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MARKSVILLE -- Heath Nichols has mixed feelings about this fight.
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Copyright ©2007 The Town Talk |
The Alexandria boxer recently learned that he would be matched against Jason Doucet in his Nov. 24 bout at Paragon Casino Resort.
"I consider him a teammate," Nichols said Tuesday. "I would rather not fight someone I know."
But pro boxing is a business. So Nichols will lace up the gloves and face a man he considers a fan -- a man he has sparred against in the past.
"I guess he feels he can beat me," Nichols said, "so, we'll get it on."
The numbers suggest that the fight should be one-sided.
Nichols is 6-1 as a pro and is regarded as a boxer with a chance to fight one day for a major world title.
Doucet is 4-10 as a pro and has lost six of his last seven fights. He is regarded has a decent local fighter to fill out an undercard.
But there is no sport where the records are more meaningless than boxing.
Nichols has carefully managed his pro career. His opponents mostly have been selected with an eye toward building his record and improving his skills.
That has helped make Nichols a star, at least locally, and a good draw. The stands at the Mari Showroom on Nov. 24 will have a good many people in them wearing bright red Lil Rocky T-shirts in honor of Nichols.
Doucet always will be an "opponent." He is not a boxer who sells tickets. But Doucet has taken -- and lost -- a number of fights against elite boxers, starting with his pro debut against Miguel Angel Cotto, the current WBA world champion in the welterweight division.
What that really means is that Doucet is a lot more dangerous than his record would suggest.
"He has a lot of skills," Nichols said.
And the fight clearly means a lot more to Nichols than to Doucet.
A loss for Nichols would be a devastating blow to his goal of winning a world title. He's determined not to let that happen.
Nichols changed after a loss in July to Donnell Logan for the National Boxing Association's junior level world lightweight title.
He has become less of a showman in the ring. He's more serious. He's training harder than he ever has before in his life. Winning a title is more important. Nichols has no desire to become a club fighter.
"If I lose a couple of fights and think I can't do it anymore, I'll quit," Nichols said. "This isn't about the money for me. It's about being a professional athlete. It's about being the best I can be."
And now a friend and former sparring partner is standing between Nichols and his goals.
"I'll go right after him," Nichols said. "I can't let him get his confidence up."
That means ending the fight as early as possible, even at the expense of a friend. |
