Oliver ready to shine!

May 6, 2008
Report: Shane Hennigan
Photos: Ed Mulholland

Fans will have the opportunity to watch one of the sports most talented, exciting, and best kept secrets on ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights this week when undefeated Hartford, Connecticut super bantamweight Mike "Machine Gun" Oliver (21-0, 7 KOs) - ranked as the #2 contender in the IBF - takes on thirteen-year veteran and two-time world title challenger Reynaldo Lopez (28-5-2, 19 KOs) of Columbia at The Roxy in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Mike Oliver was born to box," promoter Rich Cappiello of Cappiello Promotions exclaimed. "Mike Oliver will become a star in boxing this Wednesday. It's only a matter of time, before Mike lands another belt around his waist, but on Wednesday, in front of a nationally televised audience, Mike Oliver is going to show that he is the real deal. Molitor, Vazquez, Ponce de Leon, eventually one of these great fighters will be forced to step up, and accept the challenge of Mike Oliver."

While Oliver insists he is not overlooking Lopez, he would certainly relish the opportunity to fight any of the division's elite, however, he has a particular grudge against "The Canadian Kid" Steve Molitor.

"He's the 'Canadian Chicken,' he's scared of me," Oliver asserted. ÒIt would be a good fight, but he's just afraid."

Oliver's obvious dislike for Molitor stems from the fact that he earned a near shutout victory over former WBO bantamweight champion Cruz "Chucho" Carbajal on July 17, 2007, however, due to the politics of boxing, that victory is yet to land him a shot at Molitor.

"The IBF people don't want to see me go in there and beat him," Oliver declared. "So, they did something slick to keep him champion, to keep him from fighting me!"

If Oliver, who first found his way into a boxing gym at the age of two, is to become a star, he will first have to get by the very seasoned, hard-hitting, Lopez. Although Lopez will enter the ring coming off back-to-back losses, those defeats came at the hands of some very formidable opponents.

Lopez lost a decision to WBC super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares in November 2006 (for the interim title) and WBO super bantamweight kingpin Daniel Ponce de Leon stopped him in the fifth round of a toe-to-toe war in September 2007. In his third attempt at world title glory, back in September 2005, Lopez suffered a controversial majority decision loss to then-super flyweight champion Dimity Kirilov.

Why Oliver, who appeared to have earned his world title shot with the aforementioned win over Carbajal, has yet to climb in the ring with Molitor is unknown, even to his trainer, and former world title challenger "Iceman" John Scully.

"I don't even try and figure it out anymore," Scully stated. "It's frustrating enough, so I've just given up on trying to recognize what's going on. Now, I just wait for the phone to ring, and tell us who we are fighting. But, so long as Mike keeps winning, things will work out."

FightNews had the opportunity to catch up with Oliver to discuss his bout with Lopez and his burning desire to climb in the ring with IBF champion Steve Molitor. This is what Oliver had to say:

How did your training camp go?
It went real good. It was just perfect!

What do you know about your Reynaldo Lopez?
You know me. I don't know anything about him. I don't care about him. I just come to fight. My main goal is to go in there and fight and win.

So, you didn't watch any tapes of Lopez?
No. Scully takes care of that, and prepares me from what he sees. I just go in there and fight.

What is your prediction for your fight with Lopez?
I will win.

There's been a lot of talk about a potential clash with IBF champ Steve Molitor. How do you stay focused on Lopez, so that you don't overlook him?
Like I always do, I don't look past anyone. I'm just focused on Lopez for right now. You know, the IBF people don't want to see me go in there and beat him, so they did something slick to keep him champion, to keep him from fighting me. I'll have my day though.

Speaking of Molitor. Do you feel as though he is avoiding you?
Yeah. That is exactly what he is doing. He is scared. He's running like a chicken. It would be a good fight, but he's just afraid.

Why do you think Steve Molitor chooses not to fight Mike Oliver?
Who would? Who would want to fight me? If I wasn't me, I wouldn't fight Mike Oliver either. He's strong, he's fast, and he can fight. My main goal, right now, is to get past this fight first. Then, Steve Molitor, let's go!

How badly do you want a fight with Molitor?
Real bad! I want that shot real bad. I want his title, and he knows I'll take it from him!

What do you think of Molitor as a fighter?
He's fighting nobody. I think I'm fighting the best, and he's the champion and he's fighting easy people.

A fellow Connecticut native, Joe Tessitore will be commentating the fights on ESPN. Joe always speaks very highly of you, and has really been hyping up your fight. How does that make you feel?
That's cool. A Connecticut guy, with ESPN, that's a big deal! I've known Joe since I was a little kid, and I'm really glad for him. He's a really cool person! It means a lot to me, to have someone like Joe talk so good about me.

Do you enjoy hurting people in the ring?
You know, a lot of people say that, but I like to do what I've got to do and get out. I don't want to see anyone get hurt. I just want to get in the ring and win, and see both guys get out of the ring without anyone being really hurt.

What do you have to do to get Molitor in the ring?
I'm going to do my best. I just don't want him to be a punk ass bitch! I want him to fight. To fight me. That's all!

Would you fight him in Canada?
I'll fight him anywhere. He talks so much shit! I heard he's been saying that I don't fight out of Connecticut. I've fought in Oklahoma, Florida, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. You know what? He's the pussy. He's scared to leave Canada! You tell the Canadian chicken, I'm ready to go anywhere, anytime.

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Tickets to the Cappiello Promotions ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights at The Roxy in Boston are price $40 or $75, and are available by calling 508-586-2277 (CAPP). For more information please visit www.cappielloboxing.com