"A CONVERSATION WITH GARY 'TIGER' BALLETTO" By Aladdin Freeman

Gary Balletto, if you haven't heard of him, is one of the best punchers pound for pound in the sport of boxing today. He turned pro back in 1996 as a lightweight and has accumulated an outstanding record of 27 wins, 24 by KO with 1 loss and 2 draws; at one point in his career he won 17 straight fights by KO, yet a lot of people outside of the New England area have never heard of him. Most, if not all of Balletto's fights have taken place in the New England area, but he's looking to get the exposure he needs to fight some of the very best in the division. The thing that I could sense from the outset about Gary is that he seems to be a hungry fighter, willing to do what it takes to get where he wants to go, and here are his thoughts. BRC: I was looking at your record and reading about you, and I know I've seen you fight before on "Friday Night Fights," and your record stands at 27-1, with 24 KO's. That's really good, so why aren't you more popular in the boxing world? GB: Well most of the time I've been fighting on my promoter Jimmy Birchfield's cards and so, hopefully soon the bigger cards will come. BRC: When do you think those bigger dates are going to start coming for you? Because everyone loves to watch punchers and guys that are looking to take people out. GB: I think after this upcoming fight that the bigger dates will come. I've been scheduled to fight on HBO, SHOWTIME and on ESPN but the fights just fell through. Sometimes the opponents pulled out, this has happened to me several times; sometimes the card was called off, sometimes the schedule changed completely. The promoters want to have a back up plan so sometimes the make a deal and then it will fall through. I will say this, I do think that a big payday is on the way. BRC: Well, let's keep our fingers crossed that it works out. One thing that has got to be positive for you is that you will be the co-feature on May 30th "Friday Night Fights" vs. Frank Houghtaling so that should be a step in the right direction especially if you put somebody to sleep, and impress the big wigs at HBO... GB: Frank's a tough guy so it should be an exciting fight. I'm still working on getting tape on this guy because I've never seen him fight. BRC: Maybe I can help, I can tell the readers that he's pretty slick but I don't know if he's got enough pop to keep you off of him. I might be wrong but I think he's 17-8 with 5 draws and only 4 KO's. He can move a little and he's been in at Jr. Welterweight with Sharmba Mitchell. I don't want to put it in your head, but I think you should stop him if he's not moving around. GB: Well I hope he stands there but I can't just count it but like I said, hopefully I can get to him and stop him so that it leads to bigger paydays and more exposure. I really think we're right there. I think one big showing can lead to a fight with Diego Corrales, Paul Spadafora, Leonard Dorin, Micky Ward and maybe Floyd Mayweather, Jr. It sucks right now but all these fights for some reason or another end up falling through on me. BRC: Do you think the fact that you can punch has anything to do with it? GB: I think everyone is a little nervous when they fight me because they know I have a punchers chance, I'm not going to sit here and lie; a lot of them may notice that I'm lacking some boxing ability and I'm not much of a mover because I only had about 50 amateur fights but that's something that I'm working on and getting better at everyday. BRC: Kind of like Ricardo Mayorga type, in that you are a free swinger looking to punish the other guy. GB: Yeah, kind of, except that I'm getting better on defense and that I've found a style that I'm comfortable with, a style that I think gives me the best chance to win fights. I've been a puncher my whole career and for a while I was trying to change myself into a boxer but that was something that really wasn't me. So now I've just come to understand what's working for me. I wouldn't say I'm a free swinger because I am trying to set the guy in front of me up with a jab before I put the heat on him. I don't just try to land the jab on his head, now I'm trying to land it period, in a way to set him up for the big left hook. BRC: Talk to me about the bigger fights like with Paul Spadafora, Dorin and Mayweather Jr. When you get in with those guys you have to have a couple of fight plans? GB: Well, I do have problems with guys who move a lot like Spaddy and Floyd but I'm not sure any of those guys have been in with a guy who punches like me. I know that I can take their punches but I don't think they can take my punches. I'll be honest with you though, the guys who I have the most trouble with are fighters that are hard to hit, but when those big moments come I know that I'll be ready. As far as Dorin, he likes to sit in the pocket and out work you, I think I'd have a great shot against him. BRC: Well Gary thanks a lot and I'm going to remind the readers that you're fighting in two weeks on ESPN2's Friday Night fights at 9:00 pm in a co-feature along with Kassim Ouma at Foxwoods casino and I'm going to make sure to attend the fight to see you throw leather. GB: Thanks Aladdin, be sure to come say hello after the fight. Questions? Comments? Write Aladdin Freeman   Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2004