07:20 | Lima, Apr. 27 (ANDINA).
Peru is one Latin American country that is still awaiting to have its first (male) world boxing champion. But according to fightnews.com, the Andean nation can now count on a trio of young boxers who have recently invaded the US scene.
They are Jonathan Maicelo, Carlos Zembrano and Juan Zegarra. The leader of the pack is undoubtably Jonathan Maicelo (15-0, 9 KOs), a charismatic 26-year-old lightweight now residing in North Bergen, NJ. In his first appearance on US soil last year, Maicelo defeated tough Oscar Cuero (13-2) via a lopsided decision.
Veteran promoter Don Elbaum who recently visited Peru, had this to say about Maicelo, “This young man has the tools to go all the way and become his country’s first world champion.”
Growing up in the mean streets of El Callao in Peru, Maicelo saw boxing as a way out of a life that offered little perspective. He became a star amateur boxer racking up a record of (84-15), winning 5 Peruvian Golden Glove titles and countless medals in international events. Jonathan turned pro in 2005, with much anticipation from the local press.
In 2009, Maicelo won the WBC Latino lightweight title outpointing Miguel Caceres of Argentina. By this time, the young man from El Callao had become a national figure, a TV personality appearing on talk shows, dance contests and game shows.
“The main thing is to not lose focus,” says Jonathan, “not stop training and learning. In a way, moving away from Peru to the USA will make it easier for me to concentrate on my boxing.”
Jonathan Maicelo was recommended to well known boxing manager Nelson Fernandez in 2010 and, logically, decided to continue his career in the US. Fernandez was cited by fightnews.com as saying that “Jonathan is a boxer-puncher that has speed, ring intelligence and a great ability to learn.”
Maicelo briefly returned to Peru this month to defend his WBC Latino title with a 9 round TKO of Argentine Leonardo Gonzalez (18-3). He is due back to New Jersey at the end of the month.
Having passed his first test in the USA with flying colors, Jonathan is now hoping to showcase his talent on US TV. “It was strange fighting here in front of a small audience. In Peru, my fights are followed by thousands of fans,” says Maicelo with a chuckle, “however this is the land of opportunity. It is here in America that I can become a world champion and return to Peru as a national hero.”
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Publicado: 27/4/2011