Donovan George talks about main-eventing at White Sox ballpark

By Boxing News - 08/12/2014 - Comments

george23By Ian Aldous: Big-time boxing returns to U.S Cellular Field in Chicago on August 23rd when Don ‘Da Bomb’ George (25-4-2) takes on Dyah Davis (22-4-1) for the vacant IBO world super-middleweight title. It follows the successful event held at the same venue last Summer when Andrzej Fonfara defeated Gabriel Campillo in front of over 8,000 fans. Last week Donovan took some time to talk with me about the challenge in front of him and the excitement of fighting at the home of the baseball team he’s supported since childhood.

This potentially career-changing fight for Donovan will see the dawn of a new era as far as his training and preparation goes. So, the typically asked question of ‘How has your training gone for the fight?’ actually harbored a non-stereotypical answer! “It’s actually really different and cool and interesting and I’m learning a lot. I’ve got pretty much a whole new team, I’m no longer training with my father, I’m with Sam Colonna out of Chicago and Rita Figueroa is my assistant trainer and it’s great. I feel very energized because I’m learning something new every day.”

The man that stands in the way of hometown glory and the IBO championship is Dyah Davis, son of former Olympic gold-medalist, Howard Davis Jr. He owns a decent professional record, but when facing the top level of competition – comes up short. Nevertheless, he poses a test for George on August 23rd. “Oh absolutely, if you look at his record, every time he steps it up to an elite level – he loses. I plan on capitalizing on that. I know that he’s very good and he’s gonna come to fight and I know he’s gonna be in great shape but it’s my night, my opportunity and it’s my title.”

The opportunity to fight at U.S Cellular field and for a minor world title belt all started with a phone call and escalated into better and better things from there. “It all started with, I got a random phone call to go fight for the vacant IBO title in Colombia, like a couple months ago. They said ‘Hey, would you fight at twelve days notice to fight some guy out there for the vacant title?’ And I said ‘Yes!’ because I’m a fighter, of course I’m gonna say yes, it’s a title fight. I guess something happened, he got injured and then the IBO said I signed the fight agreement, they honored it and let me fight Davis. All of a sudden the fight is at U.S Cellular Field in the biggest show of the year in Chicago and it’s mind-blowing. I’m so excited, I can’t wait to go out there and kick the guy’s ass!”

I’m of the opinion that a fighter with a good record and an exciting fighting style is more likely to receive a big fight than a fighter with a good record but a boring style. And I think the chance that Donovan has earned on August 23rd is because he’s fan-friendly and is likely to sell tickets. “Of course, because they know if they’re coming to see me fight they’re never gonna be in for a bad fight. Win, lose or draw, it’s gonna be exciting, there’s gonna be blood, knockdowns and it’s gonna be fun. Anybody who ever came to see me fight – they know that. And I take a lot of pride in that, that’s who I am and I’m not gonna change who I am. People tell me ‘Why don’t you just box?’ I say ‘Because it’s boring!’ I want to fight the style of fight that I’d watch on TV or watch in person.”

I then asked ‘Da Bomb’ just how much of a White Sox fan he is. Just like any true sports fan – it’s a connection that lasts a lifetime. “I’m a big White Sox fan, I actually grew up on the north side of Chicago and obviously that’s Cubs territory but me and my brother forged a rivalry and he was always a Cubs fan and I was always a White Sox fan. It’s kind of funny that I’m fighting at the field now! I remember I had my White Sox jacket when I was a kid and my brother would have the Cubs jacket.”

Davis has shown himself to be a relatively skilled boxer during his career but lacks the knockout power that George possess’ (he has a 45% knockout ratio compared to George’s 88%). And that’s likely to give Don the confidence on fight night that he’s more likely to walk through Dyah’s punches than he will Don’s. “Of course, like I said, if you look at his record, he’s not a knockout puncher but that doesn’t mean he can’t punch. If anybody hits you on the chin at the right moment then you’re going to sleep – no matter who you are. I’m not saying that Davis can’t hurt me, he very well might hurt me but I know that I hit harder than him and I’m a way bigger puncher than him. I know that if I’m losing eleven and a half rounds and no matter what happens – I still have that opportunity to knock him out at any point with any punch. I know he knows that too and he’s gonna be fighting very carefully. You can’t run for twelve rounds – I’m gonna catch him and I’m gonna hurt him.”

Donovan revealed that he hasn’t had a great deal of interaction with Davis since the fight was announced and holds no grudges towards a man he’s met in the past. “I met Davis before in Florida when I was training out there a little bit and I can’t say one bad thing about the kid. We had a great conversation one day and I’m not the kinda guy who’s gonna talk bad about him, I don’t care what he says about me but I’m not gonna talk bad about the guy. Business is business for me. I’ve been doing this my whole life and it’s just another fight for me, just another Saturday night. So, I gotta go out there and knock him out and after if he wants to hang out and have some beers – I have no problem with that.”

After a career of highs and lows and thirty-one fights, the bout has an element of make-or-break as far as career progression goes for the Chicago native. He’d even contemplate hanging up the gloves if things go wrong. “I mean this fight can open a lot of doors for me, so if I don’t win this fight, I don’t know where I’m gonna go in my career to be honest. I would consider even retiring if I don’t win the fight. If I don’t win this fight unless it’s a terrible decision or some freakish accident – I might just retire. If I can’t beat Dyah Davis then who am I gonna beat? I’m just being honest with myself and you guys. Dyah Davis is not a world beater and if I can’t beat Dyah Davis then I’m not an elite fighter and I should go.”

Finally, I’ll leave it to ‘Da Bomb’ to tell you what’s going to happen on August 23rd. “I’m gonna go out there and fight the fight of my life. I plan on not taking one step backwards the entire night and I’m just gonna be on his ass all night. Obviously I’m going for the knockout, you can’t take any chances going to the scorecards. I’m gonna hit him with everything but the kitchen sink and I’m gonna let it all go. That’s how I am and that’s who I am, that’s my personality. I believe in my conditioning and no matter what I’m gonna be there for twelve rounds. I hope he’s in great shape and I hope it’s a magical exciting fight. I want it to be exciting for the fans.”

Don’t forget to follow Donovan on twitter @dondabombgeorge

The ‘B96 Boxing Bash’ is presented by Round 3 Productions and Hitz Boxing on August 23rd from U.S Cellular Field. Tickets are available now at ticketmaster.com



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