Providence Boxer Vladine Biosse Ready For Prime Time Friday Night
‘Nothing fazes me!'
Biosse remains focused and humbled despite increased attention worldwide
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 30, 2011) – Even with accolades and interview requests pouring in on a daily basis, Vladine Biosse – dubbed affectionately as “Mr. Providence” in his native Rhode Island – remains as humble as ever as he prepares for the second nationally-televised boxing match of his career Friday night at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.
“I respect every fighter in the game,” said Biosse (10-0, 7 KOs), who will face Tim Connors (10-2, 7 KOs) of St. Louis in the 10-round super middleweight co-feature of ESPN's “Friday Night Fights” at the Fox Theater, “and this kid is right up there. He has a decent record. Like anyone else, he's earned it. You can't just pick up a record like that at the supermarket.
“At the end of the day, he's just another guy I've got to face – another guy standing in the way of me reaching my ultimate goal of winning a world title.”
Biosse is aiming for his 11th victory in the co-feature of Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports' “Coming Attractions” show Friday, April 1, 2011. “Hammerin'” Hank Lundy (19-0-1, 10 KOs) of Philadelphia will battle Patrick Lopez (20-3, 12 KOs) of Londonderry, N.H., for the vacant NABF lightweight title in the 12-round main event.
While Biosse remains respectful of Connors' ability – Connors has a high knockout percentage and is also a former kickboxer – he still hasn't lost the confident, brash exterior that has made him a household name throughout New England.
“I've got something in store for Tim Connors,” Biosse said. “Top-secret stuff. I can't reveal it. You'll just have to wait and see.”
Biosse has earned the right to talk a bit of trash now and then, even if he often refrains. With only 10 wins under his belt, Biosse is already making his second appearance on ESPN – the first being a unanimous decision win over Joey McCreedy last July – so having to perform in front of 42 million homes has done nothing to affect his psyche. To him, this is just another fight, even if the bright lights and worldwide viewing audience suggest otherwise.
“That really doesn't matter to me,” Biosse said. “Being on TV is good, and I appreciate it because it allows so many different people that haven't seen me or who are looking forward to seeing me again see what I'm made of and what I bring to the game of boxing, but at the same time, it doesn't faze me.
“A lot of guys get psyched out or overly excited. To me, it's just another step in the road of reaching that No. 1 spot – being at the top of the game, which I work for everyday.”
Biosse's background as a Division I-AA college football player (defensive back and wide receiver) at the University of Rhode Island helps block any stage fight.
“I played in so many different stadiums through the years and was on a number of [TV] channels,” he said, “so it allows me a little experience and comfort to not get too worked up.”
The pedigree of training he receives on a daily basis helps, too. Biosse works with his head trainer, Orlondo Valles, and Peter Manfredo Sr., the father of former “The Contender” reality TV series star and current IBO middleweight world champion Peter Manfredo Jr., at Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, R.I. There, Biosse spars with some of the best fighters in the world, not just New England, including former U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade, amateur standout Maurice Cole and undefeated light welterweight Danny O'Connor.
Working with O'Connor has been particularly helpful since he, too, is a southpaw, as is Connors. Biosse has been described as “awkward” by Valles because of his unpredictability fighting as a southpaw, and Biosse expects to see a similar look from Connors, which is why he's spent time sparring O'Connor during camp.
“O'Connor is one of the most technical southpaws you can find in this sport,” Biosse said. “I'm fortunate that at my gym I have so many different styles of fighters. You've got coaches who are knowledgeable coaching southpaws and there's just a ton of knowledge behind those walls. I get some good work over there.”
The key now is carrying all the tutelage into Friday's fight and building off of his last win, a third-round knockout victory over Santiago Samaniego in February. Before then, Biosse hadn't recorded a knockout since returning from a hand injury, but he had an extra incentive to finish off Samaniego.
“He [ticked] me off at the weigh-in!” Biosse said. “I had never fought that way before. I know it's competition, but that fight was different. At the weigh-in, he didn't make weight. On top of that, we're trying to work it out and he started talking junk. I'm not a big trash-talker. I go in there and get it done. I said, ‘That's enough talking.' He called me out, and I didn't appreciate it, so I took that fight personally.”
Chances are Connors won't say anything inflammatory to rattle Biosse's cage between now and Friday, but don't expect anything less than another relentless effort from “Mr. Providence.” Every fight is a chance to move up the ladder, and another chance to keep learning in preparation for the next challenge.
“We've been working on some different crafts and different moves during this camp,” Biosse said. “I think I've found something different to get the job done. I'm still learning. I'm learning how to take shots and create shots. With every fight, there's something new I learn, and it only gets better from here.”
The undercard of “Coming Attractions” features a special, super middleweight showdown between Elvin Ayala (21-5-9, 9 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., and Joe Gardner (7-1-1, 1 KO) of Woonsocket, R.I., in a six-round bout.
Undefeated middleweight Thomas Falowo (2-0, 2 KOs) of Pawtucket and super middleweight Greg McCoy (2-2-1, 1 KO), lightweight Christian Lao (0-0), welterweight Dominic DeSanto (5-0, 5 KOs) and middleweight Rick Dawson (2-0, 1 KO) of New Haven are fighting in separate, four-round bouts.
Tickets for “Coming Attractions”, priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling the Foxwoods box office at 800.200.2882, or online at www.foxwoods.com. For more information, visit www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
– CES –
