 takeout of Taneal Goyco at Barclays on Saturday night.

I asked the lefty, who repped the U.S. at the London Olympics, for his takeaway on the victory.

"It was a good win, now for our next time out we're doing six rounds for the first time," the 22-year-old told me. "We're trying to get a decent opponent and I'm just going to continue to work hard so fights can be easy, although not every fight will be."

Browne is being guided by Al Haymon, who is sort of a "Wizard of Oz," man-behind-the-curtain type who is rarely seen in public -- he didn't even appear to accept his Boxing Writers Association of America Manager of the Year award at the April 11 awards gala in NYC -- but is one of the three (two, one?) most powerful people in the sport. Haymon is not prone to risk-taking as he builds his prospects, to the point that many fans grumble that Haymon fighters don't subject themselves to risk early or often enough, but if you're a fighter, you have to feel comforted that your manager isn't one to throw you into waters that might be too deep, or shark-filled, before you're ready.

Browne said Haymon told him he would likely fight on the June 22 Barclays card which is topped by Paul Malignaggi's welterweight title defense against Adrien Broner, who is coming up from 135 pounds.

And who does Browne like in Saturday's Floyd Mayweather-Robert Guerrero fight? "Floyd is in a higher class than this kid, to me personally we'll see that display itself from the fifth round on," Browne told me. "If it even goes that far ... I got Floyd in round eight or nine."

 

 

Confession: I'm sort of a fan of two of the young boxers on the Saturday card at Barclays Center. Frank Galarza and Marcus Browne are two promising hitters with engaging personalities. You have to hope that they keep excelling, and get to the professional promised land.

The 27-year-old Galarza was born in Red Hook. He stands out because of his upbeat attitude. His father died when he was seven, and his mom died when he was nine. He grew up in the home of his father's sister and her husband, Wilma and Benjamin Collazo. They will be in the building when the 8-0 Galarza meets 11-2 Guillermo Ibarra. "I expect more than one hundred friends and family at Barclays," Galarza told me Tuesday at Gleason's. I asked him why he didn't have a nasty gameface on and he said, "I'm just having fun, being able to fight in my home town." The junior middle got good sparring with Delvin Rodriguez, so he expects to go to 9-0. "There won't be nerves. I'm used to it. It's my stage and I want to perform."

Another kid on the card is 22-year-old Marcus Browne. The Staten Island light heavy meets 4-5-1 Taneal Goyco, and seeks to go to 3-0. Browne is advised by Al Haymon, so you know big things are expected of him. "I'm in great shape and I'm just ready to fight in front of my home crowd for the first time as a professional fighter," he told NYFightblog.

Marcus Browne has the sort of personality that will take him far, if his skills keep growing at the rate they have been. He mixes confidence and self-deprecation smoothly, as when I asked the 22-year-old Staten Islander if he behaved himself during the holidays or overindulged at the dinner table, sentencing himself to extra road work in the sub-freezing temperatures outside to carve off a spare pound or two ahead of his Feb. 9 bout at the Barclays Center.

Did you steer clear of second helpings during the holidays, Marcus?

“I’m a fat horse,” he said, chuckling. “No, I’m a gummy-bear fanatic. But it was cool. Making my home debut as a pro, in Brooklyn, it’s a great feeling. It will be motivating. It will push me to work harder in the gym.”

Browne, who repped the U.S. at the London Olympics and is signed to adviser Al Haymon and promoter Golden Boy, said he’s been getting great work at the Starrett City Gym, with fellow pros Danny Jacobs, Curtis Stevens and Will Rosinsky.

He doesn’t have a foe set for the Brooklyn rumble, but is hoping to get someone more seasoned than Ritchie Cherry, who he KO'ed in Round 1 on Dec. 15. Cherry was so rudimentary, Browne would like to see someone who can push him a bit more, forcing him to use new tricks of the trade.

Danny Garcia, a junior welterweight champ, headlines on Feb. 9 against Brownsville’s Zab Judah, the 35-year-old ex-champ who still has top-shelf skills, but whose mental makeup is questionable. Will focused-and-fierce Zab show up, or will the guy who drifts and doesn’t push himself meet Garcia? Could Zab regain a title against a 24-year-old young gun?

“This is hard,” Browne answered. “I’m a New York guy, I’m a lefty like Zab. I like Zab but the young kid, he got the dog in him. Zab says Garcia woke up a sleeping lion. And Zab will be fighting close to where he grew up, so you never know.”

Browne ended with a shout-out to the people of Staten Island still struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy: "It's out of the news, but people are still coming out of it. People are helping, but people tend to forget. We can't forget about these people."

Marcus Browne, the boxing pride of Staten Island, N.Y., went to 2-0 with a TKO win over Ritchie Cherry at the L.A. Sports Arena on Saturday. Browne, 22, scored three knockdowns against his foe from Oklahoma.

Browne (2-0, 2 KOs) spoke to Brian Kenny of Showtime after the network finished airing an undercard fight ahead of its Amir Kahn-Carlos Molina main event. Browne promised to "stay on the straight and narrow," and the 2012 Olympian said he likes the pro game, where he can bang and not worry about the headgear and the computer scoring in the amateurs. The light heavyweight likes that kids who work out at the Atlas Cops and Kids Gyms in New York look up to him and wants to keep excelling so that he can remain a role model.

Cherry dropped to 3-6.

Mitt Romney, who lost to incumbent President Barack Obama on Nov. 6, visited the dressing room of Manny Pacquiao, and Juan Manuel Marquez, before their big rumble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Romney greeted a seated Pacquiao, and said, "Hello Manny. I ran for President. I lost," drawing guffaws in the Pacquiao dressing room. "Wish you good luck tonight. Congratulations on your race and your fight. Congratulations, way to go, have a great night. Thanks guys."

He also checked in with Marquez, and was seen in the front row for the first TV fight, between Patrick Hyland and Javier Fortuna. Romney was accompanied by his wife, Ann. The ex-Massachusetts governor also shook hands with rapper-promoter 50 Cent.

Staten Island prospect Marcus Browne looks to rise to 2-0 when he gloves up on a Dec. 15 card at the LA Sports Arena in Los Angeles.

The light heavyweight Browne is keeping his fingers crossed that his fight will be shown on CBS, which will televise a Leo Santa Cruz-Alberto Guevara bantamweight title fight as the main event.

Fellow Olympian Joseph Diaz has a TV slot locked down, and Browne told NYFightblog that he isn't sure if his scrap will run on CBS, or on Showtime Extreme.

"So, if my fight isn't on CBS it'll be shown on SHO Extreme, that's kinda weird but it's whatev(er)," Browne told me. "I was hoping I was a lock for CBS," he admitted.

A CBS slot would be a minor coup, as boxing has been off network TV for more than five years, and there will be solid hubbub surrounding the Golden Boy offering.

While I had him on the line, I asked the 22-year-old Browne who he likes in Saturday's Pacquiao-Marquez fight in Vegas (to be shown on HBO pay-per-view). "I got Marquez winning, by split decision," he said. "I won't be surprised if Manny gets a decision, I just feel like Marquez is gonna pull it off. I feel like Marquez won the last one, but who am I, Mike? I'm a small fish, I got to get my weight up," he said, chuckling.

Follow me on Twitter here https://twitter.com/#!/Woodsy1069

 

Olympian Marcus Browne took out Codale Ford at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA Friday night.

The Staten Islander, in his pro debut, said he wanted to put on a show for those in the region hit by Sandy and he did.

Browne, after trainer Gary Stark Sr. told him to gun for the kayo, got nasty in the third. He sent Ford down with a left to the body. The loser arose, but two rights to the body had the ref interceding, and halting the light heavyweight tussle, set for four rounds or less.

The scrap ran on Showtime, and if you missed it, they run replays on the various Showtime channels.

No matter how his pro debut goes tonight, and I expect that he will score a KO win over his greener foe, Staten Islander Marcus Browne can be assured that one gleaming act he took part in will forever cement him as a star.

Browne shot a short video with Sesame Street's cuddliest and most popular resident, Elmo. (You can check out that short here.)

Browne told Elmo that working hard, practicing every day, staying focused, getting plenty of rest and eating healthy brought him to the Olympics.

A couple days before his debut against 2-0 Codale Ford at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif., this evening, I asked Browne, age 21, about the Elmo shoot.

"It was a couple months before the Olympic Games, in New York City," said the light heavyweight. "It was a great experience. I asked Elmo if he wore the same outfit as he did when I was a kid."

Elmo indicated that the suit (coat? body?) has been refurbished many times since the '90s.

"I was in amazement. I grew up watching Elmo," Browne said.

You can check out Browne, and some of his Olympic teammates, on Showtime tonight at 10.

Sandy has been on Marcus Browne's mind -- how could it not be, since the severe storm did its best to kayo his Staten Island home base? But Browne is intent on not letting the storm surge remove him from the task he has in front of him Friday night at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif.

The light heavyweight, who repped the U.S. at the London Olympics, takes on Codale Ford, 2-0 out of Oklahoma, in his professional debut. His training was interrupted by Sandy, and he was away from the Atlas Cops and Kids gym Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, before getting back on the beam last Wednesday. The fighter, who turns 22 on Nov. 10, told NYFightBlog that his camp was six weeks long, and when queried whether the storm threw him off his stride, replied, "Of course not. I'm in shape."

As for scouting Ford, he found some YouTube on the guy, but it was MMA. "I think it was him," said Browne, who stated he is most concerned with what he has to do, not what sort of style his opponent possesses. "He'll be trying to upset me, an Olympian," Browne said.

The young boxer signed on with super-advisor Al Haymon, so if he proceeds according to expectation, he will be making XL fat purses in a couple years. What will he do with this first pro paycheck? "Of course, I have to pay rent to my mom and I'll put some money into my 401k as well as my life insurance policy," he said. "I'm not planning in leaving anytime soon, though."

Mentally, he was and is affected like everyone who was in Sandy's path; his family emerged basically unscathed, though his mom's SI soul food restaurant lost lots of supplies because the electricity was out. "Food can be replaced, though," he noted. Some of his friends lost their homes, so he will be fighting for himself Friday, but also for a larger cause.

"I'm fighting for me, myself, but also for everyone in NYC, especially in Staten Island. Some will live vicariously through me," he said. "I want to say to the people of New York and New Jersey, stay in great spirits, keep your head up, we will bounce back."

Showtime will televise the Browne fight on a card which also features debuting Olympians Dominic Breazeale, Terrell Gausha, Errol Spence and Rau'Shee Warren.

Marcus Browne, the light heavyweight boxer from Staten Island, earned some experience at the Olympics in London. No, he didn't come home with a medal, but the 21-year-old hitter obviously showed some attributes that stood out to those in the know within the professional realm. Because after he finishes a late afternoon workout, Browne will tonight sign a contract with top-echelon adviser Al Haymon.

Browne sifted through offers for a few weeks, he told NYFightBlog, but decided to cast his lot with Haymon, who advises the man many feel is the top pound-for-pounder in the game, Floyd Mayweather. "I'm more ready to get to work than excited, he's the best in the business and he said he'll make me a superstar," Browne said. "I have no choice but to believe him...but the proof is in the pudding!"

We will keep you apprised on when and where Browne makes his professional debut.

Attorney Keith Sullivan offered advice on the contract issue; I left a message with him, to ask about specifics, but haven't heard back as of yet.

It's been a heady spell for the kid, who learned the trade in Teddy Atlas' Cops N Kids gym; he met President Obama at the White House two weeks ago and now he signed a deal with the former music exec who is now one of the handful of most powerful people in the fight business. Haymon studied at Harvard, conquered the music touring business, with artists like MC Hammer and New Edition, moved into TV production, and has now built himself up in the sweet science to mythical status. Part of that rep stems from the fact that he is ultra-low profile, choosing not to chat with media.

Richard Schaefer, the day-to-day head of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions called Haymon “easily the smartest man I’ve ever met.”

Browne's path to reach where he wants to get, to a world championship, will surely not be free of bumps. But with this deal, with Haymon, he has started the trek to professional success on a smooth road propelled by a potent engine of wheeling and dealing.

A gaggle of U.S. Olympians, including New York boxers Marcus Browne and Jamel Herring, visited the White House and greeted President Obama on Friday.

"I was inspired to watch you guys even though I couldn't do what you do," Obama said to the athletes, according to Reuters. "I was inspired to run a little bit faster watching Tyson Gay, and lift a little more after watching Holley Mangold, or do a few more (abdominal) crunches after watching Michael Phelps and the other swimmers. Somehow, it didn't work quite on me."

Browne and Herring both came away mightily impressed. "It was a great experience, yes we shared a few words, he was very nice, he has such a smooth aura, not like a pimp but just an old-school playa," the Staten Islander Browne told NYFightblog.

I asked about where he stands on turning pro. "As of now I'm still in the process of meeting with different companies in boxing, I still haven't spoken to everyone yet," he said. "I'm almost done but it'll be soon. I'm not rushing, I'm making sure I get the best deal for me."

Herring got some quality time with the President, and then poked around the White House. "I shook hands with him, told him I was a Marine who deployed twice, and had a great time exploring the White House afterwards."

Er, did you liberate a keepsake?

"LOL, no, plus you can imagine how tight security was," he reported.

Confession: Not sure if this will put me on the watch list, but if I went to the White House, I'd try to snag a few plies of toilet paper, at least ...

Olympians Marcus Browne and Jamel Herring, of Staten Island and Coram, Long Island, are in DC today, meeting President Obama at the White House along with a couple hundred other American athletes who took part in the London Games.

"Yea, we here, from Staten Island to the White House!" Browne Tweeted at 9 a.m.

"From Coram to the White House and still going strong in life," Herring Tweeted. "Y'all can't tell me I ain't made it... Life is good and it only gets better."

"I watched you guys do things that I did not think were humanly possible," Obama said, as quoted on TheHill.com. "I was tempted to run a little bit faster after watching Tyson Gay ... or do a few more crunches after watching Michael Phelps and some of the other swimmers."

Neither Browne nor Herring was able to make it out of London with a medal, but both are soldiering on, sifting through offers to turn pro. The grapevine tells me that Browne has met with some heavy hitters about a deal and is mulling how to proceed, and Herring is planning to go to a camp headed by Mike Stafford, who guides Adrien Broner and is looking to place Herring with a higher-placed adviser.

Light heavyweight Marcus Browne craved gold, and although the Staten Islander will not exit London with a shiny bauble in his pocket, but he has no shame in his game, as he gave a solid account of himself in his opening-round loss to Aussie Damien Hooper on Monday morning in London.

Team USA was 4-0 until Browne, 21, met up with fellow lefty Hooper, who turned it up in Round 3 and got into fighting mode, instead of looking to pack on points. Hooper had his hand raised, by a 13-11 score, and will head to the round of 16. Browne held a 6-5 lead entering the final frame, but it was Hooper, 20, who closed out the show. In retrospect, Browne might have wished he had been more aggressive and taken it to Hooper more often. Hooper scored a standing eight count in Round 3, indicating the fury of his flurrying.

Browne fans had to be slightly miffed that CNBC, home to boxing coverage, switched away and didn't show the Browne bout. Then, a stream provided by its parent network went down as well, before staying strong.

Next up, New Yorkers, co-captain Jamel Herring will try to get it done. He gloves up Tuesday morning and we can only hope the channel doesn't swerve right before the Coram, N.Y., native gets it on with Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazkhstan in a light welterweight tangle.

The draw was held to determine who will fight who in the first round of the Olympic boxing slate, and co-captain Jamel Herring, a welterweight, told the world the result, via Twitter: "I box against KAZAKHSTAN Tuesday. Let's get this work in USA!"

Fellow New Yorker Marcus Browne learned that he will take on a light heavyweight from Australia in his opener, in the round of 32.

Herring, the Marine from Coram, Long Island, will be looking to get it done on Tuesday morning, versus Daniyar Yeleussinov, a lefty who moves well and knows the focus-on-points style of Olympic fighting.

Herring was feeling some extra emotion Friday, the third anniversary of his daughter's death. Ariyanah Herring was two months old when she passed.

"Today marks the 3rd anniversary since my daughter has passed but instead of sorrow I'm go represent her proudly in this opening ceremony," Herring tweeted.

Browne, 21, will glove up Monday morning, against Damien Hooper, who is ranked No. 2 in the world at light heavy (max of 178 pounds). It is possible that Hooper's head isn't screwed on as tight as it needs to be? He left the Aussie camp a month early in June, after fighting with coaches and teammates. At 20, is he mentally tough enough for all this hubbub?

The USA boxing squad made it to England, and thus far, have been so focused on getting gold. They haven't even managed to indulge in any sightseeing. But, Team USA PR head Julie Goldsticker reports the boxers aren't just tightly-wound balls of tension. When the person who oversees the gym they are using in Bolton walked in to greet the squad on Monday, he caught them dancing en masse.

"This team is very bonded," Goldsticker told NYFightBlog. She has a basis for comparison, having done PR for USA Boxing since 2001, "Their cameraderie is evident."

Goldsticker reports that both the New Yorkers on the squad, co-captain Jamel Herring (age 26) and Marcus Browne (age 21), show leadership qualities.

Herring, having served two tours in Iraq in the Marines, is a vocal leader and seen as a guiding light. Young Browne isn't afraid to pump up the others in the crew, and push them to push themselves. If you follow Browne's Twitter feed, you get the feeling he is the slightest bit homesick. I asked Goldsticker about that, and she chuckled. "He's enjoying England a lot," she said. "But he misses his family. Everybody does. Marcus is ready to fight."

The squad is looking forward to meeting the man who owns the gym in Bolton, junior welterweight pro Amir Khan. The Brit had some hard luck Saturday, when he was stopped in Round Four of his title defense against Danny Garcia in Las Vegas. "There is a press event Wednesday," Goldtsicker said. "We're looking forward to lifting Amir's spirits." The whole team, she said, was beyond pleased to see the gym in Bolton plastered with American flags, and all have been impressed that they haven't felt an ounce of territorial tension. "Everyone has been kind and welcoming. And, we haven't seen any sense of rivalry," she said.

The squad will leave for London on July 24, will enjoy the opening ceremony on July 27, and then will get their game faces on. The light heavy Browne will fight July 30, and light welter Herring will fight the next day. Their foes will be determined after they make weight, and the brackets are completed.

Ultimately, the amount of dancing done by USA boxing will be determined by how far they advance in the tournament.