Meet Corey Lopez, Rising Pennsylvania Lightweight Prospect
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
He hails from Altoona, Pennsylvania. At 1-0, rising lightweight prospect Corey Lopez is not your ordinary rising lightweight prospect. At age 28, Lopez is turning pro with hopes of becoming a future world champion a little late. In 2010, Lopez won the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves novice division by decisioning future world champion Tevin Farmer in the finals. Trained by Altoona veteran heavyweight Jeremiah Witherspoon (of the family of boxing Witherspoons), Lopez was asked why, in a Real Combat Media interview exclusive, he turned professional so late.
Robert B: “Why turn pro now?”
Corey Lopez: “I wanted to turn pro sooner. I never put my all into it. I was always in and out of the gym, and in and out of the streets. I did it (boxing) for recreational purposes. After a year (of boxing training), I loved it. (But) I was always in the streets.”
Robert B: “What did boxing do for you?”
Corey Lopez: “It’s all I know. It’s life changing. When I have my arms raised in victory. Boxing gives me discipline. My kids can be proud of me, and what I am doing. I want them to work hard in life and make something of themselves. I train twice a day. I want to go all the way (to becoming a world champion). Tevin Farmer (who I beat in the amateurs) bounced back from four losses early in his career. I just fought my first fight with eight ounce gloves.”
Robert B: “How did you find your first pro bout?”
Corey Lopez: “Once I found I could be comfortable being (fighting on the) inside, I wish I could have done it sooner.”
Robert B: “Do you want to be a world champion?”
Corey Lopez: “I would love to! If I am in the best condition of my life. With just a little more training and sparring, what they (the world champions and contenders) can do, I know I can do better. There is nothing they can do that I can’t. I can go 20 rounds really hard. What I can do, they can’t. I can hang with the best of them. I am a big lightweight.”
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