Gabriel “Tito” Bracero – Dmitriy Salita Presser
By Tom Mauriello, RCM Boxing Correspondent
Brooklyn, NY (October 3rd, 2013)– Kevin Rooney JR of Lou Dibella Entertainment presented us with an incredible dais this morning at the Marco Polo Restaurant in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn that consisted of some of the hottest young talent the borough of Brooklyn has to offer promoting the November 9th fight card at the Aviator Sports Complex featuring Gabriel Bracero and Dmitriy Salita.
On the undercard of this incredible fight between two of Brooklyn’s top stars, we have the face of women’s boxing Heather “The Heat” Hardy, 5 time New York City Golden Glove champion Shemuel Pagan and the highly anticipated debut of the amateur standout Junior Younan.
Hardy is very excited to be fighting at a venue, which is truly home to her. The Aviator Sports Complex is 10 minutes away from the Geristan Beach area of Brooklyn where Heather grew up. She is excited to kickoff her long-term promotional contract with Lou Dibella and to represent women in the sport of boxing in her first title match.
Shemuel Pagan is excited to further his career and improve his 3-0 record to 4-0. He says that being a practicing Jew as well as being of Puerto Rican decent he is torn on the main event and if it was up to him would have to score it a draw. He is a very exciting young prospect and great for Brooklyn boxing.
Junior Younan is ready to make his pro debut, and told the main event fighters with all due respect that he plans to steal the show. Younan stated how he has been around the best New York City has to offer his entire life, literally growing up in the gyms of New York. Younan is a former National Junior Olympic Champion, nine-time Junior Metro champion, eight time NY State Silver Gloves Champion, five time Regional Silver Gloves Champion, three time Ringside World Champion, three time National PAL Champion, and two-time National Junior Golden Gloves champion. His amateur credentials are insane, and he knows that now is the time for him to go pro. When asked on why not wait to compete in the Olympics, sugar boy said “The Olympics where a dream when I was young, but now is time to turn pro”. The young man has his sights set high and is looking to have at least night fights within the next year. He has an impressive frame 168 pounds and is being compared to Andre Ward by his management team. I am really looking forward to not only Junior’s debut, but also the career he has ahead of him.
In the main event, we have a match up that New York fight fans have been waiting a long time to see. Dmitriy Salita has found an opponent to match his star power in the city of New York, and is looking forward to putting on a show. After waiting some time for a big fight announcement, and a mega fight between Salita and Camacho JR falling through, Brooklyn fight fans get a dream “crossroads” fight between Sunset Park’s very own Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (22-1-0(4Kos) and “The Star of David” Dmitriy Salita (35-1-1(18KO’s). Dmitriy started off his address to the room by having the room give a moment of silence to the ever-popular Victor Rountree of Starrett City boxing whom tragically past away this morning.
Salita would go on to say that this is a very exciting fight for him, Brooklyn and boxing. This is a crossroads fight and they know that Tito is a tough competitor. He has taken heat in the past for not fighting solid competition, and this fight answers those questions because as we all know, Bracero is a tough fighter. He looks to put on a good show.
Before we would hear from Salita’s opponent, Tommy Gallagher who is the manager of Tito Bracero, would get on the mic and express his displeasures with the sport of boxing lately. He would go on to say that due to the fact that Tito and himself are not the “rowdy” type they do not get the recognition that they deserve. That HBO and Showtime will not give them their deserved credit and they will once again have to earn it wit h a victory over Salita to get back up to that level, even though he feels they are already there. Gallagher was upset that when talking about Bracero and him being in the upper echelon of fighters, the Chop Chop Corley fight is always the one that comes up. Gallagher would explain that Bracero proved more in that fight by getting off the mat to come back and win the last 6 rounds was more impressive then any of his victories.
With the Chop Chop fight behind him, Tito looks to move ahead in the sport of boxing and accomplish his dreams as being a top name and top earner.
The last I spoke with Tito he was pushing for the Salita fight, but was not entirely confident that it was going to happen. Clearly that is no longer the case, and Tito now has the fight he has been pushing for set up in front of him. Tito was kind enough to take some time and speak with me about the matter, and this is what he had to say about how the fight came together.
“It all came together because god is good Tom. The tables turned for me and gave me this amazing opportunity. When we were in Gleason’s training together, I had just gotten out of prison, and just wanted to make it. I loved boxing and knew I was talented but did not have the full confidence in my ability. Now I have 22 wins and 1 loss, I’m ranked 14th in the world but I’m not a rich guy. I have dreams. There was a time that I was in the pen and I was crying and I wanted my second chance, and this is it! My chances are not going to get any better then this. Now I get into the ring and I have a guy standing in front of me, I’m thinking about kids I have to feed, my family, and all the things I’ve been through, and if you think for one minute I’m going to allow him to take that? No! I’m going to break him the **** down the from the minute I walk in there.
I smile, and I laugh and I shake hands cause I try to be humble and I really am. I don’t like to talk (crap), but when I get in that ring he’s going to see a different person that he has ever seen before. I was so anxious and trying to sit there and relax but I’m ready to rock! I got the shakes up there thinking about it. I’m doing my heavy training now cause I’m only 5 pounds away from weight so when I get closer to the fight I could relax. Tom I’m ready, I’m so ready, I’m not going to allow this guy to take away my shine, I’m gunna go in there and do whatever I have to do to win.”
The look in Tito’s eyes tells the whole story. I have known Tito for just about four years now, and this is the first time that I have seen that determined look in his eyes. Tito gave me chills while speaking to me, this is a man who has been through it all, and is now back in the drivers seat with an amazing opportunity ahead of him. When speaking to the room he told us maybe 12 times that he was just excited for this fight and you can see it. Tito was like a little kid trying to stand still in church up there and you can see that he is just counting down the hours till this fight on November 9th.
This fight can bring Tito into competition for a world title as well as a very nice payday down the road. For a fighter who had his career split in half due to a bad decision, this is the opportunity of a lifetime and he knows it. This is a real life Rocky story, and traditional Brooklyn athlete story. A top boxing prospect, undefeated getting caught up in a bad situation and having his career cut short due to a prison sentence. This man learned from this mistake, and chose to better his life once he got out, and is now fighting to be that great man he knows he can be.
This is real life and this is true boxing. This sport has become a clown show where disgraceful fighters are shown parting at strip clubs and burning hundred dollar bills. Men such as Adrien Broner are not role models for the sport, and someone who should be getting publicity on Showtime and ESPN. Men with stories of heart, sacrifice and retribution should have this publicity and this money. Tito Bracero is one of these men! He has the heart of James Braddock, a Jake La Motta and a Rocky Graziano. A man who is fighting to put food on his table and give his family a better life. Tito Bracero has become an amazing human being and an athlete to look up to. His story is still being written, and at the end, I am more then confident it will have a much happier ending then the finale of others in the sport.
Prepare to see a man possessed enter the ring on Saturday night, November 9th at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn New York. In a traditional neighborhood vs. neighborhood bout you will see plenty of Puerto Rican and Israeli flags being raised, and two men pouring their hearts out in the ring to better themselves not just as a fighter, but also as a better human being. A safe and healthy training camp to all those on the card, and no luck shall be given to Tito, because in boxing it does not come down to luck. It comes down to preparation and a mindset. Speaking with Tito today, in his mind it is clear that the fight is already won, now it’s just a matter of going out and doing it. Enjoy your road of redemption and to victory.
Follow me on Twitter @OfficialT_Mauri
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