Q And A Lenroy Thomas

Anthony Ivey recently conducted a question and answer interview with St. Petersburg Florida’s heavyweight prospect Lenroy “TNT” Thomas,10-1-(7), and trainer Dan Birmingham to learn about the progress of his professional boxing career.

Anthony: Your latest victory back on November 7 was a shutout six-round decision over tough veteran Andrew Greeley. Greeley has taken guys like Timor Ibragimov, Kevin Johnson and Eddie Chambers the distance. How would you rate your performance against him?

Lenroy: I felt very good about it. He was very experienced, but I used my jab and my skills to control the distance. He caught me a couple of times, but nothing that bothered me.

Anthony: Do you have your next fight scheduled?

Lenroy: My team and I are working on something for early next year.

Anthony: Who is on your team?

Lenroy: My trainer is Dan Birmingham, and I am currently working on a contract with TKO Boxing Promotions.

Anthony: How is your conditioning right now?

Lenroy: It’s good right now. I just keep working hard and trust in God. I work out at Dan’s gym during the day and my strength training at night. I’ll even come back to Dan’s gym at night and work out by myself. I spar with “Winky” Wright, my idol. It’s just all coming together for me right now. I’m very happy about it.

Anthony: Dan, where is Lenroy in terms of his career at this point?

Dan: I think he’s coming along just great. He’s got that hard jab from the southpaw side that’s gonna mess a lot of guys up. He’s 6-3, 240 with quickness and power. After he’s had about 17 to 18 fights, we’ll be targeting the guys in the top 20. After that bring on Arreola, bring on Johnson. Lenroy is gonna surprise a lot of people, but not us. Every fighter needs that breakout fight. We were offered Travis Kauffman with less than a week notice for the December five card, but we are looking to go into a fight like that with enough time to look spectacular, not just good. And remember, he’s only 23, not even at his full strength yet.

Anthony: Lenroy, any closing comments?

Lenroy: Yeah, I just like to say I feel as though I can hang with any of the guys out there. Like the Arreola-Walker fight. Arreola was so flat-footed, Walker had him beat. But he couldn’t put him away. It’s ten rounds, not one. These guys are in my rearview mirror as far as I’m concerned. I will work as hard as I can to be the best, but in the end I don’t control my destiny, God does.

December 11, 2008