BY SCOTT
HADDOW
Local amateur boxer Terry Witzu doesn't like coming in second
place.
The 56-year-old pugilist is off to the 2006 Ringside World
Boxing Championships in Kansas City, Missouri from Aug. 1 to
5.
Last year, Witzu stormed the event and fought his way to second
place. His final bout was voted Best Fight of the entire
tournament, which routinely attracts hundreds and hundreds of
fist throwers.
This year, the veteran scrapper is looking for the title in the
heavyweight division in the Master's Class (age 35 and up).
"I only want one thing and that's the championship belt," said
the dentist by trade. "I've been training harder than I have
ever before. I stepped up my training to a professional
level...It adds huge value to my cardio output and my frequency
of punches and strength."
Witzu has routinely pushed himself over his limits to prepare
and actually enjoys the feeling of being so drained he could
puke.
"The training has been absolutely exhausting, but it should put
a lot more power in my punches," said the boxer.
In one of his recent bouts, Witzu suffered heavy damage. He had
a few ribs snap due to a vicious punch from another boxer, but
regardless of how he places at the championship, he won't use
the injury as an excuse.
"My ribs will be fine and they're getting better every day,"
said Witzu. "I did 100 sit ups the other day, no problem. I
will never use them as an excuse. In my mind, they don't even
exist. If I lose, it's because I lost to a better fighter."
Witzu's coach is Michael Stewart, a former World Junior Boxing
Champion. Witzu's dedication amazes Stewart.
"Terry's like no one else," said the coach. "I have never seen
dedication like he has. He has more dedication than any Olympic
athletes I have ever trained with. It's true and it says a
lot."
Witzu has been going above the call of duty when it comes to
training.
"I write his schedule out and he follows it to the tee and then
does a little extra," said Stewart. "He'll run my 40-minute
runs and then do another five minutes. He'll run with his
mouthpiece in and run backwards for 20 minutes to give himself
better dexterity. I have never seen anything like it."
Stewart will be in Witzu's corner for the event.
"Terry has to fight busy from the first second of round one to
the last second of the last round," said Stewart. "He also has
to be alert. I have spent months on his defence. He's ready for
this tournament. He has great skills for a 56 year
old."
