Omar Pittman interview

photo by Mike Baluk courtesy of www.peltzboxing.com


Over the years, Simon Gratz High School has produced the highest number of successful professional athletes to come out of Philly. Bulldogs of the past include Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella who won 3 MVP’s for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Meldrick Taylor who went on to win an Olympic Gold metal as a featherweight in 1984 and my personal favorite Rasheed Wallace who wears an NBA championship ring and is still banging on NBA forwards 13 seasons into his career just to name a few. While they haven’t quite taken Roman Catholic’s crown as the Philly high school basketball powerhouse, every season they are expected to run the show in the public league. At this school which prides itself on being one of the toughest in the city, you don’t just learn how to fight, you also learn how to win. With all of this history behind him, former Gratz Bulldog Omar Pittman heads to Canada this Friday for a nationally televised fight against the world rated, undefeated Jean Pascal on ESPN 2. This time, the shoe is on the other foot because not many “experts” are giving him a shot in hell to win. He knows what he is up against, because for all intents and purposes, this weeks edition of Friday Night Fights is being thought of as a showcasing of sorts. With former title challenger Edison Miranda fighting in the main event and the undefeated Pascal on the co-feature, the suits are drooling over the idea of matching up two top fighters at the 168 lbs mark in an eliminator for a portion of the world title. While all of the promos revolve around the two bigger named fighters, Omar Pittman made it clear that he is not making this trip to be someone’s stepping stone and that he feels he is one of the best in the world in his weight class. While the Philly born super middleweight doesn’t have the world best record, he does believe in his chances of pulling off a major upset. It is definitely the most important fight to date in a career that has seen its share of big knockout wins and a few disappointing losses as well. 10 years ago, another Gratz alum “Mighty” Ivan Robinson stole Arturo Gatti’s thunder and rocked the boxing world with the 1998 Ring Magazine Upset of the Year, maybe lightening still strike twice. I was able to chat with Pittman for a little bit of back ground info as he finished up workout in preparation for the biggest fight of his young career.

Philly Keith: You have a big fight coming up on Friday, what do you know about Jean Pascal?

Omar Pittman: I just got a chance to see him fight, and I’ll tell you he didn’t impress me. Until recently I never even heard of him. Now all of a sudden people say he is this big guy. Hey, to each his own but after Friday he will be 20 – 1.

PK: Are you feeling a little slighted that all the hype in this fight is around a potential Pascal – Edison Miranda fight?

OP: Nah not really, maybe a little bit. My mindset is to go into there and shock the world. They can call it an upset or whatever if they want. Since I am 15 – 3 – 1, they are feeling that they can take me. We will see about that.

PK: Who do you think some of the best in the Super Middleweight division are?

OP: There are some guys out there but I can’t really say if they are of aren’t the best until they step into the ring with me.

PK: What was your amateur career like?

OP: I stuck around the amateurs for a minute, fought in the golden gloves, regionals and things like that. Then I turned pro in 2004. I fought as an amateur at 147lbs but since I turned pro I have been at 168lbs.

PK: Where do you train?

OP: I mostly train out of Champs Gym but lately I have been bouncing around.

PK: Who is your team?

OP: My trainer Dwight Triplett is also my manager. When I started my career I was managed by Bob Botto who passed away not long ago. When Bob passed I talked with Dwight and we decided to keep it the same. He brought me up to what I am today and without him I wouldn’t know a lot of the things I know now. My promoter is J. Russell Peltz.

PK: I know you are pressed on time, is there anything you want to say in closing?

OP: You might not know me now but for future reference look out me. I think the world is going to be shocked.


If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can email Philly Keith at keith@phillykeith.com

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