Interview Dated July 2006

Derwin Richards

Derwin Richards is one of Houston's best known trainers. After a long amateur career, Richards turned pro in 1984. His career includes a controversial loss to Harry Arroyo in 1987. Richards challenged for the N.A.B.F Welterweight title in 1989, and lost that fight to Derrick Kelly. But Richards wound up with a respectable record of 19-9-2 with 13 KO's. Now he's often seen working the corners of W.B.A. Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz, as well as former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. He also spend a great deal of time working with young amateurs at the Savannah Boxing Club.



HBS - How'd you first get invovled in boxing?

DR - My father used to train fighters, my uncle trained fighters so at the tender age of eight I was introduced to boxing.

HBS - Your dad was a fighter?

DR - Yeah, Leon Willis and my uncle was Sugar Ray Willis, and Reverend Ray Martin knew my dad real well, all of them they came along together.

HBS - Tell us a little about your amateur career.

DR - I had 112 amateur fights, I won 100 out of 112 amateur fights, National Championships, JO's, Silver Gloves.

HBS - Then you turned pro.

DR - Yes, I turned pro at the age of 16. I fought Julian Jackson, I fought Harry Arroyo, I fought a lot of good guys.

HBS - Tell us about your most memorable fights as a pro.

DR - When I fought Harry Arroyo, I was just 20 years old just out of high school, up against Harry Arroyo, ex-champion of the world, and I had Harry Arroyo down every other round, and I lose a majority decision because they took a point from me, because I used my shoulders and I bumped him off, Harry Arroyo was down every other round, getting that call, then Stickney of the Houston Chronicle wrote an article about me, about how cruel, how badly I got robbed fighting Harry Arroyo.

HBS - How did you get started training after your pro career?

DR - I was already involved with kids. I would train every day and kids would come in, and at the age of 27, after I quit boxing as a pro, I decided it was time to give back to the community.

HBS - You work with all kinds of kids here. Let's talk about who you're working with now, who seems like they might have a good future in the sport.

DR - There's a lot of guys that I work with now, especially youth-wise, but like Leonard Lane, he's been on USA amateurs and he's a good amateur. I work with a lot of pros too.

HBS - Seems like you've been in the corners of a lot of big fights, most of Juan's fights, and I know you're working with Evander to some extent too.

DR - In years I can say I've worked corners with Juan Diaz, and Evander Holyfield and also Reggie, two-time world champion Reggie "Sweet" Johnson. So mainly I'm still here trying to learn my ABC's, I'm still learning.

HBS - Let's talk about the basics of training fighters. When you get a young new fighter what's the first thing you work on with him?

DR - If it's a kid the first thing I work on is conditioning only. Conditioning, then I show them fundamentals, getting in the boxing stance, steps, making sure their legs ain't crossed over, they're staying balanced all the time, making sure every move they make they have balance. That's the first thing I work on.

HBS - What are some of the most common mistakes you see fighters making?

DR - The first thing is, whether they're pros or amateurs they forget the fundamentals. You've heard a lot about, from the coaches, whoever you're with, keep your hands up, elbows in, knees bent. Nowadays they want to keep their hands all down and look all flashy. Looking flashy don't win fights. Fundamentals wins fights. Basics, keep your hands up, relax, you know, jab. Jab's the key thing. That'll win fights.

HBS - Jose Diaz just had a fight and you worked his corner. Tell us about how that fight went.

DR - That fight was a very, very impressive fight. Jose Diaz, he fought tremendously well. He's really improving, not only at fight time but as well in the gym itself. He listens, and he's learning. He's very eager. Like I said, fundamentals, that jab's the key. The jab's what controlled his fight and he threw a lot of combinations. He listens very well. I've been handling Jose since he was an amateur so therefore I know him very well just the way he knows me.

HBS - You've been in this for a long time. What is it that you enjoy about the sport?

DR - I'm giving back to the youth. My best is going to come with them. As long as the kids work and try hard, I win. So that's my blessing. As long as you give me your all that's all that matters.