Robert Daniels Comeback Interview: Boxing’s Old Men Are Grooving
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Former World Boxing Association World Cruiserweight champion Robert ‘Preacherman’ Daniels is one of four old men grooving, who will be planning to make comebacks in the weeks and months ahead. Lightweight David Armstrong, light heavyweight Montell Griffin and cruiserweight Roy Jones Jr. are among boxing’s ‘old men grooving’ who are to return to the ring-due to their passion for the sport.
Daniels, 49-10-1, with 41 knockouts, Miami, Florida, who will turn 48 years old on August 30, 2016, will be fighting a six round against southpaw Carlos Reyes, 7-9-1 with five knockouts, Phoenix, Arizona, at Six Bends Harley-Davidson Events Center in Fort Myers, Florida. On the same card, former top rated world lightweight contender David ‘Diamond D’ Armstrong, 20-11-2, 12 knockouts, Cape Coral, Florida, who will turn 46 years old on September 2, 2016, is also scheduled to appear on the six Bends Fort Myers boxing card.
In two other cruiserweight 200 pound comeback attempts this fall, former world champion Roy Jones Jr., age 47, is scheduled to make a comeback this fall against Rockin’ Rodney Moore, and former world champion Montell Griffin, 46, is scheduled to comeback against Dhafir Smith, if those bouts take place.
Robert Brizel: Do you have an opponent (for your comeback), and will it be (fought) at cruiserweight?”
Promoter Ron Rose: “The bout will be fought at 200 pound cruiserweight, and the opponent will be Carlos Reyes of Phoenix, Arizona.”
Robert Brizel: “Robert, what do you weigh now, and can you get down to 200 pounds, the division of your championship years?”
Robert Daniels: “I weigh 208 pounds now. I have been working extremely hard. I was weighing 254 pounds before I went back into training.”
Robert Brizel: “Can you get down to 200?”
Robert Daniels: “Yes, I can get down to 200 if given the time (the scheduled bout is on September 17, 2016, over two months away).”
Robert Brizel: “Former light heavyweight contender Ronald Johnson is scheduled to make a comeback on his card at the Orlando Jai Alai Events Center in Orlando, Florida, on July 28, 2016. If you both win, a vacant USBO Cruiserweight title bout could be set up between the two of you in November or December of 2016.”
Robert Daniels: “Okay. Sounds good.”
Robert Brizel: “Preacherman, why return to the ring at age 47?”
Robert Daniels: “That sounds good, but I’m taking (life in my comeback) one fight at a time.”
Robert Brizel: You have been retired for four years. Why (make a) comeback now?”
Robert Daniels: “I’m returning to the ring for several reasons. Number one, I don’t want to work for anyone else anymore. Second, all the jobs in South Florida are paying low salaries. I have a very bad taste in my mouth for South Florida. For 10 years, I worked for a government agency, and then they illegally fired me. So (now) I really want to start my own gym.”
Robert Brizel: Six of your last seven bouts were fought at heavyweight. What division do you really want to return to in September?”
Robert Brizel: “I want to come in at 200 to 205 pounds cruiserweight and show people that I’m serious, and it’s (my comeback) is not an overnight fluke.”
Robert Brizel: “The Florida State Boxing Commission has reissued you a license to fight. Correct?”
Robert Daniels: “I have to take my medicals, which shouldn’t be a problem. Yes I have a (Florida boxing) license.”
Robert Brizel: “Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho’s son Cristian is scheduled to debut on your six bends card. Have you met him?”
Robert Daniels: “No, not yet, but prior to my returning to the ring, I was scheduled to train Hector Camacho Jr. (Macho’s other son, a coincidence) but that (deal) fell through.”
Robert Brizel: You last fought in Florida against Jason Waller (who Daniels stopped in the second round in Miami in 2005). How does it feel to be fighting in Florida again?”
Robert Daniels: “Hahaha! Terrible? This town (Florida) has really been mean to me. I’m not fighting out of Florida much longer. I will be relocated soon to Seattle, Washington (where I will reside).”
Robert Brizel: Thanks (for informing me). I did not know you were based out of Seattle now.”
Robert Daniels: “The first Floridian to win a world (cruiserweight) title (WBA) and they treated me so bad there.”
Robert Brizel: “I don’t know if you heard. Hector Camacho Jr. is headlining the Ronald Johnson card in Orlando on July 28. Again, if you win your comeback bout, would you be interested in fighting Ronald Johnson for the vacant USBO cruiserweight title?”
Robert Daniels: “You mean when I win! Sure. I love a good fight!”
Robert Brizel:” Ronald Johnson was world ranked at light heavyweight, but has been out of the ring for seven years. Do you think you can beat him at 200 pounds?”
Robert Daniels: “I don’t see any cruiserweight (in the world) beating me. I just need one or two tune up fights to get the wheels going.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you have any idea who your opponent will be on September 17?”
Promoter Ron Rose: “Daniels is fighting Carlos Reyes of Phoenix, Arizona.”
Robert Brizel: September 17 (your scheduled comeback bout) will happen for sure.”
Robert Daniels: “Yes. The event is set. The venue is ready. The commissioner is ready. So I’m ready too.”
Robert Brizel: “George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Archie Moore and Bernard Hopkins are examples of fighters who have fought at advanced age. What motivates you to comeback at this point in your life? Do you miss the competitiveness in the ring?”
Robert Daniels: “Yes. I miss it more than anything. I feel that I have been cheated. I gave Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation eleven years of my good years to help them build their programs and then they fired me so I have been cheated (of part of my life in my opinion).”
Robert Brizel: “You tried fighting at heavyweight, and had some wins in the (heavyweight) division. Why go back to cruiserweight now. And isn’t 205 pounds dangerous to fight at for a heavyweight, when your opponents are so big and heavy?”
Robert Daniels: “205 (pounds) is cruiserweight.”
Reader’s Note: Boxers may agree to fight contractually at an agreed upon catch weight. 200 pounds and below is cruiserweight. 201 pounds and up is heavyweight.
Robert Brizel: “The cruiserweight limit is 200 pounds. Your September 17 comeback is listed at cruiserweight. Are you setting a catch weight of 205 pounds for September 17?”
Robert Daniels: “Yes, I’ll be fighting at 205. It’s cruiserweight. Check the bout status. I haven’t fought at this weight (in the lower weight class) for a long time but I’m feeling good.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you feel different at a lower weight right now? Talk about that experience of your current training.”
Robert Daniels: “I feel faster. To be honest, I was lazy and didn’t want to put in the work. I had a decent job, so why work hard, I said to myself. But all the time it was in the back of my mind. Robert, you know you’re not working at a high place, you’re just coasting. I’m not a heavyweight. I’m a cruiserweight who got lazy, and paid for his laziness.”
Robert Brizel: “Very honest. You may not win a world title again at this point, so what do you hope to accomplish in your comeback? Is part of your comeback about knowledge of self? Explain.”
Robert Daniels: “It’s already written (my future) I wouldn’t be fighting if I didn’t believe I could win a world title (again). I’ve been in this business long enough to know the contenders don’t make the big money, only champions.”
Robert Brizel: “Has anyone expressed an interest in promoting your comeback?”
Robert Daniels: “Yes, the guy who’s going to be promoting my upcoming fight. That’s why I’m going to be very loyal to Ron Rose, because he believes in me when everybody else is laughing.”
Robert Brizel: “When do you want to leave the Miami area and move to Seattle?”
Robert Daniels: “I’m still in Miami now, but I’ll be fighting out of Seattle, Washington. I’ve been through a nightmare in South Florida.”
Robert Brizel: “Are you still good friends with ex-heavyweight contender Jose Ribalta?”
Robert Daniels: “Yes. I talk to Jose Ribalta two to three times a day.”
Robert Brizel: “Did Jose play a part in your decision to comeback?”
Robert Daniels: “No. This was solely my decision.”
Robert Brizel: “What did Jose say when you told him (you were attempting a comeback)?”
Robert Daniels: “Man, if you only knew how people treated me. Some of the same people I helped totally turned their back against me. I don’t get calls or anything from people who were thee during my championship years. When I was champ, I was married. When I lost the title, I was divorced. Hahaha.”
Robert Brizel: “Have you gotten over the past at this point? Is your mind clear in your comeback?”
Robert Daniels: “That has been a nightmare. Nobody calls me anymore. My kids, my family and the fake friends I had when I was champion.”
Robert Brizel: “So why comeback in Florida?”
Robert Daniels: “Yes, by the grace of God. He’s helped me to get through this. You see, I’m not like your normal guy. When most guys get a bad deal, they allow that to get to them, but not me. I thrive off the fact that people want to see me fail. I know we live in an evil world with evil people.”
Robert Brizel: “Have you change from the point you were champion to this moment? How do you see the ring, as well as your life, different than before? Do you think you would still have made a comeback if you had not lost your job in the parks department?”
Robert Daniels: “I’m remaining in South Florida only for a while longer, then I’m going to camp, but I’ve never been a runner. I don’t let people force me out of where I want to be.”
When God has your life determined, there’s nothing you can do. God allowed my enemies to come forward, so I could see who they really were. My main enemies were my ex-wife, and Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation. They tried to destroy me, literally, but I’m in favor with the almighty God of Heaven. It got so fierce at one point I said ‘God, why are you doing this to me?’ but he said it’s only to elevate you my son (to a better place.”
Robert Brizel: “I hope your boxing future, and your future in life, brings many happy moments. Thank you from Real Combat Media, and best wishes in your comeback, Robert! Thank you for your time.”
Robert Daniels: “Okay, that sounds great! Good night-English. Buenas Noches-Spanish. Guten Nacht-German. Bon Nuit-Haitian Creole. Hahaha. Thanks a million!”
Robert Brizel: “You like working with kids.”
Robert Daniels: “Here’s what I love to do. I love to work with the youths, kids and young adults. To teach them about life and how to love your fellow man. Physical fitness training and helping the youths become great citizens of our great nation. When you love what you do, it’s not called work. Police Athletic League, are you looking for a trainer, a fitness coach, and someone to keep the kids on the straight and narrow? Contact me and I’ll show you how to achieve your (boxing and physical fitness) goals.”
Robert Brizel: “You have a great philosophical and spiritual outlook on life.”
Robert Daniels: “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. South Florida, and Seattle Washington, thank you. As I make my way, I want to thank God for allowing me to see another day. Secondly, I want to thank God for giving me the strength to do what I love to do. Another great day of training. A little bit of something will add up to much. Fighting in Seattle Washington is a dream come true. I want to thank the promoters, agents and those who have made my dream come true. Florida and other states worldwide I love you guys as well. Thank you for the opportunities that you’re giving me. Every day will not be a good day. In life we have our ups and downs and things around you seem to be falling apart but rest assure that God hasn’t forgotten about you. He’s only allowing you to go through the valley but he’s always nearby waiting to help you whenever you need it. Rise and shine South Florida. Early morning run, and early morning business meetings. Training is still coming today. Champions stay committed to their goals.”
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