Unbeaten featherweight Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard takes aim at NABF belt

Posted on | September 17, 2009 | No Comments

MANCHESTER, Conn. (September 17, 2009) – WBC Youth and USNBC champion Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard fights fellow unbeaten prospect Rafael “The Dominican Man” Lora for the vacant NABF featherweight title Saturday night in South Winsor, Connecticut.

Remillard (18-0, 10 KOs), fighting out of neighboring Manchester, faces Lora (11-0, 5 KOs), WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title-holder, in the 10-round main event.

“I’m excited to be fighting in my first main event at home,” Remillard said. “It gives some of my family, friends and fans a chance to see me fight live, something they may not have had a chance to do so far. I’ll have a lot of supporters there. The fight is being held only five minutes from my home. It’s a great chance to build my fan base. I feel that the show will be a sellout. It’s going to be a classy show at a small venue that will bring some new fans.

“I’m more comfortable fighting at home. I get to sleep in my own bed and train in my hometown. There’s pressure fighting at home, of course, but pressure brings out my best. I believe this fight is going to bring me to the next level. I believe, in boxing, if you can’t perform well under pressure, you’re in the wrong sport. I’m 18-0 and want to move up. I have to win and look good. I don’t have a choice. I can’t just get by and that’s the way I’ve looked at it through this entire training camp.”

Remillard has faced much tougher opponents than Lora, who has fought only as a pro once outside of his native Dominican Republic. “I know that he hasn’t fought opponents up to the stature of mine,” Matt explained, “but he’s still undefeated. He’s definitely a banger who, I’ve heard, is awkward with fast hands. Hey, he brings a lot to the table. We’re two undefeated featherweights fighting for the NABF title. An impressive win will help move me up in the rankings and open up bigger, televised fights for me.”

After overcoming a hand injury that sidelined him for nearly 1 ½ years, the 23-year-old Remillard is looking ahead to a break through year in 2010. “I’m happy with the ay my career is going and I’m hoping 2010 will be a big year for me,” he added. “Fans see an aggressive puncher when they watch me fight. I love to hit the body. But I want fans to see me boxing more. I can do it all. I have good boxing ability but have only showed it once against (former world champion) Mauricio Pastrana (Nov. 13, 208 – WDEC6). I’m working had to become a more complete fighter, which will allow me to have a longer career.

“Even back in the amateurs, I knew I could take and give a good punch. I’ve always like body punching. You’re legs may go from good head shits, but good body punching knocks the wind out. That’s my definition of hurt. Working the body slows down a fighter to where they’ll stand in front of me and I can pick ‘em apart with shots. Sometimes you’re stunned from a body shot but don’t really feel the effects for a few seconds. It’s delayed. Fans will see a lot of that from me this Saturday night.”

-MR-