Havana native Rances Barthelemy (10-0, 8 KOs) enjoys many advantages over his opponents and even over his compatriots.
Unlike others in his generation of Cuban professionals, 24-year-old Barthelemy has already been in the United States for two years and is fully acclimated to life here. Standing 5′ 11″, Barthelemy towers over most of his opponents and, because he is blessed with a wealth of natural punching power, he hits a lot harder than most of them as well. Add in that he comes from a highly successful fighting family (brother Yan Barthelemy was a 2004 Olympic Gold medalist) and that as an amateur he competed in over 200 fights and won a Cuban junior national championship and you have all the makings of a future star.
Barthelemy is scheduled to make his next ring appearance on the undercard of the March 25 ESPN2 Friday Night Fights broadcast from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Through a translator, Barthelemy gave his thoughts on his promising young career.
How did training go for this fight? Any injuries?
As a fighter moving up, I am always in the gym preparing to fight. I did nothing special for this fight, but worked hard and was injury free. I had a minor head cold, but worked it out without medication.
Was your career harmed by not being able to compete in the Olympics?(Because he defected to the United States prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Barthelemy was unable to qualify to compete because he is not a United States citizen)
Of course my career would be different had I competed in the Olympics. My team mate, Luis Franco, a 2004 Olympian for Cuba, has been able to advance more rapidly because of his Olympic qualifications.
Do you ever miss Cuba?
I miss Cuba very much. It is the land of my birth and of my family, the place where I was raised. It is also a very beautiful country. I am fortunate to have my two brothers living in Miami near to me.
Have you ever felt as though you were fighting in your brother Yan’s shadow because of his tremendous amateur success? If yes, do you still feel that way?
I saw how little reward was given to my brother, Yan, despite his tremendous amateur achievements, and it soured me on the Cuban boxing system. For survival purposes, I could do better in Cuba without boxing and I was tempted at times to give it up. So I never really felt in competition with Yan. Now we each have our own professional careers and I am the undefeated boxer. We are best friends but definitely not competitors for each other.
Is your professional career advancing the way you want it to?
I trust my management and promotional team without question. I am 10-0 in under two years and look forward to better competition as I move up. I will be fighting my first 8 round bout on March 25 and hopefully it will lead to a televised fight and eventually a main event in the very near future.
How long until you feel you’ll be ready to fight for a world title?
As an 8 or 10 round fighter I expect to fight tougher opponents with each successive bout. This being the case, I hope to challenge for a world title within the next 18 months.
What are your greatest strengths as a fighter?
I am the complete package. I am exceptionally tall for a 130 lb. boxer, which gives me a height and reach advantage over almost any opponent in my weight class. I am a good athlete and bring outstanding condition, endurance, speed and power with me into each contest. I can box well from the outside and bang inside as the fight may dictate.
They say sometimes Cuban fighters come to America and learn to love the good life. Do you live your life the right way to become a champion?
I have seen the downside of life in America as it impacts on Cuban fighters. There are many temptations, especially here in Miami with its large Cuban population. There is virtually no transition to be made when moving from Cuba to Miami, other than adapting to the US economic system. I came to the United States for economic opportunity. To achieve my financial goals I must become a world champion. I have dedicated myself to this and live a Spartan and athlete’s lifestyle. I don’t use tobacco or recreational drugs. I almost never touch alcohol. I train every day. I will become a world champion.
###
